School & learning

Schools do not always have experience dealing with children who have hearing loss and may not always understand how hearing loss affects students in the classroom, especially if those kids present as typical children (speech, etc.) otherwise.

Kids with hearing loss often score as “low-average” on language tests, which can be still considered acceptable to many schools but this doesn’t mean they’re truly doing okay. Hearing loss creates “Swiss cheese” language - gaps in vocabulary, grammar, and understanding that hide behind one overall score. The brick wall graphic* below also demonstrates this principle and shows how despite understanding general context of what is being said, children with hearing loss can still miss a lot of information and their results will be different.

These students struggle to catch every word in noisy rooms, fast discussions, or group work, making it tough to follow directions, learn new ideas, keep up with peers, or feel confident joining in. That’s why schools must dig deeper by checking subtest results, like listening comprehension, working memory, or reading—and watching kids in real class settings.

Areas that are impacted by hearing loss*:

Classroom & Social: Struggling with group discussions due to noise or distance.
Vocabulary: Gaps ("Swiss cheese language") from missing incidental overhearing.
Syntax: Missed rules like plurals, tenses (/s/, /ed/ sounds unclear).
Working Memory: Hard to retain partial words or new vocabulary.
Listening: Discriminating sounds/phrases poorly; hears but doesn't fully process instructions.
Attention: Tunes out from fatigue or gaps.
Early Reading: Weak phonology/phonemic awareness.
Language Processing: Slowed or fragmented; poor context grasp.
Social Language: Awkward pragmatics, nonverbal cues, peer skills.
Self-Advocacy: Passive behavior when confused; lacks help-seeking skills.

So, when “low-average” scores pop up, it’s a red flag that kids need appropriate support services. Trained professionals, like teachers of the deaf, should get involved to spot hidden issues and address them through additional aids, such as specialized instruction, classroom adjustments, or a 504 Plan as those can make a big difference in kids' success.

Look at the graphic below* to see how the learning progress can look like for kids with hearing loss if there is no appropriate support.

*Source: https://successforkidswithhearingloss.com/2018/05/08/evaluation-considerations-low-average-%E2%89%A0-okay/

So what are the options? Check out our information on school documents you will need to help set a more level-playing field for you to thrive in a school environment, including more information on IEP, 504, and communication plan.