Hearing impairment is one of the invisible disabilities.  Some students with hearing impairments wear hearing aids, but aids are so compact and cosmetic they are hardly noticeable.  The major challenge facing the student with a hearing impairment is communication.  Preferred modes of communication vary, as does residual hearing and the capacity to utilize speech.  The student is the expert in what adaptations are needed and should be consulted early and often to establish and maintain acceptable classroom adaptations.  Students with hearing impairments generally compensate for hearing loss in one of two ways:  1) simultaneous lip-reading and reliance on residual hearing, or 2) simultaneous lip-reading, residual hearing, and sign language.