Special Services
Interesting Facts about Hearing Loss
- 92-94% of the total number of people with hearing loss are functionally "hard-of-hearing" and not "deaf." There is less than one-half the number of children with profound hearing loss today than a decade ago. There are also 10 times more children with mild to moderate hearing loss than 10 years ago.
- Approximately 80% of lower elementary students suffer from a temporary hearing loss sometime during the school year. At any one time, 20-25% of these students will fail a routine school hearing screening. The average hearing loss with middle ear infection is 30db. This is an educationally significant hearing loss.
- The first four years of life are the most critical for speech and language development. Therefore, early identification of hearing loss is essential.
- 90% of a very young child’s knowledge is attributed to hearing the conversations around them. Thus even the slightest hearing loss can be educationally significant.
- Children spend at least 45% of the school day engaged in listening activities.
- Otitis media (ear infection) is the second most common childhood illness. An estimated 5 million school days are lost each year due to ear infection.
- Noise levels in a classroom can reach up to 65db which is equivalent to a noisy office with typewriters.
- 30% of all students diagnosed with learning disabilities have a history of chronic middle ear problems
What should I do if I suspect my child has a hearing loss?
For additional information
For additional information regarding Services for Hard of Hearing and Deaf Individuals in the Urbana School District please contact:
Vicki Smith and Susannah Moyer - Teachers of the Hard of Hearing and Deaf
Cheryl Hutton - Interpreter
Urbana Middle School
1201 Vine Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217-384-3685 ext. 1422