Mode of tele-communication and software used by children with hearing impairment. Arjamand Zahra 1 , Sikander Ghayas Khan 2 , Ayesha Kamal Butt 2 , Hafsa Noreen 3* , Muhammad Imtiaz Saeed 4 , Nayab Iftikhar 2 1 Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Speech and Language Therapist, Special Education Center, Mamukanjan, Faisalabad, Pakistan 2 Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan 3 Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan 4 Department of Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan Abstract Objective: The study is being conducted to find out mode of tele-communication and software used by children with hearing impairment. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done at special education centers and schools in Lahore and Sheikhupura. Data was collected from children with hearing impairment by using a questionnaire of 11 items about the modes of tele-communication and software used by children with hearing impairment. Sample size was 362 which was calculated by using online sample size calculator. The population includes male and female children with mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing impairment studying in special education schools of Lahore and Sheikhupura. All these children use hearing aid and have congenital bilateral hearing loss. Results: This study shows that almost 80% population of children with hearing impairment know about computer and mobile. They also have awareness about the use of computer, Facebook, e-mail etc. In addition, 40 to 50% children with hearing impairment use Skype, Facebook and e-mail as a communication tool. Conclusion: The conclusion from this study is that most of the children use computer and mobile on daily basis in schools and homes for communication. Mild to moderate hearing loss children benefit from these devices between the ages of 10 to 20 y. Keywords: Hearing impaired children (HIC), Tele-communication, Software, Digital devices. Accepted on December 5, 2017 Introduction Listening debilitation or listening misfortune happens when an individual get impaired smaller or the greater part of our capacity to listen. Different terms that are utilized to allude to listening weaknesses include terms such as hard of hearing or nearly deaf person with hearing impairment [1]. Hindrances to hearing are grouped according to the seriousness of the listening weakness and the kind of listening impairments. Mild hearing impairment patients have problems with sounds which have frequencies somewhere around 25 and 40 db. People at this level cannot hear delicate commotions and may experience difficulty taking after discussions in uproarious settings. Moderate hearing impairment patients have problems with sounds which have frequencies somewhere around 40 and 70 db. Severe hearing impairment patients have problems with sounds which have frequencies somewhere around 70 and 95 db. People at this level cannot hear most clamors and may depend on lip perusing and/or sign language even with the utilization of a listening aid. Profound hearing impairment patients have problems with sounds which have frequencies somewhere around 95 db and over [2]. Hearing loss can be classified as conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss involves the outer and middle ear, wax blockage, punctured eardrum, birth defects ear infection, or heredity, and often can be treated medically or surgically. Sensorineural hearing loss or deafness is related to the auditor nerve of hearing. Age, prenatal, postnatal, bacterial infections, heredity, trauma, exposure to loud noise, fluid and a benign tumor in the inner ear are the major causes of hearing loss. Loss in hearing ability is also observed due to problems related to inner ear damage. Mixed ISSN 0970-938X www.biomedres.info Biomed Res 2018 Volume 29 Issue 5 1028 Biomedical Research 2018; 29 (5): 1028-1032