Individual Needs
In recognition of Hearing Awareness Week, 21 - 26 August
Living with Hearing Loss
Would you prefer this in another language?
Visit www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au and select language of choice.
At St Albans Secondary College, we aim assist all students to build a positive and confident identity. The Individual Needs Department can work in supporting your child at St Albans with modified curriculum such as captioned videos and a wide range of e-books from the school library, adjustments in assessment, such separate rooms or variation for the conditions of a task. Access to the Visiting Teacher Service also is another service that students with a recognized hearing impaired may be able to utilise at St Albans Secondary College. In recognition of the recent Hearing Awareness Week, Individual Needs would like all to reflect on the importance of hearing and the significance of hearing loss.
Hearing and quality of life are closely linked. Poor hearing affects both the person with the loss and those with whom they communicate. A comprehensive study conducted in the USA on the effects of untreated hearing loss on adults as well as their families found that hearing loss impacts on our social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being.
People with hearing impairment can experience:
· Embarrassment
· Loss of confidence
· Irritability and anger
· Depression
· Feeling of being ignored
· Dependence on others
· Withdrawal, isolation and loneliness
· Exclusion from family and social activities
· Tiredness.
Other people, such as family members and close friends, may find themselves:
· Talking for the other person
· Continually having to explain or interpret
· Sacrificing some activities (eg. theatre, parties)
· Making assumptions about what hard of hearing person thinks or needs
· Frustrated
· Embarrassed in company
· Tired.
These effects mean hearing loss can place very real strains on relationships.
Hearing aids can make a big difference
Because impaired hearing results in a distorted or incomplete communication, this can lead to greater isolation and withdrawal and the individual’s social life becomes restricted. The use of hearing aids resulted in improvements in much quality-of life areas, in particular:
· Improved interpersonal relationships
· Improved health
· Enhanced social activity
· Reduction in discrimination against the person with the hearing loss
· Reduction in anger and frustration
· Greater earning power (especially the more severe hearing losses)
· A lower incidence of depression.
Would you like more information regarding Hearing Loss, its prevention and management? Please contact Hannah Morton, Individual Needs Coordinator/ Speech Pathologist on
03 9947 3622 or via email morton.hannah.h@edumail.vic.gov.au
Deafness Forum of Australia created this fact sheet for public information. It is the national advocacy body for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Australians. It represents all interests and viewpoints including those people who have a chronic disorder of the ear and those who are Deafblind.
