Sensory Impairments

Definition

Vision impairment is a broad term that encompasses a range of visual limitations, from mild vision loss to near blindness. It is important to differentiate vision impairment from total blindness, as those with a vision impairment retain some level of sight, though it may be significantly compromised.

Legal blindness: In the better eye, (1) visual acuity 20/200 or less with correction, or (2) a visual field limitation such that the widest part of the visual field covers an angle no greater than 20 degrees.

Low vision: Severe visual impairment that typically is partially improved, but not fully resolved, by corrective lenses.

Other conditions may involve eye coordination (i.e., convergence insufficiency), color blindness, or symptoms such as double vision, visual fatigue, or eye pain.

Documenting Vision Impairments

Documentation is generally provided by an optometrist or opthalmologist who performs a comprehensive eye exam. Documentation should address diagnosis, visual acuity, eye health, and visual fields. The provider should have personally evaluated or examined the student and should refer to specific tests, clinical observations, or other objective data and provide documentation of test results where relevant.

The following information should be included when appropriate / relevant:

• Clearly stated diagnosis
• Comprehensive ocular assessment, low-vision evaluation, or visual acuity assessment
• Include all measurements, data, visual fields, and visual acuity for each eye, with and without correction, if used
• Eye health
• Binocular evaluation: eye deviation (provide measurements), diplopia, suppression, depth perception, convergence, etc. Specify whether the student experiences difficulty with distance, near-point, or both.
• Accommodative skills: at near point, with and without lenses (provide measurements)
• Oculomotor skills: saccades, pursuits, tracking
• Clinical observations
• Specific assistive technology that may be necessary with rationale

Documentation should clarify whether vision loss is of a permanent or unchanging nature, in which case an updated evaluation may not be necessary. For blindness, no visual measurements are necessary.

Definition

Hearing loss is defined as partial or total inability to hear. Hearing loss can be conductive, sensorineural or mixed, with impact ranging from mild to profound, affecting one or both ears.

Deafness is profound hearing loss that results in little to no functional hearing.

Documenting Hearing Impairments

Documentation is generally provided by an audiologist, otologist, or ENT who performs a comprehensive hearing evaluation. The provider should have personally evaluated or examined the student and should refer to specific tests, clinical observations, or other objective data and provide documentation of test results where relevant.

The following information should be provided when appropriate / relevant:

• Clearly stated diagnosis
• Recent audiogram with results and description of type and severity of hearing loss
• Audiological status (i.e., static or changing)
• Comprehensive speech/language evaluation, including standard scores for all administered subtests and a narrative summary of the results
• A statement regarding the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants
• Specific assistive technology that may be necessary with rationale

Documentation should clarify whether hearing loss is of a permanent or unchanging nature, in which case an updated evaluation may not be necessary.