Individuals with hearing impairment may experience any of the limitations discussed below.  The degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Not all students with a hearing impairment will need the same CAMS (compensations accommodations, modifications, strategies) to perform in school and many others may only need a few CAMS. Regardless, each student’s case should be evaluated on an individual basis with an Independent Needs Assessment Protocol done by an Educational Strategist & Consultant or a Special Educational Needs Consultant (SEN).  The following is a sample of possible CAMS for students with a hearing impairment.  Other CAMS solutions may exist so check with an Educational Strategist & Consultant or Special Educational Needs Consultant (SEN) for more information.          

Consider:

1. What limitations the student with a hearing impairment is experiencing?

2. How these limitations affect the student and the student's school performance?

3. What specific activities or tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?

4. What CAMS are available to reduce or eliminate these problems?

5. Are all possible resources being used to determine possible CAMS?

6. Has the student with a hearing impairment been consulted regarding possible CAMS?  Does the student know how s/he learns best?

7. Once CAMS are in place, would it be useful to talk with the student and/or team to evaluate the effectiveness of the CAMS and to determine whether additional or different CAMS are needed?

8. Do parents and school staff need training regarding hearing impairments?

9.  Schedule time to meet with the Educational Strategist & Consultant or Special Educational Needs Consultant (SEN) to determine how to communicate needed CAMS with the school team and how to document.

CAMS:

Communicating One on One:

·        Use written notes

·        Use computer technology such as e-mail and instant messaging

·        Provide an assistive listening device (ALD)

·        Provide an interpreter

·        Provide basic sign language training

·        Provide an augmentative communication device

·        Provide a TTY

Communicating in Groups:

·        Provide an assistive listening device (ALD)

·        Provide communication access real-time translation (CART)

·        Provide computer-assisted note taking          

·        Address environmental factors such as background noise, lighting, and positioning 

·        Provide an interpreter

·        Use Web-based meeting software or video conferencing for lectures, discussions, and homework

·        Provide standard note taking or other text information

·        Allow audio recording of lectures, assignments that can be transcribed

·        Provide speech recognition software

Communicating with Peers:

·        Use a two-way radio

·        Use a portable TTY

·        Use a paging device

·        Use a portable computer

·         

Responding to Emergency Alarms:

·        Provide visual or tactile alerting device

·        Implement a coach or mentor system

Responding to Other Sounds in the Environment:

·        Provide auditory signal software to replace computer sounds

·        Allow the use of a hearing dog

·        Provide a visual or tactile signal

Dealing with Extraneous Noises:

·        Provide sound absorbing panels and carpeting

·        Separate the work space from  noisy equipment or areas

Working and Moving around the School Safely:

·        Establish paths of travel

·        Install flashing lights and mirrors

·        Invite the person with hearing

·        Use a vibrating one-touch pager

·        Install a portable CCTV in key areas

Wearing Hearing Protection:

·        Use electronic hearing protection that filters out damaging noise while allowing the user to hear human voices

Accessing Information from Video Tape:

·        Add captions videos

·        Purchase captioned videos

·        Provide an interpreter

·        Provide a script of the video

Transcribing Information from Audio Tape:

§         Attach a pressure zone microphone (PZM) to the recording device

§         Use a direct audio-input device, in-line amplifier, sound equalizer, or amplified headset

§         Use the T-coil in a hearing aid and wear a headset just in front of the ear

Communicating with Others at School:

·        Notify others that when speaking to the student they should look directly at him/her when speaking (the student must agree to this) or ask to consider communication in writing

·        Place mirrors strategically around the classroom to help alert the student of activity around him/her