The Hearing Support (HS) Team is part of Buckinghamshire's SEND Service. The team supports children and young people (CYP) aged 0 to 25 with hearing loss. The team works with families, educational settings and other professionals to promote positive educational, social and emotional outcomes.

Hearing loss can affect:

• speech, language and communication development
• access to learning
• social interaction
• emotional wellbeing
• independence.

The impact of hearing loss varies from child to child. It can depend on factors such as:

• the nature and degree of hearing loss
• age of identification
• access to hearing technology
• individual strengths and needs.

The Role of the Specialist Teacher of the Deaf

The Hearing Support Team is primarily a specialist advisory service. The team works during school term time. Specialist Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs): 

1. assess needs
2. provide specialist advice, training and recommendations 

The team works collaboratively with families, educational settings and other professionals to support positive outcomes for children and young people with hearing loss.

ToDs support others to understand and meet the needs of the child or young person arising from their hearing loss. This may include:

• advice relating to communication, speech and language development
• listening skills
• access to learning
• social participation
• the effective use of hearing technology.

Responsibility for delivering educational provision remains with the education provider unless otherwise specified.

ToDs do not replace the role of class teachers, SENCOs or other setting staff. Their role is to provide the specialist advice and guidance needed to enable appropriate provision. This includes inclusion and access to learning.

Qualifications and expertise of Specialist Teachers of the Deaf

Specialist Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs), also known as Qualified Teachers of the Deaf (QToDs), are qualified teachers with additional specialist training and expertise in supporting children and young people with hearing loss.

They have specialist knowledge of:

• hearing loss and its impact on learning, development and educational outcomes
• speech, language and communication development
• listening skills and auditory development
• educational audiology and hearing technology
• inclusive teaching approaches and access to the curriculum
• social, emotional and mental wellbeing
• transition planning and preparation for adulthood

Specialist Teachers of the Deaf hold, or are working towards, the Department for Education-approved Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People.

The team maintains its expertise through continuing professional development. They work collaboratively with:

• families
• educational settings
• audiology
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services
• speech and language therapy services
• and other professionals

What does the team do

Qualified Teachers of the Deaf are able to:

• undertake specialist assessments to identify the educational impact of hearing loss
• identify barriers to learning, communication, participation and inclusion
• provide specialist advice and recommendations to families, educational settings and other professionals
• support the effective use and management of hearing technology
• recommend reasonable adjustments, specialist equipment and resources
• contribute specialist advice to 
  • Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs)
  • Annual Reviews
  • other statutory processes where appropriate
• support transitions throughout education and preparation for adulthood

Who does the team support

The team support babies, children and young people aged 0 to 25 with a clinically diagnosed hearing loss. Support is available whether or not a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP) Eligibility Framework determines eligibility for support.

Support for children, young people and families

The team works in partnership with families by:

• explaining audiological information and liaising with audiology and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services
• helping them understand the impact of hearing loss on learning, communication and development
• assessing and supporting listening skills and auditory development
• supporting speech, language and communication development
• advising on communication approaches, including British Sign Language (BSL), where appropriate
• supporting the effective use, management and monitoring of hearing technology
• advising on, and where appropriate loaning, specialist equipment
• facilitating parent and carer support opportunities for pre-school children where available
• providing information, advice and signposting to relevant services, organisations and support networks
• supporting key transitions, including early years, school transfers, further education and higher education
• contributing to multi-agency planning and review meetings where appropriate
• promoting participation in social, leisure and extracurricular activities
• helping children and young people develop confidence, independence and self-advocacy skills

Support for educational settings

Each Buckinghamshire school has access to support from a Specialist Teacher of the Deaf (ToD). Early years settings, colleges and other educational providers also have access to Specialist Teacher support. Their involvement is allocated according to need and context.

The team support schools and settings by:

• explaining the educational implications of hearing loss
• advising on the impact of hearing loss on:
  • communication
  • learning
  • social interaction
  • emotional wellbeing
• undertaking specialist assessments and observations to identify barriers to learning and participation
• advising on strategies that promote access to the curriculum and inclusion
• recommending environmental and acoustic improvements
• advising on reasonable adjustments and assistive listening technology
• supporting staff to track progress and outcomes
• guiding the management and maintenance of hearing technology
• delivering training and awareness sessions for education staff and other professionals
• contributing to SEN Support planning, target setting and provision planning
• contributing to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and Annual Reviews where appropriate
• contributing to SEN Support reviews and multi-agency meetings
• advising on access arrangements for internal and external examinations
• supporting planning for successful transitions between educational phases and into adulthood
• supporting settings to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to meet the needs of children and young people with hearing loss

How to refer a child or young person

Children and young people may be eligible for support if they meet:

the Hearing Support Team's eligibility criteria

the relevant NatSIP Eligibility Framework criteria.

Referrals can be made through:

• audiology services
• schools, colleges and educational settings
• parents and carers
• other professionals working with the child or young person

To request support from the Hearing Support Team, please complete a Specialist Teacher Support Request Form. You will need to provide relevant clinical information. This is usually an audiology report to establish eligibility and support planning.

Glue Ear and Fluctuating Conductive Hearing Loss

The Hearing Support Team can provide advice and resources to educational settings supporting children and young people with mild or fluctuating hearing loss. This includes hearing loss associated with recurrent ear infections (commonly known as glue ear). Support may include:

• advice on classroom strategies
• guidance on listening environments and acoustics
• information about the potential impact of fluctuating hearing levels on learning and communication
• recommendations for monitoring and reviewing progress

Where appropriate and based on individual circumstances, direct involvement may be offered in response to changing clinical or educational needs. This could be for some children and young people who:

• have mild unilateral hearing loss
• have mild permanent hearing loss
• use hearing aids successfully
• are making expected educational progress

Support may be provided through consultation with settings by telephone or video call rather than regular visits. Decisions are made on an individual basis and reviewed as needs change.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

The Hearing Support Team does not provide direct specialist support for children and young people whose:

1. primary need is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
2. who have hearing thresholds within the normal range 

Where a child or young person has both a diagnosed hearing loss and APD, the team's involvement relates to the impact of the hearing loss.

Further information is available from:

• APD Support UK
• National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) guidance on Auditory Processing Disorder
• Buckinghamshire's Local Area Position Statement on Auditory Processing Difficulties

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)

Buckinghamshire Council works in partnership with BucksVision to provide the Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS).

BISS supports children, young people and adults with hearing loss, vision impairment and dual sensory loss.

Services provided by BISS include:

• assessments to promote safety and wellbeing
• enablement services to maximise independence
• specialist equipment assessment and provision
• habilitation services for children and young people
• information, advice and guidance for individuals, families and carers
• registration of sensory loss to enable access to relevant services and benefits

Get in touch

Contact information for the Specialist Teacher teams for details of specialist services and team contacts.  

Hearing Support (HS) team

You can contact the Hearing Support team by email at ehcenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)

You can contact BISS by: 

• Email: biss@bucksvision.co.uk
• Phone: 01296 479970

SEND Support Line

You can contact the SEND support line and request a Hearing Support callback on 01296 382135.