What is Hearing Impairment?
- 155,200 people with hearing impairment in Hong Kong (2.2% of total population)
(Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics, 2015) - Degree of hearing impairment:
| Grade | Hearing Threshold (dB HL) |
| Mild | 26-40 |
| Moderate | 41-55 |
| Moderately-severe | 56-70 |
| Severe | 71-90 |
| Profound | Above 90 |
- Types of hearing impairment
- Conductive hearing impairment
- Sensorineural hearing impairment
- Modes of communication
- Spoken language
- Sign language
Features / Challenges
- Difficulty in communication
- May not understand the vocabulary and topic of conversation
- May have articulation errors
- Cannot fully express themselves
Possible support for students with Hearing Impairment
Learning support
- Give them course materials in advance
- Provide study room in library exclusively for students with special needs
- Allow using assistive devices
- Arrange note-takers to jot notes in classes
- Avoid turning your back to them when teaching
- Consider alternative assessment mode
- Special seating arrangement in classes and examinations
Tips for peers
- Don’t think they are rude if they miss or misinterpret some verbal messages
→Get their attention before speaking- e.g. Use appropriate body gestures to get attention
→Speak clearly and slowly
→Face them when talking with them to enable lip-reading
- Try to provide more support to them
→Sharing notes
