Understanding Hearing Loss

Support

Multiprofessional Support
Support for families will be available from a range of professionals both in health and education. Audiologists at Children's Hearing Centres will provide guidance to support the ongoing use of amplification, with review appointments at set intervals. Teachers of the Deaf, Educational Audiologists and Educational Psychologists have different roles in education support. Sometimes a Speech and Language Therapist will provide advice and support.

Local Offer (England specific)
Each local authority is required to provide a Local Offer to families in line with the following legislation

• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years (2014)
• Department for Education regulations

The Local Offer will provide you with information about the services and support available in your area. Every local authority has a support service with specialist staff, such as Teachers of the Deaf, an Educational Audiologist and specialist support workers. Multiagency work will take place with audiology and speech and language therapists.

Information about the Local Offer in your area, can be found on your local authorities web site.

Education and services related to supporting deaf children and young people vary across the world. Within the UK each of the four countries is responsible for their country’s education system: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

The National Deaf Children's Society is a UK charity which supports children with any degree of hearing loss. Families can join the NDCS free of charge to access information, services and support. Events are run locally and nationally for families, children and young people.

The NDCS has a freephone helpline and regional Family Support Officers can provide information on support

In many areas there are local support groups. Visit this page on the NDCS website to see if there is a group near you.

If you work with deaf children and young people, the Ewing Foundation can help you. They offer a number of services to education professionals, schools, local authorities and resource provisions, for example, technical support and training.

The 'Family Fund' is the UK's largest charity providing grants for low-income families with children who are disabled or seriously ill. It aims to provide items and services to improve their quality of life, that could not otherwise be afforded. 

Auditory Verbal UK is a chaity that supports families through an intervention programme using Auditory Verbal theapy.

The Elizabeth Foundation is a national charity supporting young children with all degrees of hearing loss to learn to listen and talk.

Deaf Education Through Listening and Talking (DELTA) is a charity that supports families with deaf babies, children, young people and the practictioners in Health and Education that work with them.

 Cued Speech UK is a charity providing family support, training and information to help deaf people see what you're saying with Cued Speech.

Chear is an independant organisation for assessment and management of hearing in babies, children and adults.

Cochlear Impanted Children's Support (CICS) Group is an independent voluntary group run by parents whose children have cochlear implants to help others whose children already have implants and those who are considering cochlear implantation for their child.

Chloe's & Sophie's Special Ears Fund is a charity aiming to raise Deaf Awareness, improve school acoustics and provide resources and equipment to deaf children to support their emotional wellbeing.

Supporting Parents - Links: Resources and websites provided by BATOD 

Complex Needs 
The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) has created a fact sheet with contact information for support organisations for children with complex needs and vision impairment.