Situation of Children with Hearing

Impairments in Ethiopia

Presentation Layout

I. Understanding hearing impairment

II. Prevalence and etiological conditions in Ethiopia

III. Developmental effects of hearing impairment

IV. Educational situation of children with hearing

impairment

V. Early Identification and Intervention practices

VI. Inclusive Education : The Way of the Future

1. Understanding Hearing Impairment

Hearing Impairment

The Deaf The Hard of HearingEducational & medical

definitions

HI & its possible impacts (Varna,1993)

DEGREE OF

HEARING LOSS

DECIBELS

(DB hl)

POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON SPEECH

AND LANGUAGE

POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON

ADJUSTMENT AND

BEHAVIOUR

None 0 - -

Mild 20- 40 Slight difficulties May show slight deficit

Moderate 41 - 70 Difficulties in speech receptivity May show behavioral

difficulties

Severe 71 - 95 Difficulties in speaking omissions in

spoken language.

Social problems as well as

educational difficulties

Profound 95+ Have marked difficulties in

understanding speech and speech may

be unintelligible.

Educational limitations,

behavior and social skills

may be immature

2. Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in Ethiopia

Incidence and prevalence of hearing impairment in Ethiopia

Onset of Hearing Impairment

Age 3-5 6-9 10-12 13-15 15-25

Per cent 32% 16% 8% 16% 16%

Prevalence :15 %

3. Ethological Conditions of Hearing Impairment

3.1 Disabling factors and types of Hearing Impairment

Causes of Hearing Impairment

Congenital conditions

Acquired conditions

Unknown

3.2 Site of Hearing Impairment Outer ear

Middle ear

Inner ear

3.3 Causes of HI Ethiopia

3.

4. Developmental Profile of Children

with Hearing Impairments

4.1 Language Development

(Deaf & Hard of Hearing )

a) Communication Methods

Oral Communication

Manual Communication

Total Communication

b) Sign Language

4.2 Cognitive and Learning Characteristics

Impact of lack of Interaction Psychosocial situation (cognitive, emotional & behavioral factors)

Learning Characteristics The Deaf

•Pre-lingually Deaf

•Post-lingually Deaf The Hard of Hearing

4.3 Socio-emotional development

a) Family & social environmentChildren from deaf parents Children from hearing parents

b) Onset of hearing impairment Pre-lingually Deaf

Post-lingually Deaf

C) Hard of Hearing Children

4.3 Psychomotor conditions

Gross motor skills

Balance and Equilibrium

5. Educational Status of Children with Hearing Impairments (Tigray, special school for the deaf)

Ethiopian School System

6

Secondary Education -1st Cycle

7 8

9 10TL 2

TL 1

Early Childhood Care and Education

1st Cycle - Primary Education - 2nd Cycle

1 2 3

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3

Ethiopian School System Cont…

2nd Cycle Secondary Education TVET

11 12 L5L4L 3

Higher Education

Enrollment of Children with Special Needs Education in Primary schools (grades 1-8) (MoE,2011)

Disability Male Female Total

Visual 4039 2977 7016

Motor 7361 5992 12653

Hearing 2242 1729 3971

Intellectual 35783 26068 61851

Other 6335 4563 10898

Total 55760 40629 96389

Education of Children with Disabilities in Ethiopia : Challenges

7. Early Intervention and inclusive

practices

Early Intervention Traditional practices

Home-based services

Early childhood education

Inclusive Practices Discussions and debates Challenges of IE

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. How do people understand and communicate with a deaf person in your community ?

2. Compare & contrast the learning characteristics of a deaf child and a hard of hearing child?

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

3. What are the developmental implications of being pre-lingually and post-lingually deaf ?

4. Discuss the development implications of a child brought –up in a deaf and hearing family ?

5. What is your opinion about the deaf culture & the education of the deaf in an inclusive setting ?

Thank You !!

The child needs an adult to convey, interpret, analyze and understand his/her world

[open the appetite]

World Adult Child