Hearing Disability Guidelines

Hearing Disabilities and Deafness

Documentation should be:

• Current (e.g., within one year)
• From a qualified, impartial professional (audiologist or other medical specialist) with expertise in the area for which accommodations are being requested; documentation cannot be from a family member
• On letterhead (name, license/certification/degree, area of specialization, employment, address, phone) with the medical provider’s signature, credentials, and date

Documentation should include the following as relevant to the request:

• A clear diagnostic statement of the disability
•  Description of the current limitations on learning and other major life activities and the impact the disability has on the student’s functioning in a postsecondary environment
• A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis and a narrative summary of evaluation results, if appropriate
• Medical, developmental, and educational histories
• Information relating to the student's needs: the status of the individual's hearing (static or changing), environmental factors that facilitate or impede access to information or auditory input, and description of whether or not the condition benefits from amplification or other assistive technologies
• Specific recommendations for accommodations and services that would facilitate the student’s reasonable and appropriate access to the College’s academic programs and residence life settings, including rationale for each accommodations