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An individual with a hearing impairment(s) means someone with any degree of hearing loss that can be mild to profound, or those who are deaf & those who are hard of hearing.

(my.clevelandclinic.org)

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Some treatments can be hearing tests, pure-tone testing, Otoacoustic emissions test, Tympanometry test, medications, surgeries, procedures, hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc. (my.clevelandclinic.org)

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Some possible causes of hearing loss can be short-term or sudden exposure to very loud noise, earwax buildup, fluid in the ear from colds/allergies, middle ear infection, swimmer's ear, Eustachian tube issues, ruptured eardrum, ear tumors, anything stuck in a ear, aging, illnesses, ototoxicity, certain genetic conditions, being hit in the head, & congenital infections. (my.clevelandclinic.org)

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How to help someone with a speech or hearing impairment

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What are hearing loss symptoms?

Most people lose their hearing gradually. They may not even notice that it's happening. In general, you may be developing hearing loss if:

You often ask people to repeat themselves.

You have trouble following a conversation, especially when you're talking on the telephone or in a noisy environment like a restaurant.

You think people are mumbling.

You can't hear certain high-pitched sounds, like birds singing.

You need to turn up the volume on your television, computer or tablet.

You have tinnitus (ringing in your ears).

Your ear hurts (earache).

You feel as if there's pressure or fluid inside your ear.

You have balance problems or dizziness.

What are symptoms of hearing loss in babies and children?

Babies with hearing loss may seem to hear some sounds but not others. They may:

Not startle to loud noises.

Not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age.

Not say single words like "mama" or "dada" by age 1.

Not react when you say their name.

Older children with hearing loss may:

Say "huh" a lot.

Be slower to learn to speak than other children their age.

Have unclear speech.

Not follow directions.

Turn up the volume on television or tablets.

What usually causes hearing loss?

Many things can cause hearing loss. For example, short-term or sudden exposure to very loud noise - like attending a loud concert - can affect your hearing.

Conductive hearing loss causes include:

Earwax that's built up in your ear.

Fluid in your middle ear from colds or allergies.

Middle ear infection (otitis media).

Swimmers' ear (otitis externa).

Eustachian tube issues that traps fluid in your middle ear.

Ruptured eardrum.

Something stuck in your ear. For example, your child, faced with a side dish of peas, may decide to put one in their ear.

Congenital conditions (conditions present at birth) that affect how babies' middle or outer ears are formed.

Sensorineural hearing loss causes include:

Aging.

Illnesses like coronary artery disease (heart disease), high blood pressure (hypertension), strokes or diabetes.

Ototoxicity.

Certain genetic (inherited) conditions.

Being hit in the head.

Noise-induced hearing loss. Long-term exposure to loud noise, like working in a very noisy environment like factories and construction sites.

Congenital infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Mixed hearing loss in a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. That means it affects your outer and middle ear as well as your inner ear. For example, if you take medications that affect your inner ear and you accidentally rupture your eardrum in your middle ear, you have mixed hearing loss.

What are the complications of hearing loss?

Having hearing loss can make you feel disconnected from the world around you. You may become frustrated, irritable or angry. People with severe hearing loss can become anxious or depressed. Children with hearing loss may struggle in school and get poor grades. Studies also show a link between hearing loss in older adults and dementia.

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Hearing loss is a common issue that may affect everyone from babies and children to people in their 60s and 70s. Treatments like hearing aids can help.

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In my classroom if a student has a hearing impairment, I would make sure my #1 priority with them is patience & helping as much as possible. I would make sure I was able to give them all the help & extra time they may need, see the counselor, & have a strong communication with their parents to ensure the child has the same opportunities as other students, along with allowing the child to get the education they deserve.