Abstract

College students with progressive hearing loss encounter many changes in their lives. These changes are occurring during a time when they are developing their social and vocational goals. Research has identified adjustment themes that are experienced by persons with late onset or progressive hearing loss. Different theories on the grief process that describe the emotions that may be felt by a student with decreasing communication skills exist. This paper describes the adjustments experienced by a person with progressive hearing loss, information about the grieving process, and resources that may assist professionals working with this student population.