Hearing Impairment

Who receives this service?

Children and young people who have been assessed by a hospital's Audiology Departments (Health Department) and have been diagnosed with hearing loss.

The Service supports pupils aged between 0 and 19 years old at:

Early Years Placements
primary schools
secondary schools
special schools

What does the Service offer?

The Hearing Impairment Service works with parents, schools and other professionals to ensure that:

Every child and young person is given equal opportunities
Every child and young person receives the exact same education as their friends in local schools and communities.
Every child and young person develops the specialist skills that they require.
Every child and young person reaches his/her potential and develops to become an independent learner.
A tailored service is provided for children and young people of both Counties by following the national quality standards of NatSIP (National Sensory Impairment Partnership)
Others understand what education, social and welfare inclusion of pupils aged 0-25 with Sensory Impairment means.
Work with the parents and the schools to ensure that they understand referral arrangements to relevant agencies and services.

The Hearing Impairment service works with Gwynedd and Anglesey schools to ensure that children and young people with Hearing Impairment are given the opportunity to do everything on the Curriculum in order to reduce the impact of Hearing Impairment on any academic progress and across every aspect of the pupils' lives.

In order to do this, as a service we have set the following objectives:

Ensure that key staff in schools have the appropriate skills and resources when working with a pupil who has Sensory Impairment.
Offer a service that helps pupils with Sensory Impairment aged between 0 and 25 in early years placements, primary schools, secondary schools and specialist schools to ensure that they reach their full potential.
Offers a range of appropriate support to meet the individual needs, and the requirements of the 'National Sensory Impairment Partnership' (NatSIP).
Present and monitor the Specialist Curriculum among Sensory Impairment pupils, and ensure a firm development of the key skills.
Ensure that parents are a key part of any support offered.
Work with external agencies (health/language therapists/ voluntary organisations) to ensure a response on different levels to support the pupils
Develop specialist knowledge and skills among the Sensory Impairment Team to maintain the required levels of expertise to support the severe and complex needs of the pupils.

When a pupil is identified as having a Hearing or Visual Impairment, with the consent of the parents/guardian, the relevant Hospital department will be required to share the information with the Sensory Impairment Service.

The referrals will be considered, in accordance with the Service's access criteria, by the ALN&I (Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion) Area Forum.

In some instances, the Forum will refer to the Cross-County Panel to consider the case. The effectiveness of the specialist strategies are measured and the progress of the individuals is reported back at the forum. Where there is no evidence of progress, the support is reviewed.

The specialist support follows specific steps.

**Who's in the team?**
Specialist Hearing Impairment Teacher
Denise Hughes
Jacqueline Adams
Sian Wyn Mathias
Lois Wyn Hughes
Specialist Hearing Impairment Teaching Assistant
Non Thomas

How can the Service be accessed?

Referrals to the Service come from the health service (Audiology Departments) and the specialist departments of Cochlear Implant centres.

The referrals are discussed against the service's access criteria at ALN&I area forums.

What is the Educational Psychologist's role?

What is the Quality Officer's role?

What is the school's role?

Every school has a responsibility to create a safe and caring environment where it is possible for all pupils to develop happily and confidently. In order to ensure a friendly environment for learners with sensory impairment, schools are expected to:

Ensure that any risks are targeted.
Ensure that the learning environment and the ethos is inclusive and welcoming.
Respond on different levels to needs by considering any reasonable expert advice.
Measure the progress of children/young people who receive interventions in order to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Use standard and directed assessments to see progress and determine the best appropriate support.
Ensure that any strategies/recommendations by the specialist service are included in every aspect of the pupil's school life.

Resources and Information

Audiological Information

General Information

Resources

Sign languages and sign systems - a quick guide to British Sign Language and sign systems such as Makaton, Signalong and sign supported English/Welsh (SSE/SSW)

Who else can help?

The Education Department

Specialist Teachers

Educational Psychologists

Health Services www.wales.nhs.uk

Audiology Department

ENT Department (Ear, Nose and Throat)

Genetic counselling

Paediatrician

Speech and language therapists

The School

Headteacher