For additional fact sheets see www.ihv.org.ukThe information in this fact sheet was correct on 22.5.14. © Institute of Health Visiting 2014

Supported by NHS

The Start4Life Information Service for Parents provides free information and advice. Find out more at: bit.ly/1iC4rrO

Confirmed Hearing Loss in Babies and Children

More information on Page 2

iHV Parent Tips

Understanding your child’s deafness and treatment options Therearedifferentlevelsofdeafness.Thesecanbe

describedasadecibel(dB)hearinglevel(howlouda soundhastobeforyourchildtohearit)ordescribed usingtermssuchas‘mild’,‘moderate’,‘severe’or ‘profound’.

Youraudiologistwillexplainmoreaboutyourchild’s levelofhearinglossandwhatthismeansforyourchild. Besureyouunderstandwhatisbeingsaidandaskfor anyunfamiliarterminologytobeexplained.

Youraudiologistwillalsoexplainhowtosupportyour child’shearingandlisteningdevelopmentathome andschool.

The news that your child is deaf can come as a great shock. Some parents will be upset, others will be relieved that their suspicions have finally been confirmed. Youwillhaveyourownreactions,andthereisnorightorwrongwaytofeel.Belowyouwillfindsomepracticalinformationonthingsyoucandotohelpyourchild,aswellas detailsonwheretogetadditionalsupport.

For additional fact sheets see www.ihv.org.ukThe information in this fact sheet was correct on 22.5.14. © Institute of Health Visiting 2014

Supported by NHS

The Start4Life Information Service for Parents provides free information and advice. Find out more at: bit.ly/1iC4rrO

Confirmed Hearing Loss in Babies and Children

iHV Parent Tips

Itcanbedifficulttoprocessalltheinformationyour audiologistmaysharewithyouduringyourappointments soifyou’reconfusedaboutanythingandarenotableto speaktoyouraudiologistforsometime,it’sagoodidea toshareyourconcernswithyourHealthVisitororGP. Theymaybeabletoputyouintouchwithalocalsupport groupwhereyoucangetadviceandshareexperiences withbothexpertsandotherparents.

Youcanfindhelpfuladviceonunderstandingyourchild’s hearingtestontheNationalDeafChildren’sSociety (NDCS)website:bit.ly/1yvRc6l

Hearingaidsmaybesuggestedasatreatmentoptionfor yourchild.Hearingaidshelppeoplehearasmuchas possiblewiththehearingtheyhave.Thetypeandlevel ofyourchild’shearinglosswillinfluenceanydecision tofitahearingaidandwillbecarefullyconsideredby youraudiologist.

Ifyourchildhasprofoundhearingdifficultiesandwillgain littleornobenefitfromhearingaids,youraudiologistmay suggestfittingacochlearimplant,anelectronicdevice thatstimulateshearinginchildrenandadultswhoare severelyorprofoundlydeaf.Theimplantsarefittedduring anoperation.

Thereareothertechnologiesavailablethatmaybe suitableforyourchildsobesuretoaskyouraudiologist tooutlinealltheoptionsthatmayhelpyourchild.Youcan readmoreontechnologiesthatcanassistwithhearingon theNDCSwebsite:bit.ly/1sKF9Sd

Getting support Yourfamilyandfriendscanbeanimportantsourceof

supportforbothyouandyourchild,helpingyourchild tofeelfullyincludedinfamilyandcommunitylife. Sharinginformationaboutyourchild’sconditionwith themensurestheycansupportyourchildinthe appropriatemanner.

Ifyou’refeelingisolatedandwouldliketomeetother parentsofdeafchildren,speaktoyourHealthVisitor whocanputyouintouchwithlocalfamiliesand supportgroups.

YoumaywishtosignuptotheNDCSforum(bit.ly/1pvkbTB) orjointheNDCSFacebookpage-on.fb.me/SZo5qS-to shareexperienceswithotherparents.

Communicating with your child Deafchildrencanlearntocommunicatethroughsignor

spokenlanguage,oracombinationofboth.Youcanfind outmoreaboutsignlanguageandotherwaysyoucan communicatewithyourchild(suchasMakaton,for example)ontheNHSChoiceswebsite:bit.ly/1lelKnM

It’simportanttogetyourchild’sattentionbeforeyoustart talking.Makesureyoufaceyourchildasmuchaspossible andkeepeyecontact.Checkthatbackgroundnoiseis kepttoaminimum,speakclearlywithoutshouting,and maintainyournormalrhythmofspeech.

Getting help at school, nursery or childcare It’simportantthatyoutellyourchild’steacherorchild

careraboutyourchild’shearingsothatarrangementscan bemadetohelp,suchasyourchildsittingnearthefrontof theclass.

Ifyourchildhasbeendiagnosedwithapermanenthearing lossyouwillalsobereferredtoaspecialistTeacherof theDeafwhowillworkwithyouandyourchild’steacher orchildcaretosupporttheireducationalandsocial development.

YourchildmayalsorequireaSpecialNeedsAssessment. Askyourchild’steacherortheSpecialEducationalNeeds Coordinatorattheschoolformoreadviceonthis.

More informationMoreinformation,resourcesandparentsupportisavailableontheNationalDeafChildren’sSocietywebsite:

bit.ly/TgTIwt Please note that you need to register to access resources but registration is free of charge. The organisation also operates a helpline on:

0808 800 8880VisitNHSChoicesforfurtherinformationonhearinglosshere:

bit.ly/UqTW5i