Remote Learning for Children with Auditory Access Needs: What We Have Learned during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Education
• Audiology
• Special Education

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid transitions to remote learning environments.
• Educational access for students with hearing impairments faced immediate and complex communication barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges and solutions related to communication access for deaf or hard of hearing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To report on strategies implemented by educators and audiologists to support these students in online learning settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research based on extensive interviews with teachers of the deaf/hard of hearing and educational audiologists.
• Analysis of reported challenges and implemented solutions during the shift to remote instruction.

Main Results:

• Significant challenges in maintaining communication access during online instruction for students with hearing loss.
• Development and implementation of various strategies to overcome these barriers, with some unexpected positive outcomes.
• Varied experiences reported by professionals and parents regarding the effectiveness of remote learning solutions.

Conclusions:

• Effective communication access is critical for the educational success of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Adaptability and collaboration among professionals, parents, and technology are key to addressing educational challenges in emergency remote learning.
• Further research is needed to optimize remote and hybrid learning models for students with hearing impairments.