Deaf/Blind
Other terms that have been used include dual sensory impairment, hearing and vision loss, concomitant hearing and vision loss and hard of hearing/visually impaired. The term, stated in the IDEA refers to a continuum from hard of hearing to complete deafness and visually impaired to totally blind. Very few people are completely deaf and completely blind. Many students with deafblindness have additional disabilities.
| Normal Vision |
--> | Glasses Give Normal Vision |
--> | Mild | --> | Moderate | --> | Severe | --> | Blind |
Visual Impairment/Blindness
| Normal Hearing |
--> | Temporary Hearing Loss |
--> | Mild | --> | Moderate | --> | Severe | --> | Deaf |
Hard of Hearing/Deaf
Possible Indicators
- Inattention
- Self-stimulation
- Boredom
- Lack of communication skills
- Doesn't participate in group activities
- Responds better to 1:1 interaction
- Startles when you approach
- Missing information that other kids get (incidental)
- Has trouble keeping up with pace of classroom activities, especially group discussion
- Tunes out
- Frequently frustrated
- Depressed, withdrawn
- Underachiever
- Complains of headaches
- Squinting or straining, fatigued eyes, gets tired as the days go on
- Clumsy, walks over/into things
- Discrepancy between what parents and professionals say the student "can do", especially one-time assessment
- Seems to see or hear different things at different times
-
Difficult to test/inconsistent results
More Information:
Josh Nelson, Director of Educational Programs
218-737-6508