Deaf Support Team

Work with parents and carers by:

• identification and assessment of functional hearing in consultation with parents/carers, Health professionals and other agencies
• explaining the diagnosis
• giving early intervention and supporting in the home to help parents promote language and play skills to maximise their child’s access and minimise the impact of the hearing impairment 
• advice and assessment of equipment use from a qualified audiologist
• quality assurance of all equipment used
• offering support and advice by giving information about other agencies, benefits, support groups, specialist toys and equipment
• accompanying hospital clinical assessment visits when appropriate
• advising on school entry and phase transfer
• supporting with multi-agency work such as Cochlear implantation and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT)
• informal training

Work with schools and settings may include: 

• assessing functional hearing
• quality assurance of amplification systems (radio aids, sound field systems and hearing aids) including reviewing effectiveness of aided hearing
• providing support plans outlining child needs and equipment use. 
• providing detailed reports outlining strategies for inclusion.
• advising settings regarding the graduated response and any appropriate additional or enhanced support
• supporting with communication and early language development.
• advising on software to enhance inclusion and language development.
• delivering formal and informal Deaf awareness training to settings
• undertaking acoustic checks and advising on improved listening environments  
• providing advice for access arrangements in examinations
• delivering bespoke packages of work e.g. communication using sign language
• advising on curriculum access and resourcing
• checking access and inclusion for pupils with a hearing impairment through observations, feedback and meetings
• contributing to advice and targets for Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Educational Plans, SLT reports and annual reviews.
• supporting school-based TAs with specialist knowledge
• providing training for school-based TAs.
• providing transition packages appropriate to the needs of the child
• working with cochlear implant teams to support the implantation process and rehabilitation. 
• attending multi-professional meetings to support inclusion

What people have to say about us:

Parent: “We have noticed a huge difference since we have (the QToD) on board. We feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have her advice and support. Without her we feel that our journey would have been much more difficult and we wouldn’t have such a good understanding of our child’s needs. We are eternally grateful to her for everything she has done for our family.”

Planning

• ensure support staff have time to modify materials before the lesson
• find alternatives that avoid relying on aural learning – the QTOD can advise 

Resourcing

• prepare worksheets with a visual support. The QTOD can advise
• ensure the child/young person always has their own copy so they can refer back to the information.
• try to use as much visual support and reinforcement as possible – photographs, diagrams, gestures, facial expressions, visual time-table.
• always write keywords and new vocabulary on the board. 

Teaching

• speak normally and clearly, at a normal volume, not too fast and not too slow. Try to keep listening down to short stretches.
• always repeat other pupil’s answers, comments or questions.
• identify the speaker, by pointing or by name
• give extra time, if needed, to process information and complete tasks

In class

• ensure that deaf pupils are seated so that they can see and hear you easily.
• make sure the child is paying attention before you speak.
• keep background noise to a minimum.  (Noise from scraping chairs, heaters, squeaky board pens, computers, projectors, nearby classrooms).
• don’t stand in front of a window or bright light as this will put your face in shadow.
• it is impossible for deaf pupils who lip-read to listen and write and watch demonstrations at the same time.
• try not to walk around too much whilst speaking. 
• don’t face the board to write and talk at the same time.
• if the pupil uses specialist equipment check with the QTOD on best practice.
• lip-reading and trying to hear requires heavy concentration

Ask your QTOD - we are here to help!

Every deaf child has different levels of deafness and different ways of communicating:

Children learn best through the first hand experiences that they have in their play. The play needs of a child who are deaf are essentially the same as those without, and should follow the same developmental pattern, even where development is delayed. However, a child’s deafness may affect how they choose to play – for example, children may use and play with objects rather than language or vice versa in their imaginative play because the other offers little feedback.

It is important to remember to have fun and play! Every game you play, every activity you do with your child or every walk you go on is a lesson and a great opportunity for your child to learn something new.

• respond to your child and take their lead in play. Use your voice and touch to gain your child’s attention
• make your voice fun to listen to - with lots of ups and downs, use facial expressions and gestures to support your speech
• try singing when you feed, change, bath or play with you child - nearly all your daily routines can be made into playtime
• repetitive swinging, rocking, moving limbs with songs and rhymes while doing daily activities
• copy your child’s initiatives - eye gaze, burps, giggles, responses to sound or active play, children respond more to people who mimic them
• play in an environment with good listening conditions
• try to find somewhere quiet with minimal background noise
• soft furnishings will help to improve the acoustics
• talk and play close to your so that they can easily pick up your voice
• make sure your child knows you are talking to her - make sure you have joint attention
• talk about the object the child is looking at or playing with - smiles show you are enjoying it too
• comment on what a child is doing when they are playing so you are giving them the language associated with their play
• get down to the child’s level so they can see your face as clearly as possible
• make sure the light is on your face when talking to your child, so do not play in front of a window with the light behind you
• When sharing a story, think about how you’re sitting; can your child clearly see your face?
• sitting at the same level or angle as the child can be helpful as it can help you keep your child’s attention and have good eye contact
• try to make sure there’s enough light where you’re sitting so your child can see the book and your face clearly

Games that will encourage attending and listening

Some of these activities will be useful when your child is a baby, some as your child gets older:

• routine songs; counting games; things you say and activities you do as you change, dress, feed, wash your child
• the more repetitive you are, the more it all makes sense
• play with sound making toys- but don’t let sound making toys mask out your voice
• pause when you are about to say something so your child is ready to listen
• always be alert to sounds around and draw your child’s attention to them
• talk lots about what you are doing and react to your child’s reactions
• talk about what your child is attending to
• play tickle games
• repetitive peek-a-boo games
• hiding/ finding games
• encourage turn taking
• offer turns in your conversation - waiting for child to take a turn
• give your child plenty of time to reply
• play participation games when your child joins in
• action rhymes will help your child to be involved  
• anticipation games – so your child learns to expect something is going to happen (a tickle, a cuddle, a boo, ready, steady….go!)
• sharing books and the same ones again and again - you will be sharing the same focus and so it is clear about what you are saying
• sharing them again and again will allow the same language to be used and help your child to anticipate and wait for the sound and action or participate in the expected action
  
   

Sometimes you don’t need toys. You can make a language opportunity out of everyday activities. For example, sorting the washing out using all the appropriate language or making a cake together. Singing and nursery rhymes offer your child the opportunity to play with language, and the rhythm and rhyme will help develop their early language.

Special toys really are not essential but if you are buying toys, Check the age warnings and recommendations on toys to find ones that are appropriate for your child’s age and level of development.

Toys which make noises may be useful for your child to learn about different sounds, which can help develop their listening skills. This can also be beneficial for awareness, attention, differentiating and recognising sounds.

It can also be important for children to recognise themselves in the toys they’re playing with. Various toys on the market now have cochlear implants or hearing aids. There is also a wide range of children’s book which feature deaf characters and sign language.

Make Time 2 Play is a not-for-profit campaign helping to give a little inspiration so that everyone can make time to play.