*Hearing Impairment Team

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 Audiologist

These are qualified teachers of the hearing impaired who have undertaken specialist training to obtain the mandatory qualification in educational audiology, they are responsible for fitting, maintaining and reviewing children and young people's radio aids.

Communication Support Worker

These are specialist teaching assistants who have undertaken specialist training in hearing impairment. They work for the hearing impaired service but are based in school with the children and young people.

Intervenor

These are specialist communication support workers 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

We have a Technician trained in the use of assistive technology for the deaf, the technician repairs faulty radio aids and equipment, tests that hearing and radio aid are working correctly using a test box and visits schools to replace faulty equipment.

HI Role Model

We employ a Deaf adult who visits pupils in schools and runs a family sign class. He promotes a positive Deaf identity.

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   

 The video above gives an overview of living with hearing loss.

All referrals to the Service are made through the health authority following diagnosis.

Some children and young people will be referred with a temporary hearing loss, while others may have 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 a children and young peoples 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 and the level and type of support offered are reviewed regularly.

Advice and support from our service may continue to be available to young people with hearing impairment 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.