Hearing Impairments Resources

The Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss (CDHL) was established to provide statewide leadership for the coordination and delivery of educational services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

National Deaf Center provides many resources for deaf students, including information on assistive technology, accommodations, interpreting and transition planning. 

Hearing Impairments. Defined by IDEA as “an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), formerly the Education of the Handicapped Act (P.L. 94-142), includes “hearing impairment” and “deafness” as two of the categories under which children with disabilities may be eligible for special education and related services programming. While the term “hearing impairment” is often used generically to describe a wide range of hearing losses, including deafness, the regulations for IDEA define hearing loss and deafness separately.