If you have hearing loss and are about to start your freshman year of college, congratulations on starting this next chapter in your life! College is a wonderful phase of life where you chase your aspirations, discover interests and hobbies that excite you like never before and meet fascinating new people. Hearing loss does not have to slow you down. That said, you have a few extra preparatory steps before classes start, beyond the average dorm shopping and textbook purchasing.
Contact Your School’s Disability Services Office
Your school should have an office or department dedicated to students with disabilities. Reach out to them as soon as possible to register with them and submit any paperwork they may need.
This office will be your main hub for requesting accommodations. It’s a great idea to request any accommodations you can think of—even if you’re not sure you’ll need them—so you have easier access to them should the need arise. Some ideas include:
- Flashing fire alarm for your dorm room
- Note-taking software
- Captioning services
- ASL interpretation
- Assisted listening devices, like a remote microphone
- Classroom aids
- Preferential seating
- Distraction-reduced environments for testing
Remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all schools to provide equal access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities. This means that your school should have plenty of resources available for students with hearing loss, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of all they have to offer.
Connect with Your Professors
Send a quick email to your professors introducing yourself and explaining your hearing loss. Let them know if you’ll be using hearing aids or assistive listening devices, and provide any specific accommodation requests you may need for their classroom. (This may vary: you will have different needs in a chemistry lab with 20 other students than in a philosophy lecture hall with 150 other students.) Your professors want to help you succeed, and chances are, your professors have worked with hearing-impaired students before.
Build a Social Network
One of the most impactful parts of college is forming meaningful relationships with your peers. Hearing loss might make socializing more challenging, but it shouldn’t stop you from experiencing this fundamental part of the college experience. Join clubs, go to events, join study groups and get to know your dorm mates. You may choose to disclose your hearing loss or be more discreet, but either way, make the effort to get connected to the people around you.
Treating Hearing Loss
The fall semester is coming up fast, but there is still time to prepare. If you want to get an updated hearing test or believe you could benefit from hearing aids in this new, busy environment, call Bangor Audiology today to schedule an appointment!