With his speech and hearing teachers, he has learned how to use the aids in class and is working on pronunciation. Changing those patterns is a slower process than Williams expected. She works with her son on spelling. Now that he can hear the way the word is pronounced, spelling makes more sense because he can hear all the syllables, she said. In 1999, according to the Department of Education, about seven students in city elementary schools were known to have hearing loss.
Hearing has a major impact on learning and speaking.
Hearing screenings are required for students entering kindergarten, or during their initial enrollment into public schools, said Wyllys Vanderwerker, who oversees special education for Lynchburg Schools. Within 60 days of enrollment, motor skills, vision, hearing and speech are tested. Two weeks later, a second screening is done, and if the problem continues, then the schools provide an exam with an audiologist. A button is pushed that starts levels of sound. If a child doesn't score in the normal range, the child's parent is notified.