Unit 12.

Do you know the difference between these two terms: “the hard of hearing” and “the deaf”?

The text below deals with this question.

The hard of hearing

Until the early 1900’s everybody with a hearing loss was classified as "deaf".

The term "hard of hearing" has been adopted from the German expression "Schwerhörigkeit".

The hard of hearing (h.o.h.) is sometimes called ^“the partially deaf", "deafened", or "partially hearing”.

In School practice the fundamental difference between "the deaf" and the "hard of hearing;" is established by the amount of speech and language they possessed.

The hard of hearing child has a distinct advantage over the deaf child in having some experience with speech and language.

Regardless of the type and degree of his impairment, the h.o.h. (hard of hearing) person must learn to listen attenti­vely if he wishes to learn to hear properly again. The use of hearing aid is fundamental to any programme of re-educating residual hearing.

The hard of hearing are provided with a rehabilitation programme including auditory training, lip-reading.

The hard of hearing children are expected to use the combined sense of hearing and sight in the perception of speech as they are instructed in lip-reading and auditory training.

In almost all classes for h.o.h. children there are pupils of varying degrees of intelligence and language backgrounds. The academic group is composed of those who wish to continue through high school. The vocational group is for those who wish to go to work soon after they have reached the limit of the compulsory school law.

Talking point

Give a brief summary of the text.

TERMS

hearing loss – потеря слуха

hearing aid – слуховой аппарат

auditory training - тренировка слуха

lipreading – считывание с губ

background – зд. подготовка

Unit 13.

What can cause hearing loss or simply deafness? Can it be because of acute infections?

To find a certain answer to these questions we should study the hearing mechanism properly.

The hearing mechanism

The hearing mechanism consists of 3 parts: 1) the outer, 2) middle and 3) inner ear chambers.

Deafness is typed by the doctors according to the part of the mechanism involved.

Air conduction deafness means that the outer and middle earchambers are not functioning normally, whereas perceptive or nerve deafness indicates that the cochlear section (inner ear) is at fault.

There are two mechanisms to be considered in the physio­logy of hearing:

a) the sound conducting mechanism;

b) the sound perceiving mechanism.

The outer ear mechanism consists of the auricle, and the canal leading to the membrane called the ear drum. The collec­tion and concentration of sound waves is performed by the auricle and the external auditory canal. The auricle reflects the sound waves into the auditory canal.

One of the most difficult problems is that of abnormali­ty of development of the auricle and the external ear canal. In complete absence of the ear canal there is about 50 db hearing loss.

The middle ear is air filled, and connected with the throat by the Eustachian tuba. Its purpose is to provide ventilations and drainage for the middle ear and to equalize air pressure on both sides of the drum.

When we yawn or swallow, the Eustachian tube opens and the air pressure on both aides of the drum is equalized again. There are 3 bones in the middle ear: the hammer, the anvil, the stirrup. They serve as a protection against damage to the ear from very loud sounds.

The inner ear is the vital organ of hearing. It consists of 2 sections: the cochlea which looks like a snail and the system of semicircular canals. Unlike the airfilled middle ear, the inner ear is filled with fluid. The motion of the fluid in the cochlea agitates the nerve endings in the mem­brane dividing the inner ear cavern. The stimulation of these nerves is then transmitted to the brain.

So, the action of the middle ear is mechanical. Its function is to conduct sound vibrations.

The actions of the inner ear are to transform mechanical energy into the electrical energy of nerve impulses and to perceive sound. Loss of hearing is most com­monly caused by the acute infections of nose and throat usual­ly described as "colds”, "catarrh" and "sinus trouble".

The nose, throat, sinuses and ears are all connecting cavities in the bony structure of the head. A certain number of germs exist in them all the time and they may produce in­flammation, which may damage the ear.

Talking points

Describe the construction of the hearing mechanism briefly.

What influence our hearing mechanism badly?

What steps should a person do to prevent loss of hearing?

TERMS

the hearing mechanism – слуховой аппарат, орган слуха

outer ear chamber – внешняя полость уха

middle ear chamber – средняя полость уха, среднее ухо

inner ear chamber – внутренняя полость уха, внутреннее ухо

Air conduction deafness – глухота вследствие воздушной непроводимости

perceptive deafness – восприимчивая глухота

cochlear – улитка /уха/

to be at fault – быть в затруднении

auricle – наружное ухо

ear drum – барабанная перепонка

sound waves – звуковые волны

throat – горло

Eustachian tube – евстахиева труба

bone – кость

the hammer – молоточек

the anvil – наковальня

the stirrup – стремя

the cochlea – улитка /уха/

snail – улитка

fluid – жидкость, жидкая среда

acute infections – острые инфекционные заболевания

colds – простуда

sinus trouble – болезнь пазух

germ – микроб

UNIT 14.

Speech plays a very important role in our life, particularly in our career. It’s not an easy way to study to speak correctly.

Are speech habits instinctive or they are acquired?

What develops first speech or language?

The answers you can find in the text.