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H E A R I N G I M P A I R
M E N T S
Major Concern #1
Children with hearing impairments may not understand
directions or what others are trying to communicate.
Suggestion
Help children by modeling activities. Learn the action
words associated with playing games and sports so you can help your child
understand simple games. Teaching other children who play with your child
simple stop and go signs is fun and will help others learn to communicate
with your child. Expecting children with hearing impairments to always learn
to adapt to their surroundings is important, but helping others understand
basic communication is an important lesson for all. Keep in mind that
children with hearing impairments learn from their parents and the only way
they will learn is if you can communicate with them.
Major Concern #2
Balance is believed to be a problem for many children
with hearing impairments.
Suggestion
Parents can facilitate balance it their children by
having the child walk on lines, then small blocks of wood, and eventually a
beam. Setting up obstacle course for a child is one suggestion. Keep in
mind any fall from the height of a person’s knee or greater can result in
injury and mats or soft play areas are needed. Play ground have many
opportunities for children to engage in activities that require balance. Keep
in mind that your child may not hear sounds that are warnings of danger
such as another child walking up behind or playing at the bottom of a
winding slide.
Major Concern #3
As children get older and more advanced sports are
learned, children with hearing impairments may miss a lot of important
strategic information about a game. This may make it hard to successfully
play team sports.
Suggestion
Watch sports on TV with your child and help her
understand strategies inherent in games such as a “give and go” in
basketball. See the resource section for a resource on strategies and games
with common strategies. You may have to spend time after your child has
learned advanced skills, helping him learn when to use them and how in a
game. Coaches may not be skilled at teaching strategies and may assume that
all children will learn when to tag up in baseball on their own. Children
with hearing impairments and those who lack experience may benefit from
parents helping them understand game strategies.
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