Western State College of Colorado

DISABILITY SERVICES HANDBOOK 2008 - 2009

Documentation Guidelines: Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Physicians, including otolaryngologists and otologists, are qualified to provide diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists may provide current audiograms. The diagnostician should be an impartial individual who is not a family member of the student.

Documentation serves as the foundation that legitimizes a student’s request for appropriate accommodations. The age of acceptable documentation is dependent upon the condition, the current status of the student, and the student’s request for accommodations. The following guidelines are provided to assist the service provider in collaborating with each student to determine appropriate accommodations.

Recommended documentation includes:

1. A clear statement of Deafness or hearing loss, with a current audiogram;

2. A summary of assessment procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis and a narrative summary of evaluation results, if appropriate;

3. Medical information relating to the student’s needs and the status of the student’s hearing (static or changing) and its impact on the demands of the academic program;

4. A statement regarding the use of hearing aids (if appropriate);

5. Suggestions of reasonable accommodations that might be appropriate at the postsecondary level. These recommendations should be supported by the diagnosis.

Further assessment by an appropriate professional may be required if coexisting learning disabilities or other disabling conditions are indicated. Appropriate accommodations are collaboratively determined by the student and the Director of Disability Services at Western State College.

Documentation guidelines for:

• ADHD
• Blind/Low Vision
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Head Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury
• Physical Disabilities & Systemic Illnesses
• Psychiatric/Psychological Disabilities
• Rehabilitated Drug Addiction/Alcoholism
• Specific Learning Disability

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