Re: Hearing problem

["David J. Hamilton" <djhamil@teleport.com>]

kyle forinash writes:

> hi all;
>
> Can anyone give me any insite (off line is fine) to problems a hearing
> impaired person might encounter in a physics class? I'm tring to help out a
> student who is hearing impaired and struggling in an algebra based intro
> physics. He has got a signer in class and a tutor; what else can I do?
I had a hearing impaired student a few years ago.  He was a lip-reader, 
so my experience is not the same as your situation.  He also spoke.

I tried to always write vital words and phrases on the blackboard or 
overhead as I spoke - especially the impromptu stuff like answers to 
questions.  I also tried, when I could, to provide a written outline of 
each lesson to this student (but I wasn't always so organized that I 
could do that).  I especially relied on the advice of the school 
district's specialist in hearing-impairment, the student himself, and the 
student's mother.  Finally, I did more careful checks of understanding 
with this student by asking him to explain back to me, either in writing 
or verbally.  One thing I discovered is that lip-readers generally do not 
understand every word, but piece together meaning from the words they do 
catch.  This can lead to problems in physics where the language is so 
precise and where students generally mis subtleties anyway.  I expect 
that, when translating to sign langauge, there are similar difficulties.  
Does the signer know any physics?

I guess my main advice is to not assume that your student understands 
when he or she "appears" to get it.  Check understanding carefully and 
often.

Dave

David J. Hamilton, Ed.D.          *  And gladly woulde he learn,
Portland Public Schools           *  and gladly teche.
djhamil@teleport.com              *        - Chaucer