Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team: How we support children and young people and their families
What does our service offer?
Our team offers advice and guidance on a range of issues, appropriate for your child’s age and needs:
- Helping families understand the diagnosis/implications of hearing loss
- Information about communication modes e.g. English, British Sign Language, Cued Speech
- Amplification needs and aids (hearing aids, cochlear implants, Assistive Listening Devices)
- Advice on educational provision e.g. early years settings/schools/ colleges Pre-school Children
- Establishing care and management of any hearing aids and/or cochlear implants
- Explaining the stages of language development
- Supporting families to: – develop the child’s language (English and/or British Sign Language) – become comfortable handling hearing technology – use strategies that will develop good listening skills Schools and colleges
- Providing training for use of equipment/deaf awareness/listening environment
- Monitoring and maintenance of equipment
- Delivering 1:1 sessions with children/young people to support various aspects of their development
- Supporting students to further develop language (English and/or BSL)
- Helping to develop/promote positive deaf identity
Advisory deaf inclusion workers
Our Advisory Deaf Inclusion Worker (ADIW) supports deaf children and their families in homes and schools. They support the development of communication using BSL and act as deaf role models. They deliver courses for parents and professionals to develop awareness of deaf culture and the confidence to use BSL in the home or setting.
Training
We offer training courses for parents, teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals (including British Sign Language) To find out more, please visit the Devon Education Services website.
Contact the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team on 01392 287239.
Professional lead for Physical and Sensory Team, lian.badcock@devon.gov.uk.
Resources
- Glue Ear Information
- Mild Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss Information
- Unilateral Hearing Loss Information
- Learn British Sign Language
- Baby Signs Resource
- Using LING Sounds to check hearing
- Auditory memory ideas
Developing communication:
- It Takes Two to Talk – communication development
- It Takes Two to Talk – from birth
- It Takes Two to Talk – letting the child lead
This is the story ‘Goose’ by Laura Wall, signed in British Sign Language by Debra May. The story is aimed at pre-school children and their families. It is six and a half minutes long, and contains a voiceover of the story. Perfect for summer holiday story times!
This video contains British Sign Language signs associated with social media. It is part of the work done by the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team on digital safety.
Useful links
- Devon Education Services – online learning
- Hearing impairment and BSL videos – visit Devon Education Services YouTube channel
- Cued speech
- Happy Hands drop-in support group (for parents)
Devon Graduated Response
The Graduated Response Tool has been developed to support Devon schools. The tool outlines some of the practices and adaptations that are part and parcel of Quality First Teaching (QFT): the inclusion of all pupils in high-quality everyday personalised teaching.
Requesting access to SEND support
Schools and settings wishing to access SEND support should read the guidance and submit a request for access to SEND support form.