Table of Contents
- How is hearing loss identified?
- What support is available for my child?
- Milton Keynes statutory services
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
- What other support is available for families like mine?
- How can I support my child’s communication needs?
- Will sign language delay my baby’s ability to speak?
- Is sign language a ‘real’ language?
- What is Total Communication?
- Financial Support:
- Books and educational resources:
- Mental health and wellbeing
Your child may be the first person with hearing loss that you have encountered, or you may have had an older relative such as a grandparent who lost their hearing. Whatever the circumstances, experiencing it with your child can be a daunting and even frightening experience but it doesn’t have to be.
The most important point to note is that hearing loss is not life-threatening or life-limiting. There are many adults who have some level of hearing loss or deafness who live happy fulfilling lives, working, enjoying friendships and relationships the same as individuals with no hearing loss or deafness. Rose Ayling-Ellis who won Strictly Come Dancing is just one example of someone who is deaf and leading a fulfilling life.
How is hearing loss identified?
Most hearing loss in babies is identified through the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP), which is offered to all babies in England shortly after birth. If your baby does not pass the initial screen, you will be referred for further tests. A diagnosis can be confirmed within the first few weeks of life. Not all hearing loss identified through screening is permanent – some babies have temporary hearing loss caused by glue ear (a build-up of fluid in the middle ear), which often resolves on its own. Your audiology team will help you understand whether your child’s hearing loss is permanent or temporary and what this means for their development.
The image is a mock audiogram that shows the sounds that are most difficult to pick up when you have hearing loss. The image is attributed to Diego SLP
What support is available for my child?
Once the level of hearing loss has been confirmed, the hospital will advise you on whether hearing aids or cochlear implants are possible. Other departments such as audiology and speech therapy will also be involved in supporting your child.
You may also be assigned a Teacher of the Deaf (ToD). This is a specialist teacher who works with deaf children and their families, often from a very early age. They can visit your home, advise on communication, work with your child’s nursery or school, and help you understand your child’s needs. If you have not been offered this service, ask your audiology team or SENDIAS.
Your child will need time to get used to hearing aids or implants. They will need to understand and be guided by the sound vibrations they experience. A good way to put meaning to vibrations or visual cues is to use some form of sign language.
British Sign Language (BSL) is used by profoundly deaf people who cannot hear a full range of sounds and so cannot make sense of the sounds around them. Making sense of spoken sounds is particularly difficult as a number of sounds are not visible on the lips.
Milton Keynes statutory services
Audiology: Milton Keynes University Hospital provides audiology services for children. The team performs hearing tests, advises on hearing aids and other interventions, and refers to other professionals as needed.
Children with Disabilities Team: The team provides a statutory social work service to children with disabilities and their families from ages 0–19. They undertake assessments, provide support packages via direct payments or respite, and help families access services such as short breaks.
MK SENDIAS: MK Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service is a statutory service offering confidential and impartial information, advice and support to children and young people (0–25) with special educational needs, and their parents and carers.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
The EHC plan is a legally binding document. It explains the tailored support a child or young person can receive from the local authority. If you are refused an assessment to get an EHC plan, you can appeal. You are also entitled to a carer’s assessment as a carer of a family member with a disability.
What other support is available for families like mine?
There are groups in Milton Keynes such as the Parents and Carers Alliance (PACA) that provide information and support to parents and carers of children with special needs. Membership is free and they provide a number of events to bring children and families together.
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) also has a wide range of resources available for parents of deaf children, including support with benefit appeals and appealing decisions on an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. Their freephone helpline is available Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm and Friday 9am–12:30pm.
How can I support my child’s communication needs?
There are a number of actions you can take as a parent at home to support and develop your child’s communication skills:
Join your local NDCS group. You will meet other families (and your child will meet other deaf children) on the same learning journey who can provide emotional support, information and friendship.
Understand some of the difficulties that people with hearing loss experience. For example, lip reading is an inexact science. It is even more difficult for children as they are also learning language at the same time. Trying to understand what you are saying from your mouth patterns is a lot harder than you think!
Learn sign language. Most children with hearing loss are born to hearing parents who have no knowledge of the value of sign language. British Sign Language (BSL) is a recognised language used by around 150,000 people across the UK. BSL can support language acquisition for children – deaf or hearing. There are many studies showing that children’s ability to understand and use language is enhanced by using sign language.
Claim benefits your child is entitled to, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Will sign language delay my baby’s ability to speak?
