Sensory Problems
- lperry94
- Nov 5, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 22, 2021
Sensory problems refers to individuals that have impairments with their visual and/or auditory abilities. As you know, most things done at school include visual and auditory activities, so the teaching and learning process for these students can be a bit more challenging. Should we lower our expectations for these students? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Children with auditory or visual impairments are often very capable of handling the academic and social demands in school, they just require a bit more assistance. Teachers must be confident and comfortable working with these students. As you know, nearly all things taught and experienced in the classroom are based around visual and auditory activities. There must be significant support for the teachers to understand how to meet the individual ranges in these students' needs. No child is the same and some sensory impairments are more severe than others. A variety of adaptations and accommodations may be needed such as allowing for more working space for the use of special equipment for communications, setting up the classroom so that it is easier to navigate, and additional support personnel (e.g., a sign language interpreter or braille instructor).
For visual impairments there are three terms frequently used: visual impairment, blindness and low vision. Visual impairments include a wide range of visual problems such as refractive errors (e.g., farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism): retinal disorders; disorders of cornea, iris and lens; and optic nerve problems. Blindness, for educational purposes, implies that a student must use Braille. Low vision indicates that there is some functional vision that can be used to gain information through written means with or without other assistive devices. One of the main goals for a teacher working with these students, and all students, is to figure out what experiences are needed in order for them to be able to learn.
Auditory impairments includes both the students that are deaf and the students that are hard of hearing. Hearing impairments are an invisible exceptionality. This can pose problems in the classroom, as children that are not completely deaf may not tell anyone that they are not hearing everything that is being said. They may guess, make mistakes and be judged differently by others for their actions. As always, it is important to be aware of all your students and to pick up any clues that may lead to a child showing signs of poor hearing. If addressed sooner than later many other problems around learning and social interactions may be avoided. Children that are deaf, have a growing support community. Sign language is very helpful and is something that teachers could teach other students in the class. It is a form of communication and can be a fun and engaging language to learn.
Educating other students about these individuals' needs is important. It can be done in a way where there is no special treatment. Once again, I feel that children and people of all ages, should be treated with respect and acceptance for who they are as they are and not seen as less than or special. We are all special! Encouraging all your students to become more aware of their own learning needs and social needs in the school environment is important.
Facebook Challenge Activity:
Explore these senses, sight and hearing. Take 2 minutes to sit or stand still.
For 20-30 seconds:
Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear? What do you feel or experience? What would it be like to experience the world this way everyday?
Cover one eye and look around you. What do you see? What do you feel or experience? What would it be like to experience the world this way everyday?
Open your eyes and plug both your ears. What do you see? What do you feel or experience? What would it be like to experience the world this way everyday?
Plug one ear. What do you hear? What do you feel or experience? What would it be like to experience the world this way everyday?
Short Videos:
These videos will give you a better idea of what resources and supports are available to children with sensory problems, and to their families and their teachers to best support these children.
Classroom tools for visually impaired students (3 minutes)
Child grows up blind—the Planson family—Our special life—Episode 2
Great video to hear from the student perspective.
Classroom interpreting for deaf and hard of hearing students
Tips for working with deaf and hard of hearing students
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