Are you heading back to school this fall? If you’re a college or university student, we wish you all the best in your next semester! Whether this is your first year or last year of college, hearing loss can make navigating college a struggle, so here are our top tips for college students with hearing loss.

Learn About Hearing Loss

If you’re struggling to hear, the first step towards a successful school year is learning more about hearing loss, and understanding how hearing loss is affecting you. You’ll need this knowledge in order to advocate for yourself, and get the accommodations you need. At Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services, we can help you fully understand your hearing loss, and help you find the words to explain your hearing loss clearly to professors and peers alike.

Accessing Recourses

Your college or university has recourses available to all students with disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. A fundamental human right is equal access to education, so seek out the Disability Support Services office at your school to meet the team that’s dedicated to providing assistance to students just like you. These advisors will assist you in finding out what accommodations are available to you, assist you in notifying professors about your needs, and help you have a successful school year.

Accommodations at College

If you’re struggling with hearing loss, there are a number of accommodations available to you at college. You may be eligible for priority registration, the use of an FM system to help you hear the professor, and closed captioning on all videos shown during class. You can ask for reserved seating at the front of the room to help you hear clearly, and can even sign up for note-taking services so you won’t have to worry if you miss a few words here or there.

Picking the Perfect Seat

During the first week of classes, its’ important to make sure you pick good seats in all of your classes. This can make all the difference in having a successful semester, or struggling to hear. Often the best seat will be in the front of the room, and near the middle of the row. Avoid sitting near the doors or windows, and make sure your seat isn’t near a noisy fan of vent as these will create a lot of distracting noises that will make hearing the professor a lot more difficult.

Talking to Your Professors

Your professors are dedicated to providing quality education, and if you approach them sincerely and ask for help, they will be happy to assist you. While your disability services advisor can talk to your professor on your behalf, it’s important that you meet each of your professors personally to discuss what accommodations you will be using in their class. Visit them during office hours in the first week of classes, or schedule an appointment to see them after class.

Talking to Peers

Many of your classmates have never had a deaf or hard of hearing student in their classes. They might be a bit nervous to interact with you, or they may be unsure of how to communicate with someone with hearing loss. When meeting your classmates, take the time to explain your hearing loss so that your peers can understand what you’re going through, and know how to communicate effectively. Start with the people sitting beside you, and keep it simple. Tell them you struggle to hear, and let them know if you read lips or use any assistive technology to help you hear. They’ll be happy to understand a bit more about you, and the ways they can help you hear.

Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services

If you’re starting college this fall and are worried about your hearing loss, visit us at Orange County Physicians’ hearing Services, where our team of dedicated hearing professionals will make sure you have the technology that will help you hear. Our discreet hearing aids feature amazing programs to help you hear both in the classroom and at home. From directionality features, speech enhancement and background noise reduction to the ultimate in connectivity programs, find out how a hearing aid will help you have a successful school year.