Hearing Impairments

Question 1

What is a hearing impairment?

Answer 1

There are different types of hearing impairments.

Question 2

What is deafness?

Answer 2

Severe hearing loss; cannot process spoken language, with or without amplification.

Question 3

What does hard of hearing mean?

Answer 3

Can process some spoken language through hearing, with or without amplification.

Question 4

What is unilateral hearing loss?

Answer 4

Affects one ear.

Question 5

What is bilateral hearing loss?

Answer 5

Affects both ears.

Question 6

What is congenitally deaf?

Answer 6

Individual is born deaf.

Question 7

What is adventitiously deaf?

Answer 7

Deafness acquired after birth.

Question 8

What is prelingual deafness?

Answer 8

Deafness occurs prior to speech and language development.

Question 9

What is post lingual deafness?

Answer 9

Deafness occurs after speech and language have developed.

Question 10

What is conductive hearing loss?

Answer 10

Involves the outer and middle ear and may be caused by a wax blockage, punctured eardrum, birth defects, ear infection or heredity, and often can be effectively treated medically or surgically.

Question 11

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 11

The most common type of hearing loss; involves damage to the inner ear caused by aging, pre-natal and birth-related problems, viral and bacterial infections, heredity, trauma, and exposure to loud noise.

Question 12

What is mixed hearing loss?

Answer 12

Refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss, meaning a problem has occurred in both the outer or middle and the inner ear.

Question 13

How does aging affect hearing?

Answer 13

As people age, we experience the deterioration or loss of many senses. Hearing loss is one of the most common.

Question 15

What are congenital conditions related to hearing impairment?

Answer 15

Prenatal conditions, such as fetal alcohol syndrome or conflicting parental blood types.

Question 16

What hereditary factors can contribute to hearing impairment?

Answer 16

Heredity and disease.

Question 17

What are some physical causes of hearing impairment?

Answer 17

Repeated ear infections, wax build-up, trauma to the head or ears, tumors (acoustic neuromas), auto-immune conditions, and chemical/toxic damage to the ear (ototoxicity).

Question 18

What abnormalities can affect hearing?

Answer 18

Abnormalities of the tiny bones of the ear.

Question 19

How does the age of onset affect hearing impairment?

Answer 19

The earlier the onset, generally, the greater the effects.

Question 20

What common needs do individuals with hearing impairments have?

Answer 20

They may require speech and language therapy, techniques to express themselves, lip reading, sign language, and articulation.

Question 21

Why is access to visual information important for individuals with hearing impairments?

Answer 21

It helps them interpret as much information as possible, including the speakers’ faces.

Question 22

What is essential for individuals with hearing impairments to make sense of their environment?

Answer 22

Finding strategies and techniques to ensure maximum access to communication, entertainment, and more.

Question 23

What are some emotional and social impacts of hearing impairment?

Answer 23

Difficulties in communication can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, social isolation, loneliness, depression, and withdrawal.

Question 24

How can hearing loss affect older adults specifically?

Answer 24

It can impact their pleasures, interests, socializing, and may lead to confusion being misidentified as dementia.

Question 25

Can hearing aids completely resolve hearing loss?

Answer 25

Even with a hearing aid fitted, individuals may continue to be impacted by hearing loss.

Question 26

What is a visual impairment?

Answer 26

A visual impairment is an eye condition which can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.

Question 27

What is myopia?

Answer 27

Myopia, or 'Near-sightedness,' is a condition where a person sees nearby objects clearly but has difficulty focusing on distant objects.

Question 28

What is astigmatism?

Answer 28

Astigmatism is a condition where a person's vision appears blurred at any distance.

Question 29

What is visual disability?

Answer 29

A visual disability is a loss of vision that cannot be corrected sufficiently for the individual to use their vision without aid.

Question 30

What are the types of vision loss?

Answer 30

Vision loss can be in acuity (sharp or clear sighted), field loss, ocular motility, and/or color perception.

Question 31

What is low vision?

Answer 31

'Low Vision,' or 'Vision Loss,' means that a person has difficulty seeing even with corrective measures like eyeglasses or surgery.

Question 32

What usually causes low vision?

Answer 32

Most persons develop low vision due to eye disease or health conditions.

Question 33

What does partially sighted mean?

Answer 33

Partially sighted means a person has some form of visual disability that may require special education.

Question 34

What does it mean to be totally blind?

Answer 34

Persons who are totally blind are unable to see and often use Braille or other non-visual forms of media.

Question 35

What are some causes of visual impairment?

Answer 35

Causes include congenital and acquired factors, prematurity, hereditary factors, severe malnutrition, brain trauma, drugs, tumors, hydrocephalus, and diabetes.

Question 36

What are the main surgical treatments for vision loss?

Answer 36

Surgery ## Footnote Surgical interventions can vary based on the underlying cause of vision loss.

Question 37

What is environmental adaptation in the context of vision loss?

Answer 37

Adjusting the environment to enhance safety and predictability for individuals with vision disabilities ## Footnote This may involve modifications to living spaces or public areas.

Question 38

What is augmentative communication?

Answer 38

Methods used to assist individuals with communication difficulties, often involving technology or alternative communication systems ## Footnote This may include speech-generating devices or sign language.

Question 39

What types of service animals are commonly used by individuals with vision loss?

Answer 39

Guide dog or Mira dog ## Footnote These dogs assist with navigation and mobility.

Question 40

What is the purpose of a mobility cane?

Answer 40

To assist individuals with vision loss in navigating their environment safely ## Footnote Canes help detect obstacles and changes in terrain.

Question 41

What visual experience is associated with macular degeneration?

Answer 41

A black spot in the center of the field of vision ## Footnote This can severely affect reading and facial recognition.

Question 42

What is peripheral vision loss also known as?

Answer 42

Tunnel vision ## Footnote This condition restricts the field of vision to the center.

Question 43

What causes motility visual disabilities?

Answer 43

Paralysis or muscle weaknesses or imbalances ## Footnote These conditions can affect eye movement and coordination.

Question 44

What is strabismus?

Answer 44

The misalignment of the eyes, often referred to as cross-eyed ## Footnote This condition can affect depth perception.

Question 45

What is amblyopia commonly referred to as?

Answer 45

Lazy eye ## Footnote This occurs when an individual sees two separate images from each eye.

Question 46

What is nystagmus?

Answer 46

The involuntary rhythmic movement of the eye ## Footnote This condition can affect visual stability.

Question 47

What is photophobia?

Answer 47

Sensitivity to light ## Footnote This can be caused by conditions such as albinism or cataracts.

Question 48

What is a common communication system used by individuals with vision loss?

Answer 48

Braille ## Footnote Braille provides a tactile reading method for those who are blind.

Question 49

What is essential for independence in individuals with visual impairments?

Answer 49

Learning to orient oneself and move around independently ## Footnote This is crucial for daily functioning and autonomy.

Question 50

Fill in the blank: Individuals with congenital blindness are less likely to explore their environments because they cannot see anything that draws their _______.

Answer 50

curiosity ## Footnote This can affect their developmental exploration.