Living with hearing loss can be a challenge. As a student navigating through college or university empower yourself with the tools and strategies to be successful in your academic life. If you are wondering where to start or need guidance then consulting a hearing health professional or an audiologist would be the best place to start. Get behind your hearing health and become your own advocate.
Become acquainted with the hearing facilities that your college has to offer. The American Disabilities Act requires “all public colleges and universities must ensure deaf and hard of hearing students have equal access to all activities, regardless of funding.” There are usually dedicated advisors and offices for students with hearing impairments. They are there to help guide and inform you of all the services and equipment available to better your hearing experience in the classrooms, lecture halls, and labs. If living on campus your resident advisor would also be a good source of information.
Get acquainted with your professors
With the help of your advisor, you can inform your professors beforehand about your condition. This will alert them to your classroom needs and also get you started on equipping yourself and your environment for maximum educational acquisition. Try and meet with them within the first week of the new semester and communicate via email to schedule an appointment.
Some students put together a brief description of their hearing condition and tips and strategies that they and their professors can use for a more efficient learning environment. It can be done in the form of an email or printed out for their perusal. Request for lectures in advance or meeting agendas can help you be better prepared and following up after to confirm information will keep you on track.
Disclosure
It is important to be your own advocate and practicing in college will give you an advantage when you enter the professional work world. Your school colleagues may not have shared experiences with people who have hearing impairments. This may set the mode for them to uncertain as it might you when it comes to successful communication. Take the time with a select few that you feel will be included in your study or class projects to be better informed about your needs and help you be as productive and engaged as possible.
The technique is called disclosure. There are several options available and the one that provides insight into your condition and suggestion for them as to how everyone can benefit would be most productive. For example, if you are in a group situation letting your peers know by saying: “Hello, I’ve got hearing loss in my left ear, so it would really help me to contribute to our discussion if you faced me and/or speak more to my right side.” Practicing disclosure with a trusted friend or family member would also help before it came time to put it into use at college or university.
Location
Scope out your classroom or lecture hall and position yourself as advantageously as possible. Seat yourself away from windows, doors, heavy traffic areas, and loud fans or ventilation units. Give your professor a heads up about your intention and try being seated up front and in the middle for the best vantage point depending upon the design of the room. This will allow you to have a clearer view of your professor when speaking and hopefully all audio-visual aids that they use.
Technology
The FM and CART system are some of the ways technology can be used for educational and communicative purposes. An informational leaflet for the professors and even your class colleagues will be an engaging way to inform, engage and propel your needs to interact and be a productive part of the class environment. Emailing your professors with the information so that they can refer to it from time to time would be beneficial as well.
Keep in mind that you are your own best advocate and be confident that your academic environment should be one of participation and support.
Desert Valley Audiology
At Desert Valley Audiology, we encourage you to seek out and ask any questions you might have regarding your hearing health. We look forward to your call and with your first appointment, we can begin assessing and creating a treatment best suited to your hearing needs now and for your future!