Tools for Schools
- Key adults should have a good understanding of the individual’s hearing loss and how it affects their understanding and access to learning and social opportunities
- Gain an understanding of how to help the child or young person gain the most from their hearing aids or cochlear implants. This includes any support required to tolerate wearing of hearing aids for extended periods of time
- Consider how best to manage the environments’ acoustics – for example, noise, seating positions
- Monitor the child or young person’s understanding of language including classroom instructions. Prepare and provide visual resources and reinforce key vocabulary and concepts
- Provide the child or young person’s peer group with advice on how to be supportive and have some awareness of hearing loss
- Carefully manage and pace group discussions in order to allow the child or young person to participate – for example, a quiet working space maybe needed for small group work
- Assistive listening devices, such as radio aids may be used. These will require a speedy response to problems with technology, including daily checking and ensuring appropriate use
- Consider strategies that support development of the child or young person’s social skills and confidence.
For students with severe to profound hearing loss, they may also need:
- Intensive hearing speech and language rehabilitation following hearing aid fitting or cochlear implant surgery – this may include speech and language therapy
- To learn and use British Sign Language (BSL) as their primary mode of communication to access the curriculum, or to supplement delayed or limited spoken language
- A specialist teaching assistant for sign supported English and support in class -for example, to note taking and frequent reinforcement key vocabulary and concepts in order to keep up with the demands of the classroom
- An adult who is skilled in monitoring and managing the learning environments for deaf learners to prompt subject and class teacher to make adjustments and ensure assistive technology is appropriate
- An introduction to the hearing impaired community to help develop a positive identity as a deaf person.
Last updated 3 August 2021