Empowered Learning
Occupational Therapy Support for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students
Providing OT-Based Support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in the School Setting
The goal of this website is to provide resources for teachers who want to support children in the school setting and occupational therapists who are working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children.
About
This website was created in collaboration with Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking (CCHAT) Center, Sacramento as part of a Doctoral Capstone Project for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program at the University of the Pacific.
What is occupational therapy?
​Occupational therapy is a health profession that focuses on helping people of all ages to participate in daily living. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and the ability to participate in the things people want and need to do in their daily life.
(American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2024)
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What is hearing loss?
Types:
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Conductive hearing loss: physical obstruction prevents sounds from passing through the outer and middle ear
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Sensorineural hearing loss: results from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathway
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Mixed hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural hearing loss occurs at the same time
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Classifications:
Degree of hearing loss: Hearing loss range (decibel hearing loss)
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Normal: –10 to 15
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Slight: 16 to 25
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Mild: 26 to 40
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Moderate: 41 to 55
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Moderately severe: 56 to 70
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Severe: 71 to 90
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Profound: 91+
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], n.d.)