This is a common myth that has no basis in fact. There is no evidence – scientific or anecdotal – to indicate that learning sign language harms speech development. In fact, the opposite is true. As long as a child has access to a language before the age of five, a deaf child will develop language skills on par with hearing peers.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that babies can learn sign language from as young as six months, which is significantly earlier than learning speech, which doesn’t start until around the age of two. Research also shows that babies who learn sign language often develop larger vocabularies and more advanced language skills at an earlier age compared to their peers. Evidence suggests that sign language enhances language learning rather than hinders it.
Is sign language a ‘real’ language?
Yes. Research on BSL started around 40 years ago and has demonstrated that sign language has a structure, syntax and grammar, just like any other language. However, despite the research, British Sign Language was only recognised as a language in the UK in 2003. The recognition has helped BSL gain popularity, but sign language is still without legal protection across most of the UK. Unfortunately, the lack of legal protection causes significant issues for deaf people in accessing information.
The situation is different in Scotland, where BSL now has legal protection thanks to the BSL Act which came into force in 2015. As 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, many deaf children still learn sign language at school as part of the Total Communication strategy used in mainstream schools.
What is Total Communication?
Total Communication (inclusive communication) uses a combination of signs, speech, lip-reading and any residual hearing (or sound acquired from hearing aids or cochlear implants) to assist with communication. Older children are often allocated a communication support worker (CSW) so they can access learning in class.
Financial Support:
Your child may be entitled to extra funding to cover the cost of resources:
Benefits
Children under 16 can claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
From the age of 16, the benefit stops and you can switch to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead. The rules for PIP are different and the young person may need to attend a DWP face-to-face assessment to discuss their ongoing support needs.
Grants:
Family Fund: The UK’s largest provider of grants to families raising a disabled or seriously ill child aged 0-17 on low income. Grants available for equipment, white goods, computers, tablets, clothing, bedding, and family breaks.
Birkdale Trust: Provides grants to children and young people (up to 25 years) with a hearing impairment for BSL courses, specialist equipment, individual tuition, and professional advice.
If you live in the borough of Bedford, you may be able to apply to the Harpur Trust for support.
Books and educational resources:
Children aged 0 – 5 years:
Baby sign language: Research shows that enabling your child to access language early through baby sign language can enhance communication, reduce frustration, and support language development. Studies indicate that babies who learn sign language often develop larger vocabularies and more advanced language skills at an earlier age compared to their peers.
NDCS also run a basic sign language course for parents of children between the age of 0 – 5 years. Courses are run as group sessions for parents of children aged between 0 – 5 years old.:
Children aged 5 – 11 years:
BSL Sign Zone features content specifically for deaf children. The programmes feature deaf children getting involved in a range of activities.
BBC has a fantastic programme with Deaf presenters called Magic Hands.
Schools are a difficult topic. Hearing-impaired children are usually sent to their local mainstream school. There is an expectation that schools are able to accommodate children and their hearing needs. However, this is not always the best option for your child, particularly if they are the only child with hearing loss. Some schools specialise in supporting children who are deaf or have hearing loss.
Group activities:
Tiny Talk: Award-winning baby signing classes that teach babies and toddlers to communicate using British Sign Language before they can speak
Hedgerows Family Centre (Netherfield): Langland Road, Netherfield, Milton Keynes MK6 4NP – Tel: 01908 239000
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/hedgerows-family-centre
You can also look at the ‘socials‘ page which has links to accessible activities such as captioned cinema sessions.
BSL resources and learning materials: https://www.signbsl.com/
Key BSL vocabulary for babies and toddlers:
GCSE topics in BSL:
BSL vocabulary resources: https://www.signbsl.com/gcse-vocabulary
Children aged 11 – 18 years:
The same rules apply to secondary schools. The assumption is that your child’s EHC plan will explain what your child needs for academic success. Unfortunately, not all mainstream schools have the knowledge or understanding needed to accommodate your child’s needs. Sometimes, it is better for your child to attend a school with a specialist department.
Young people aged 18 – 25
The transition from secondary school to adulthood is challenging for most young people, without the added concerns around the impact of hearing loss. Additional challenges may include attitudinal, environmental and psychological barriers to overcome as a young person transitions into the hearing world.
Mental health and wellbeing
It is worth being aware that deaf children and young people can experience higher levels of anxiety, loneliness and social isolation, particularly if they are the only deaf child in their school. This is not inevitable, but it is worth keeping an eye on. Connecting your child with other deaf children and the wider Deaf community – through NDCS groups, The Buzz, and local activities – can make a significant difference to their sense of identity and belonging.
The NDCS has mental health resources specifically for deaf children and young people on their website. SignHealth is a deaf health charity that also offers mental health support in BSL.