Definition: A child with a hearing impairment, including deafness shall have a deficiency in hearing sensitivity as demonstrated by an elevated threshold of auditory sensitivity to pure tones or speech where even with the help of amplification, the student is prevented from receiving reasonable educational benefit from general education.
The Colorado Rules for the Administration of the Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) defines the criteria for identifying a student with a hearing disability. Colorado’s Deaf Child Bill of Rights (1996) requires that all students with a hearing disability have a Communication Plan that considers students’ communicative needs as they relate to social and emotional development. The following links give access to documents related to the field of Deaf Education.
- Colorado Quality Standards (PDF)
- Deaf Child Bill of Rights (PDF)
- ECEA Rules (PDF)
- IEP Form: Communication Plan (MSWord)
- IEP Form: Determination of Eligibility: Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness (MSWord)
Related Services
Professional Organizations
- Colorado Association of the Deaf
- National Association of the Deaf
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Heard of Hearing
- Hearing Loss Association of America
- The Listen Foundation
- The Hearing Loss Association of America - Colorado
For more information about services for students who are hearing impaired, please contact:
Ruth Mathers, Principal Consultant
Phone: (303) 866-6909
