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What does a deaf teacher do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones

A deaf teacher specializes in teaching students with hearing impairment. They are responsible for understanding and identifying the extent of the students' needs, developing teaching strategies and materials, creating lesson and coursework plans, and organizing activities that enhance the students' interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. They must also update parents and guardians, reporting to them should there be any problems. Moreover, a deaf teacher must monitor the students' progress, all while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone.

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Deaf teacher responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real deaf teacher resumes:

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Maintain and troubleshot FM units, hearing aids and other assistive listening devices on a daily basis.
  • Direct instruction in self-advocacy, language and literacy development, ASL skills, transition planning and auditory skills.
  • Develop IEP's and individualize lesson plans for students receiving supplemental instruction in the mathematics content area.
  • Work with co-teacher to restructure Pre-K program to include a well-balance and age-appropriate learning environment, with emphasis on cooperative learning.
  • Carry both first aid and CPR certifications.
  • Help build time management and study skills for students.
  • Participate in RTI committee to identify at risk students.
  • Serve as primary ESL teacher for elementary and middleschool students.
  • Plan and collaborate on a daily basis with kindergarten classroom teachers.
  • Develop and implement lesson plans to meet IEP goals and academic goals.
  • Conduct listening checks and troubleshot sensory device and FM di f ficulties.
  • Develop curriculum and instruct a variety of classes to include co-taught settings.
  • Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study and assist in developing curriculum.
  • Educate students about their personal FM systems and troubleshot equipment for students as needed.

Deaf teacher skills and personality traits

We calculated that 23% of Deaf Teachers are proficient in Professional Development, IEP, and DHH. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical stamina, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Deaf Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Professional Development, 23%

    Attend faculty and staff meetings, IEP meetings, professional development training sessions, and parent-teacher conferences.

  • IEP, 11%

    Provided academic instructions for deaf students who did not make sufficient progress on IEP goals and objectives during the school year.

  • DHH, 11%

    Work cooperatively with mainstream teachers on curriculum, modifications, and best practices for DHH students.

  • Hearing Loss, 7%

    Played a key role in developing a cohesive, educationally sound program for students with a wide range of hearing loss.

  • Core Curriculum, 6%

    Follow all common core curriculum and make modifications for the students access.

  • Language Arts, 5%

    Provide instructions to Middle School Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Cochlear Implant students in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math.

"professional development," "iep," and "dhh" are among the most common skills that deaf teachers use at work. You can find even more deaf teacher responsibilities below, including:

Physical stamina. One of the key soft skills for a deaf teacher to have is physical stamina. You can see how this relates to what deaf teachers do because "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring." Additionally, a deaf teacher resume shows how deaf teachers use physical stamina: "develop individual educational plans (iep) designed to promote educational, physical and social development. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling deaf teacher duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators." According to a deaf teacher resume, here's how deaf teachers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "improved students cognitive and communication skills by using visual aides, asl, and assistive technology. "

Most common deaf teacher skills

The three companies that hire the most deaf teachers are:

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Compare different deaf teachers

Deaf teacher vs. Special education teacher for grades

A long term substitute teacher is responsible for covering the duties of a teacher who is away for a long time. Long term substitute teachers proceed with the lesson plan outlines and the regular teacher's curriculum depending on their expertise. They monitor and assess the students' behavior, create an engaging learning environment, evaluate the students' learning progress by conducting a series of tests, create reports of the students' performance, and help students struggling with the subject.

If we compare the average deaf teacher annual salary with that of a special education teacher for grades, we find that special education teachers for grades typically earn a $4,998 lower salary than deaf teachers make annually.Even though deaf teachers and special education teachers for grades are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require professional development, language arts, and autism in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between deaf teachers and special education teacher for grades. For instance, deaf teacher responsibilities require skills such as "iep," "dhh," "hearing loss," and "core curriculum." Whereas a special education teacher for grades is skilled in "classroom management," "math," "learning styles," and "adaptive." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Special education teachers for grades tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $49,940. In contrast, deaf teachers make the biggest average salary, $59,391, in the health care industry.special education teachers for grades tend to reach similar levels of education than deaf teachers. In fact, special education teachers for grades are 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Deaf teacher vs. Long term substitute teacher

An early childhood teacher specializes in handling and teaching young learners as they prepare for their formal schooling stage. Their responsibilities revolve around addressing and meeting the needs of students, organizing recreational activities for learning processes, and devising strategies to help the learners with their interpersonal and emotional growth. Furthermore, as an early childhood teacher, it is essential to monitor the children's progress and provide updates to their parents, all while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone.

On average, long term substitute teachers earn a $12,745 lower salary than deaf teachers a year.A few skills overlap for deaf teachers and long term substitute teachers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "professional development," "iep," and "language arts. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, deaf teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "dhh," "hearing loss," "core curriculum," and "autism." Meanwhile, a long term substitute teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "classroom management," "long-term substitute," "math," and "student learning." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, long term substitute teachers earn a lower salary than deaf teachers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, long term substitute teachers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $44,729. Whereas deaf teachers have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $59,391.In general, long term substitute teachers achieve lower levels of education than deaf teachers. They're 11.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for deaf teachers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

Technology in the next 3-5 years -- That is a tough question because technology is continually changing. However, I would say whatever learning system their school provides (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), they should get to know. Also, the technology that involves making/editing videos of teaching would be necessary. The technique that includes exercise, fitness, sports such as heart rate monitors, Fitbits, etc. Finally, a technology that allows interactions between teachers and students and students and students.

Deaf teacher vs. Early childhood teacher

Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.

On average scale, early childhood teachers bring in lower salaries than deaf teachers. In fact, they earn a $22,348 lower salary per year.By looking over several deaf teachers and early childhood teachers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "professional development," "iep," and "mathematics." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, deaf teachers are more likely to have skills like "dhh," "hearing loss," "core curriculum," and "language arts." But a early childhood teacher is more likely to have skills like "cpr," "child development," "classroom management," and "ece."

When it comes to education, early childhood teachers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to deaf teachers. In fact, they're 16.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Deaf teacher vs. Elementary school teacher

Elementary school teachers tend to earn a lower pay than deaf teachers by an average of $3,392 per year.According to resumes from deaf teachers and elementary school teachers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "professional development," "iep," and "core curriculum. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between deaf teachers and elementary school teachers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a deaf teacher might have more use for skills like "dhh," "hearing loss," "autism," and "asl." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of elementary school teachers require skills like "classroom management," "math," "student learning," and "student achievement. "

In general, elementary school teachers earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $56,048. The highest-paying industry for a deaf teacher is the health care industry.The average resume of elementary school teachers showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to deaf teachers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 12.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of deaf teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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