Which IDEA category corresponds to Deafness and Hearing Loss?

• A. Autism Spectrum Disorders
• B. Traumatic Brain Injury
• C. Other Health Impairments
• D. Deafness and Hearing Loss

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how IDEA assigns specific named categories to different disabilities. Each category is the exact label used to identify the type of impairment a student has and the supports they may need. For hearing loss, the appropriate IDEA category is Deafness and Hearing Loss, which is dedicated to students whose hearing impairment affects their ability to learn and communicate. This category directs the planning team to consider services like sign language, amplification, captioning, and other communication accommodations.

The other options point to different disabilities and would be used for different types of needs: Autism Spectrum Disorders refers to neurodevelopmental differences in social communication and behavior; Traumatic Brain Injury covers cognitive and functional effects from a brain injury; Other Health Impairments is a broad category for health conditions that limit energy or alertness, such as ADHD or chronic illnesses. Since the question calls for the category that corresponds to Deafness and Hearing Loss, the category that matches exactly is the correct choice.