Refer the child for a hearing test immediately if additional hearing loss is suspected. Mirrors on bicycles and careful training in street crossing are needed. Providing a visual supplement to hearing may prevent confusion or misunderstanding. P ace your conversation at a moderate rate and at a normal conversational loudness with occasional pauses to permit comprehension. E nunciate clearly, without exaggerated lip movements.
E nthusiastically communicate, using body language and natural gestures.
Ch eck comprehension before changing topics. Such preferential seating allows the child to better utilize hearing and to use supplemental visual cues. As previously mentioned, children with unilateral hearing loss are at a higher risk for grade failure. It is imperative to assure that all youngsters with a hearing loss have either normal or corrected vision since many of the above recommendations require the use of vision as a supplement to hearing. Those children identified with deficient classroom performance should be referred for a comprehensive assessment of cognitive, motor, social-emotional and language skills.