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If you live with hearing loss, you are probably used to taking extra steps to make sure you can communicate clearly. When you are open with yourself and others about your hearing loss you are setting yourself up for success. This could not be truer if you are in or about to attend college.
College is a huge opportunity to increase knowledge and position yourself for a successful career for the future, but it is going to take a lot of work. Educational success centers around receiving and comprehending new information. This is the major challenge with hearing loss, however with contentious effort and disclosure to your classmates, instructors, and administration you can advocate to receive the tools to help you stay engaged with classroom information and discussions so you can succeed in your educational goals!
Communicate with Your School
Entering into higher education can seem daunting to anyone, but if you have a hearing impairment it will take extra work. Reach out to your college once you are enrolled. They will have the tools to help you succeed in your education. You don’t have to disclose to everyone about your hearing loss, but it is absolutely a good idea to let the administration and your instructors know. This can give your professors time to prepare the proper accommodations to help you succeed to your maximum potential. Accommodations can help you feel more comfortable in class, making learning easier and enjoyable. It is far too easy to become lost, due to a communication disability and become discouraged.
Once you’ve enrolled in classes do not delay in sending your instructors an email letting them know you have a hearing disability. If you are using hearing aids or an assistive listening device, make sure they know. If you have any communication strategies you find make it easier to follow you can suggest these. Some of these could include sitting closer to the front so you can take advantage of lip reading and even hear better due to increased proximity to the instructor. It’s reasonable to ask the instructor if they have ever worked with hearing impaired students in the past and what methods worked best in those instances.
Once you have reached out to your instructors, do not hesitate to also reach out to your school’s services to discover what kind of services they offer to assist you in learning. Learning institutions must make space for all people to enroll, and this includes you! Most universities have staff to assist with learning challenges. They may be able to offer live action captioning services, or written out class notes, in case you miss something. Exploring the options available to you can allow you to be ready so you can stay fully engaged in your class.
Position Yourself for Success
It is important to make sure you sit as close to the front as possible. It can be daunting to start a new class, but don’t be afraid to take the front row. Proximity to the front can allow you to hear the teacher clearer. You can also have a clearer view in which you can use lip reading and body language to help you succeed. All too often, even if you are using hearing aids or assistive listening devices, you can still lose audio information. Avoid areas of the room where there is a noise which could be distracting like a heater or AC. Similarly, sit away from open windows where ambient sounds or a passing lawn mower may obstruct your ability to hear clearly and participate during class.
It can also be helpful to disclose to your class that you have a hearing issue. This is especially helpful if the class is in a conversational format. This gives you a chance to discuss the best ways for your classmates to communicate with you, such as eye contact and getting your attention before speaking by using your name. This is just one more way to ensure that you get the most out of your class and your total college experience.
Seeking Treatment
School for many is already in full swing. If you are finding that it is difficult to follow along in class, it could be due to a hearing issue. Don’t wait for things to get worse. Schedule a hearing exam now and know for sure.