Hearing Disabilities Documentation Guidelines

Overview

Students requesting accommodations on the basis of a hearing loss provide documentation consisting of:

• An audiological evaluation and/or audiogram, no older than 3 years if loss is progressive.
• An assessment of the functional limitations of the hearing loss for which accommodations are being requested, and whether the degree of limitation is mild or severe.
• A description of treatments and assistive devices and their estimated effectiveness in ameliorating the impact of the hearing loss (hearing aids, assistive listening devices, etc.)
• Prognosis of the hearing loss.
• The major life activities affected by the condition.

A physician, audiologist, or a qualified diagnosing professional should sign the report.

Accommodations and Support Services

Requests for accommodations are considered on an individual basis by taking into account the student's qualifications related to the educational activity, the reasonableness of the request and whether or not the accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature the activity in question.

Impairments rising to the level of disability protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability; however, services and accommodations related to those impairments should reflect specific limitations affecting the ability to participate in one or more major life activities.

 

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