Approximately 34 million children experience hearing loss; if your child is one of them, you know the back-to-school season has extra complications. One thing you should do before the start of this school year is have a discussion or write a letter to your student’s teachers, nurses, coaches and other school faculty members to educate them about your child’s hearing loss and their communication needs. This will set your child and their teachers up to have a happy, fulfilling school year.
Why Should I Talk to My Child’s Teacher?
Hearing and understanding are critical parts of the learning process, which requires effective communication. But communication is a two-way street: for your child to hear and understand what the teacher is saying, the teacher must communicate effectively with your child—and with the class in general.
Disruptions to your child’s hearing and understanding can have more effects than just on what they learn in the lesson: there’s the risk of listening-related fatigue, which zaps their energy to do anything even after school; they may struggle with the social elements of school (e.g., play, group projects) due to communication barriers; and with all the stressors, some children struggle with emotional control and self-regulation. It’s necessary to speak to the teacher to make your child’s learning environment as conducive to their learning as possible.
What Does My Child’s Teacher Need to Know About Hearing Loss?
There are several things you can educate the teacher on ahead of the school year so they can most effectively support your child. Some examples include:
- An overview of your child’s hearing loss. What can they hear well? What can’t they hear well? If their hearing loss is in one ear, which side is their “good side?”
- Tutorial of hearing device(s). Make a copy of the manual for the teacher to keep.Thisis especially useful if the teacher needs to troubleshoot any issues.
- Discuss last school year (if applicable). What went well? What didn’t?
- Provide contact information for your child’s hearing health team.
What Accommodations Can I Request from My Child’s Teacher?
What you specifically request depends on your child and what is most effective for them. Here are some common examples:
- Sit your child at the front of the class (if your child is comfortable with that).
- Pause frequently during lessons to give your child time to digest before moving on.
- Repeat and/or rephrase information if your child requests it.
- Close the door to the classroom to improve the acoustics in the classroom and decrease background noise from the hallway.
- Use visual learning tools (e.g., drawings on the blackboard, models, demonstrations) whenever possible.
- Use closed captioning on videos or other media.
- Provide written lesson outlines and other study materials so your child can keep up even if they can’t hear well.
Have a Great School Year!
You and your child’s teacher want your child to have the most successful year possible. Taking steps like this one will help make that happen. Also, it’s a great idea to get an updated audiogram for your child ahead of time and ensure their hearing devices are ready to go. Call San Diego Hearing Center to make an appointment.