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Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program provides direct instruction to students and coaching and consulting to parents and school staff.  Areas of expertise include but are not limited to early childhood education (birth to five years), general education (K-12), post-high school transition services (18-21 years), multiple disabilities, Assistive Technology (AT), listening and spoken language, sign language, and speech development.


The programs provide comprehensive services to deaf and hard-of-hearing students within a single typical public school setting. A variety of options and support services are available for students with various degrees of hearing loss and communication needs. 

Eligibility

To qualify for deaf or hard of hearing program services, a child/student must reside in Marion, Polk, or Yamhill counties, have a hearing loss that meets the state eligibility requirements for hearing impairment and be individually evaluated by an Audiologist and a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The requirements for eligibility are:

  • Documented pure tone average loss of 25 dB or greater in the better ear for frequencies of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz or a loss of 35 dB or greater in the better ear for frequencies of 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 6000 Hz. The loss can be sensorineural or conductive (if not medically or surgically correctable).
  • The hearing loss must have an adverse impact on the student's educational performance or child's developmental progress, and the child/student needs special education services as a result of the hearing impairment.
  • Children with unilateral hearing loss may be considered for eligibility on an individual basis only if the affected ear has a pure tone average loss of 25 dB or greater for the frequencies 500 Hz to 4000 Hz; the loss has an adverse impact on the student's educational performance, and the student needs special education services as a result of the hearing impairment. 

Services

Services are provided to children and students (birth through 21 yrs of age) and school staff by a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. Services may include but not be limited to:

  • Assessment of the unique educational needs of deaf or hard of hearing students (birth - 21 yrs)
  • Assistance with educational planning for deaf and hard of hearing students (eligibility, IFSP, IEP)
  • Direct instruction as determined by the IFSP/IEP team
  • Training and Coaching for classroom teachers and other school staff
  • Training and Coaching for parents
  • Home-based services to support, educate and coach parents and caregivers (birth - 3yrs.)
  • Specialized literacy curriculum and modified instructional materials
  • Consultation to the general education teacher(s) and other appropriate school staff
  • Monitoring student’s academic and social progress
  • Monitoring student’s personal amplification system
  • Assessing and assisting with student needs for special and/or adaptive equipment and materials
  • Classroom/staff orientation and in-service
  • Participation as a team member on the IFSP/IEP team
  • Formal classroom observation of the student
  • Instruction in the care and maintenance of hearing aids/cochlear implant/bone-anchored hearing system
  • Auditory, spoken language, and sign language skill development
  • Self Advocacy skill development
  • Equipment loan and lending library

For information contact:

    Program Coordinator: Dana Pedersen 
    Phone: 503.385.4575 Fax: 503.588.5681
    Email: dana.pedersen@wesd.org