Hearing Loss at School

There’s so much change! For parents of children with hearing loss, there are additional worries: “Will my child be able to fit in?”, “Will they hear their teacher properly?”, “Will they be mocked by their classmates?” Fortunately, with the right support children can take advantage of many tools to help them throughout their school careers.

First, it’s important for parents to decide whether they want their child to be in a regular or specialized class. This decision will be made with the help of other professionals such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, audioprosthetists and specialized educators. They will assess the child’s needs based on their hearing loss and communication skills, while also considering the parents’ views. It is important that the child’s school environment be adapted to their needs and encourage personal and social development. For instance, children can start school in a specialized class, then transition to a regular class.

Various hearing health and communication professionals will help the child in their development. Audiologists may conduct follow-ups to assess the child’s hearing and needs. Audioprosthetists will meet with the child at least twice a year to adjust and program their hearing aids and make sure the devices are working well. If the child has a language impairment, a speech-language pathologist can help them communicate. A specialized educator will also follow up with the student. This person will meet with the child several times throughout the year to make sure that everything is going well and work with them to develop tools to help them in their everyday lives.

For example, the professionals may recommend that the child wear an FM system, which allows them to hear the teacher’s voice better and reduces background noise, helping with concentration. It is also possible to set up an IEP (individualized education program), which is a list of recommendations (daily use of hearing aids, seating at the front of the classroom, possibility of having more time for exams, etc.) to help the student succeed.

The child must understand the importance of wearing their hearing aids at all times in the classroom, to hear the teacher's instructions and interact with classmates. In this way, they will have access to all the information they need to succeed.

It’s important to raise awareness among the child’s classmates early in the school year. A specialized educator can introduce the student and briefly explain what hearing loss is. They will also be able to make recommendations and give communication strategies to other students so that they can help their hearing-impaired classmate. This presentation will prevent the hearing-impaired child from being mocked or asked questions.

Of course, parents also play a key role by de-dramatizing the situation and making their child feel supported. It’s important to motivate them, encourage them and build on their strengths. As the child grows up, they will be able to give their own opinions and become more involved in school-related decisions.