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Learning
with a hearing loss
We
learn throughout our lives. From the moment we are born we learn
by observing and imitating our parents, relatives and friends.
Later on, as we attend schools, get jobs and lead active lives,
we keep learning.
Children
with a hearing loss have the same ability to live full and productive
lives as other children. They just need additional support when
learning.
Children
with normal hearing learn all the time because they pick up all
sorts of information. But a child with a hearing loss may need
to have things carefully explained on a one-to-one basis. This
may include such things as what you are planning to do today,
where you are going to shop, what you are going to buy, or whom
you are going to visit. By taking some time to explain these situations
you can help your child follow what is going on.
Also,
children with a hearing loss may need extra help when learning
new words and concepts. It can be fairly easy to teach them about
objects, but teaching them about more abstract things can lead
to misunderstanding and confusion.
Because children with a hearing loss cannot hear the finer nuances
of language they sometimes either take things too literally or
over-generalise. Concepts such as time can be very hard to understand,
so you may have to find different ways of explaining seconds,
minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years.
One
example of a typical misunderstanding of language was when a child
asked his mother "how many spiders have eyes?" What he really
meant was "how many eyes do spiders have?" In this kind of situation,
try drawing or using pictures to illustrate what you are trying
to explain.
Always
talk to your child, even though he or she may not always seem
to fully understand what you are saying. The only way to encourage
him or her to develop a spoken language is by speaking yourself,
and by setting a good example. And remember that your facial expressions
and body language also tell an interesting story!
When
your child talks to other people, do not take on the role of interpreter
or answer on his or her behalf. When explaining things, try to
use short, clear sentences wherever possible.
This
article courtesy of Oticon
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