Identifying Minimal Hearing Loss and Managing Its Effects on Literacy Learning

Minimal hearing loss is an often undiagnosed condition that has a negative impact on literacy acquisition. Minimal hearing loss affects a substantial percentage of students, particularly those who struggle with literacy. Research has demonstrated that between 50% and 80% of children with learning disabilities do not pass their hearing screenings. Such a high hearing screening referral rate highlights the importance of understanding the effects of minimal hearing loss in schools and working collaboratively with other educational professionals to manage minimal hearing loss. In this article, we present action steps that educational professionals can follow to identify students with minimal hearing loss and develop educational plans for students these students.