Hearing Needs Team

The Hearing Needs Team facilitate the inclusion and academic progress of children and young people with hearing needs through direct teaching and support to schools, settings and parents.

Referrals are accepted for children and young people who have been diagnosed with a permanent childhood hearing impairment. In addition, we provide information to schools and settings for children with prolonged or aided conductive hearing loss (Glue Ear). All referrals come from the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme or Audiology Departments, or movers into Sefton with an already diagnosed hearing loss.

What other information and advice is available for my child?

Sefton and West Lancs Deaf Children’s Society
The Sefton and West Lancashire Deaf Children’s Society (SWLDCS) is a local, voluntary, independent self help charity affiliated to the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).

The SWLDCS is run by parents of deaf children and professionals who work with deaf children to provide information and support to families of deaf children and to the deaf child.

You can contact the service on 0151 934 2347or by email:  info@swldcs.org.uk 

National Deaf Children’s Society
The NDCS provides clear, balanced information and support for families of deaf children, deaf young people and professionals working with families. You can find out more about the NDCS at their website:   http://www.ndcs.org.uk/
or you can call their helpline on 0808 800 8880.

The Ear Foundation
The Ear Foundation bridges the gap between clinic-based services, where today's exciting hearing technologies, such as cochlear implants and bone conducting hearing implants are fitted, and home, school and work where they are used in daily life. You can find out more by visiting their website:   http://www.earfoundation.org.uk/
or by contacting them on 01559 421985 or by email:  info@earfoundation.org.uk

Deaf Education Through Listening and Talking (Delta)
Delta want a world in which deaf children are able to realise their full potential within their communities and we believe this is best achieved through support to learn to listen and, thereby, acquire spoken language. Delta believes that the vast majority of deaf children can learn to listen and talk. They believe that all parents of deaf children should be given this option.

You can find out more at the Delta website:
http://deafeducation.org.uk/
or by contacting them on 0845 108 1437 or by email:  enquiries@deafeducation.org.uk

What support is provided by the Hearing Needs Team?

The work of the Hearing Needs Team involves:

  • Capacity building in Schools and Early Years Settings through the delivery of training.
  • Assessment and monitoring of children’s’ language development.
  • Direct teaching where appropriate to develop listening and language skills.
  • Carrying out audits and giving advice on the acoustic environment in schools and settings where necessary.
  • Information, advice and support to parents/carers including those of newly diagnosed babies from the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
  • Liaison with Audiology Departments in North and South Sefton.
  • Monitoring and overseeing use of Hearing Aids.
  • Providing and maintaining Radio Hearing Aid systems.
  • Liaison with Auditory Implant Centre.
  • Partnership working with Therapy Services where appropriate.
  • Contributing to local multi-agency developments through Children’s Hearing Services Working Group.

How will I know what level of support to expect for my child?

For more information you can contact Sefton SEN and Inclusion Service on 01704 882038 or by emailing SEN & Inclusion Service: hearingneeds@sefton.gov.uk

You can find the Sefton SEN and Inclusion Service at:

Sefton SEN and Inclusion Service

4th Floor, Magdalen House

30 Trinity Road

Bootle

L20 3NJ


Last Updated

Last updated: 28/11/2023

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