Deaf or Hard of Hearing

What is Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

The term "deaf or hard of hearing" refers to students with any type or degree of hearing loss that interferes with development or adversely affects educational performance. "Deafness" means a hearing loss that is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification. The term "hard of hearing" refers to students who have permanent or fluctuating hearing loss that is less severe than the hearing loss of students who are deaf and that Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education With Related IDEA Federal Regulations 31 generally permits the use of the auditory channel as the primary means of developing speech and language skills.