"What Did You Say?" Aging Simulation

OVERVIEW:

The student will develop an appreciation of the effects age-related changes in hearing have on daily living activities by participating in activities which simulate hearing loss.

Appropriate for Grade Level: K-3 (May be adapted for older students.)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :

Over one-third of older adults experience reduced ability to hear high frequency and low intensity sound. It becomes difficult to understand verbal messages and distinguish consonants for these individuals. Statements may be totally misinterpreted. It does not help to speak loudly to an individual with hearing impairment. Care should be taken to reduce background noises and make sure that your face is in clear view of the listener to enable lip reading. Rephrase statements if the listener does not appear to understand what you say.

MATERIALS:

Adult volunteers to man the center and explain the activity to the students

Headphones - (several pair) to block sounds
Spelling list, paper, pencils
Several children's books or textbooks
"What Did You Say?" Activity Center Sheet .PDF (download and print)

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ACTIVITY 1:

  • Adult volunteer will administer a Spelling test to a small group of students taking care to look directly at the students during a portion of the test and looking away during others so that lip reading is not possible.

ACTIVITY 2:

  • Instruct students to take turns reading to each other while both are wearing headphones.

EXTENSION IDEAS:

  1. Have students brainstorm and list ideas for things that could be done to make it easier for an older person with hearing problems.

  2. Ask students to write about the activity he/she experienced. How did you feel with the headphones on? Were there any times when you could hear the words better than others? What was happening at that time?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Positively Aging® Curriculum Project
Teaching Materials
Unit 6: Challenges and Changes: Sensitivity to Vision & Hearing Compromises
Lesson 8: Hearing Handicap

NOTE: follow the instructions to register or login to access the curriculum.

From the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Aging Research and Education Center. (2001 Edition).  Positively Aging®: Choices and Changes. (Funded by Science Education Partnership Award, grant  #R25-RR-12369). San Antonio,Texas

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