Educational Service Guidelines for the Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Standard 5: Medical Support
Standard 5 - Medical Support
Students who are D/HH are referred for appropriate medical assessments as indicated (e.g. otolaryngology, genetics, ophthalmology).
Determination of Etiology
The etiology of a student’s hearing loss provides information regarding potential needs and services based on characteristics of that condition. Due to various etiologies that involve neurological components, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), students with hearing loss are at greater risk for secondary disorders, such as learning disabilities and attention deficits. Diseases and accidents that cause hearing loss may often cause physical disabilities as well as neurological and developmental disorders. Genetic origins may result in hearing loss or other disabilities long after birth. The etiology for each student’s hearing loss should be identified when possible. This information can be used to determine additional areas of assessment needed to identify appropriate educational supports for an individual student.
Hearing loss places increased demands on visual functioning. Further, children with hearing loss have a higher incidence of visual problems than children without hearing loss (Bakhshaee, 2008). Visual impairments must be detected and treated as early as possible to minimize their impact on development. An initial eye exam performed by a pediatric ophthalmologist is advised for all students who are identified as D/HH. Ongoing monitoring of eye health/vision is strongly advised according to the recommendations of the eye care practitioner.