Ped AR Quiz 1

Habilitation

• For children born with hearing loss or who acquire it very early

• They have no prior auditory/language experience

• Goal = develop skills that were never acquired

Examples of Habilitation

Examples:

• Developing spoken language

• Auditory training

• Learning communication strategies

Rehabilitation

• Hearing loss acquired later in life

• Person had previously learned auditory/language skills

• Goal = restore or improve lost abilities

Example of Rehabilitation

Adult loses hearing later and relearns listening with hearing aids

School-Based Model

Audiologist is employed directly by the school district.

Pros of School-Based Model

• Easier/faster access to students

• Audiologist is an “insider”

• District owns equipment

• No billing for each service

Cons of School-Based Model

• Caseload may become too large

• Can be assigned unrelated duties

• District must buy equipment

Contracted Model

District hires outside agency/private practice.

Pros of Contracted Model

• Defined caseload/services

• Easier renegotiation

• District doesn’t buy equipment

Cons of Contracted Model

• Audiologist is an “outsider”

• Slower response to issues

• No employment benefits

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act

Section 504

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

IEP

Individualized Education Program

IFSP

Individualized Family Service Plan

FAPE

Free Appropriate Public Education

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment

RTI

Response to Intervention

I&RS

Intervention and Referral Services

Section 504 Important concepts

• Civil rights law

• Prevents discrimination

• Applies to schools receiving federal funding

• Students must have equal access

Disability definition

Physical or mental impairment substantially limiting a major life activity.

Major life activities include: (504)

• Hearing

• Learning

• Reading

• Communicating

• Speaking

• Thinking

Important for Eligibility (504)

Eligibility is determined without considering hearing aids/cochlear implants.

Students with ______ may qualify for 504 accommodations even if they do NOT qualify for IDEA.

• Mild HL

• Unilateral HL

• SSD

• APD

IDEA Major Principles

There are SIX major principles.

1. FAPE

2. Child Find / Identification

3. Multidisciplinary Evaluation

4. IEP

5. LRE

6. Procedural Safeguards / Due Process

FAPE

Free Appropriate Public Education

(IDEA)

All students with disabilities are entitled to appropriate education.

Child Find / Identification (IDEA)

Schools must identify and evaluate students suspected of disability.

Multidisciplinary Evaluation (IDEA)

Comprehensive evaluation from multiple disciplines before placement.

IEP (IDEA)

Individualized Education Program based on student’s unique needs.

LRE (IDEA)

Least Restrictive Environment

Students should be educated with typical peers as much as possible.

Special education placement only when necessary.

Procedural Safeguards / Due Process (IDEA)

Protects rights of parents and students.

Includes:

• Parent consent

• Confidentiality

• Due process hearings

• Independent evaluations

Educational Implications of Hearing Loss Being “Low Incidence”

Hearing loss is considered a low-incidence disability because relatively few students have it.

Implications:

• Schools may overlook hearing loss

• Less funding/resources

• Fewer educational audiologists

• Teachers may lack knowledge

• Students may not receive appropriate supports

Recommended ratio:

1 educational audiologist per 10,000 students

Actual NJ ratio:

~1:81,000

NJ Deaf Students Bill of Rights & Communication Plan Purpose

To ensure D/HH students:

• Have full communication access

• Can communicate directly with peers/staff

• Have access to appropriate language/communication modes

• Have educational placement matched to communication needs

NJ Deaf Students Bill of Rights & Communication Plan

Communication plans help determine:

• Preferred communication mode

• Access needs

• Technology/services required

NJ Deaf Students Bill of Rights & Communication Plan MAIN IDEA:

The law protects communication access and language development.

Public vs Private Schools

IDEA

• Applies mainly to public schools

• Provides special education services

Public vs Private Schools Section 504

Applies to schools receiving federal funds

Public vs Private Schools

ADA

• Applies broadly to public and private entities

• Religious schools exempt from ADA in some situations

Synaptic pruning

Brain removes weaker neural connections over time.

Synaptic pruning Important timeline

• Auditory system develops very early

• Huge increase in synapses by ages 2–3

• Then pruning begins

If children with hearing loss lack auditory/language exposure:

• Auditory pathways may not develop normally

• Risk for delayed speech/language development

The ear is the “______” to the brain for auditory information.

Doorway

If auditory input is incomplete:

• Language access decreases

• Learning suffers

• Incidental learning decreases

• Cognitive effort increases

Hearing loss is not just an ear problem.
It affects:

• Communication

• Academics

• Social development

• Fatigue

• Listening effort

Factors Influencing Impact of Hearing Loss on Child Development

1. Age of diagnosis/listening age

2. Access to language

3. Degree/type of hearing loss

4. Consistent technology use

5. Preschool programming/professional support

6. Family support

7. Additional needs/disabilities

“Listening age”

Age when child receives adequate amplification.

A 3-year-old identified at birth vs identified at age 2 will likely have VERY different language abilities.

“All waking hours”

Amplification should be worn all waking hours, not just at school.

Why?
Children learn language incidentally throughout the day.

What law created IEPs?

IDEA

What law prevents discrimination?

504 and ADA

What is FAPE?

Free Appropriate Public Education

What is LRE?

Least Restrictive Environment

What service tool is used in IDEA?

IEP

What service tool is used in 504?

504 Plan

Does a child need special education for 504?

No

Can mild/unilateral hearing loss qualify for 504?

Yes

What is listening age?

Age amplification began

Why is early language exposure important?

Prevents abnormal auditory/language development during synaptic pruning

Why is hearing loss called a doorway problem?

Reduced auditory access affects brain/language/learning access