Hearing Impairment Team
The Hearing Impairment Team supports children and young people aged 0-25 years with a vision impairment at home, in early years settings, mainstream and special schools. This support continues throughout school and into further education. This forms part of Staffordshire's Local Offer and is part of the Sensory Team
Qualified and experienced Specialist Teachers of the Hearing Impaired Team work alongside other specialist professionals including Deaf Role Models, Communication Support Workers and Intervenors. We work in partnership with parents/carers, teachers and other professionals to provide support to each individual.
The video below gives an overview of living with hearing loss.
Who we are
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
These are qualified teachers who have undertaken specialist training to obtain the mandatory qualification for teachers of children and young people with a hearing impairment MEd/Postgraduate Diploma. They are responsible for the management of a caseload of children and young people with hearing impairments across the age range 0-25 in both mainstream schools, special schools and colleges.
Educational Audiologists
These are qualified teachers of the hearing impaired who have undertaken specialist training to obtain the mandatory qualification in educational audiology. They work with children with hearing loss to make sure they receive maximum support in the classroom. This may include making recommendations for acoustic modifications in the classroom, fitting hearing aid technology and counselling teachers/parents about their child’s hearing loss. Educational Audiologists also work in partnership with hospitals’ Audiology departments and hearing assistive technology manufacturers.
Communication Support Worker (CSW)
These are specialist Teaching Assistants who have undertaken specialist training in hearing impairment. They work for the hearing impairment service but are based in school with the children and young people.
Intervenor
These are specialist Communication Support Workers (CSWs) who work in homes and in special schools. They work with children and young people with hearing and multi-sensory impairments.
Resource and IT Technician
The Resource and IT Technician supports all the staff and learners who use the service. He maintains and services hearing assistive technology. The role also includes activities supporting staff development and training both on an ad-hoc basis and in formal sessions.
HI Role Model
The HI Role Model supports the development of a positive identity, confidence and self esteem for deaf children and young people in managing the challenges of being a deaf young person in a hearing world. The role also includes supporting deaf children, young people and their families in the development of their communication and signing skills.
What we do
Our aim is to provide appropriate support for inclusion. Input is designed to ensure that the specific needs of each individual are met. Careful assessment is made and the level and type of support is reviewed regularly.
- visit homes, pre-school groups, nurseries, schools and colleges
- provide advice, information and support to parents/carers and professionals.
- offer training to the setting
- advise how deaf children and young people can effectively access the curriculum
- provide specialist equipment when appropriate e.g. radio aids
- foster links with local and national organisations
- specialist advice to Local Authority as part of any assessment process such as Education Health and Care Plans
- provide opportunities for sensory impaired C&YP to access activities and to meet together
How can I access the service?
All referrals to the Service are made through health authorities following diagnosis.
Some children and young people will be referred with a temporary hearing loss, while others may have a permanent hearing loss.
Our aim is to provide support to help families and settings adjust to differing needs and enable them to feel confident in managing their child/children's hearing loss.
Our input varies and is designed to ensure that we meet the individual needs of children and young people. Careful assessment is made; the level and type of support offered are reviewed regularly.
What happens when I become an adult? / Post 16 Support
Advice and support from our service may continue to be available to young people with hearing loss in Further Education and other post school settings.
This may include signposting to
- How to access specialist equipment e.g. radio aids.
- Advice on careers and work experience and apprenticeships
- Information on benefits and services such as Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and Access to Work.
- Information about organisations who can help and advise on careers and higher education.
In addition the hearing impairment team works closely with ASSIST (Autism and Sensory Support In Staffordshire) to ensure needs are met appropriately.
ASSIST provides support for people over 16 years of age who have hearing or vision loss, are deafblind, or who have an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
Useful Links
BATOD - British Association of Teachers of the Deaf
The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) was formed in 1976 by the amalgamation of The National College of Teachers of the Deaf (NCTD) and the Society of Teachers of the Deaf (STD). BATOD is the sole Association representing the interests of teachers of deaf children and young people in the United Kingdom. It includes in its membership representatives from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and from all the many branches of the profession as well as colleagues from overseas: British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD)
BDA - British Deaf Association
The BDA is the UK’s leading membership organisation and registered charity run by Deaf people for Deaf people. The BDA delivers a range of services to achieve its aims of empowering Deaf people to overcome difficulties that they face on a daily basis: British Deaf Association
NDCS - National Deaf Children's Society
The National Deaf Children’s Society is the leading charity for deaf children. They are here for every deaf child who needs them – no matter what their level or type of deafness or how they communicate: National Deaf Children's Society
RNID - Royal National Institute for Deaf People
Together, they are here to make life fully inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus. They campaign for an inclusive society, connect people to practical advice, and pioneer new treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus: RNID - National hearing loss charity
SNSDCS - Stoke & North Staffordshire Deaf Children's Society
Stoke and North Staffordshire Deaf Childrens Society was originally formed in 1975 and has a long history of helping local deaf children and their families. The group is run by parents and carers of deaf children supported by local professionals and is affiliated with the National Deaf Children's Society. It supports families with children or young people who are affected by hearing impairments, ranging from mild to profound deafness - whether temporary or permanent. It fundraises in order to organise activities, events, and days out for families which are both fun and educational. This allows deaf children to meet their peers, make new friends and for families to connect with each other. Stoke and North Staffordshire Deaf Children's Society (snsdcs.org)
SSDCS - South Staffordshire Deaf Children's Society
The South Staffordshire Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity formed more than 40 years ago and consists of parents and friends of the society. It's a great way to meet other families with deaf children. Covering all age groups and levels of hearing loss, we provide support to parents and carers. Your child can also make lots of new friends. We run a variety of fundraising events and with the monies run fun and educational activities: South Staffs Deaf Children’s Society
Further Information
Please see below a list of our Information Leaflets which are available on request.
TYPES OF HEARING LOSS:
Conductive Hearing Loss Leaflet
High Frequency Hearing Loss Leaflet
Mild Hearing Loss Leaflet
Moderate Hearing Loss Leaflet
Severe and Profound Hearing Loss Leaflet
Unilateral Hearing Loss Leaflet
EQUIPMENT:
BAHA - Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Leaflet
Battery Information Flyer
CI - Cochlear Implant Leaflet
Retubing Instruction Sheet
Softband BAHA Leaflet
GENERAL ADVICE:
Fire and Rescue Alarm at Home Leaflet
General Hearing Impairment Advice Leaflet
Residential Information Leaflet
Specialist Support Service Hearing Impairment Team Leaflet
Swimming Information Leaflet
Using Technology at Home Leaflet
If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of these leaflets either in large print, braille, an audio tape or in languages other than English, please contact the Hearing Impairment Team by phone on 01785 356830 or by email: sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Samantha Turnbull
- Contact Position
- Head Of Sensory and Autism Outreach Teams
- Telephone
- 01785 356830
- sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
Where to go
- Name
- 2 Staffordshire Place
- Address
-
Tipping Street
Stafford
Staffordshire - Postcode
- ST16 2DH Get Directions (This link opens in a new tab)
Other Details
Availability
- Referral required
- Yes
- Other notes
Sarah Vaughan
Deputy Head of Sensory Team (Lead HI)
01785 356830