Specialist Advisory Teachers: Deaf/Hearing Impaired

The support provided in school for deaf and hearing impaired children will depend on the child's needs.The schools have responsibility for ensuring that the needs of all their pupils are met. They will receive advice, support and training as required from the Specialist Advisory Teacher:Deaf/Hearing Impaired.
 
Frequently this will be the same person who was involved with the child and family at the pre-school stage. Some children will have a proportion of direct teaching from the Specialist Advisory Teacher:Deaf Hearing Impaired. This is generally work on the child's communication, listening, language and speech development. It is important that these all are supported to be as closely in line with the skills of their normally hearing peers as possible.

Should a child appear to have specific language difficulties over and above those arising from their hearing loss, a Speech and Language Therapist may be involved to work closely with the Specialist Teacher and the school to advise on further specialist approaches.
The amount of specialist teaching will depend on the child and the opinions of all those involved with the child, including the child's parents or carers and the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Those children who use signing are likely to have high levels of support to maximise their access to the school's curriculum.
 
The Children's Service's Educational Audiologist will continue to see the child when he or she attends the Children's Hearing Clinic at the hospital. S/he will liaise with the Specialist Teacher involved and the Health Service professionals to ensure the child has the best amplification possible.

Families can find out more about support in school from the Specialist Teacher involved with their child.

Peripatetic Teachers of the Deaf

These teachers travel to homes, playgroups, nurseries, schools and college.  As well as teaching deaf children, they offer support, advice and information to families and other people working with deaf children.

Educational Audiologist

An Educational Audiologist is usually a qualified Teacher of the Deaf who also has a recognised qualification in audiology.  They provide guidance to other Teachers of the Deaf, parents and other professionals about hearing assessments, hearing aids and hearing support.

Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)

A Speech and Language Therapist is a health professional specialising in communication development.  Their role is to enable deaf children to develop their communication skills in Sign Language or in oral language.  These skills may include receptive language (what your child understands); expressive language (what your child says or signs); speech skills (how your child pronounces words); and interaction skills (how your child uses language in conversation).

A Speech and Language Therapist can work with the child and his/her family at home; in nursery; at school; at a clinic or hospital.  Some Speech and Language Therapists specialise in working with deaf children, but they are not available in every area.