The Hearing Support (HS) Team is a part of the SEND service. It consists of Specialist Teachers (Teachers of Deaf CYP) dedicated to fostering the educational growth and personal development of children and young people (CYP) with hearing loss.

The Hearing Support Team primarily offer an advisory service and works term-time only.

Who can the Hearing Support team support

• The Hearing Support (HS) Specialist Teachers support:
• children and young people 0 to 25 years old;
• with or without Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs);
• who have a clinically diagnosed hearing loss;
• who meet the criteria outlined in the NatSIP Eligibility Framework.

How the Hearing Support team support CYP’s and their families

Among other things, they may:

• help to explain audiological information and liaise with Audiology/ENT
• support with understanding the implications of hearing loss
• help to develop a CYP’s listening skills
• support with language development and communication
• signpost to, or provide access to, BSL support as appropriate
• provide support with personal hearing equipment and specialist equipment
• loan specialist equipment as appropriate
• provide opportunities for parents/carers to meet and share experiences at preschool groups
• assist parents to contact and access other supportive agencies
• offer advice ahead of transitions such as preschool, school, college or university
• support the CYP and their family at multi-disciplinary meetings
• encourage a CYP’s participation in a range of leisure and out-of-school activities

How the Hearing Support team supports settings

Among other things, they may:

• Explain the nature of the hearing loss and its implications for education
• Explain the nature of the hearing loss and its implications on the development of social and emotional skills
• Offer support and advice to ensure access to the curriculum
• Offer advice on classroom/setting management strategies and on the acoustic environment
• Observe in the classroom/learning environment to support and inform inclusive practice
• Work closely with the teachers/staff to assess and monitor CYP’s educational needs
• Provide training and advice on the maintenance and management of specialist equipment
• Provide a range of informal and formal bespoke training
• Provide advice for High Needs Block Funding (HNBF) requests as part of the needs assessment process for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Advise on target setting for the CYP (at SEN Support or EHCP level)
• Contribute to annual review, review meetings, SEN Support meetings and multi-professional meetings
• Advise on appropriate access arrangements for internal and external examinations

How to make a referral

Referrals can be made via Audiology departments following a clinical diagnosis of hearing loss. Please email the referral to ehcenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Professionals in educational settings can refer by using the Specialist Teachers Support Request Form.

Referrals must include medical evidence of a diagnosed hearing loss. In most cases, it will consist of an audiology report.  

Contacting the Hearing Support team

You can contact the team via the following channels:

• Email: ehcenquiries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
• SEND Support Line: 01296 382135

Glue-ear

We give general advice and resources to settings to support CYP with mild deafness, who don't use hearing aids. This includes deafness due to regular ear infections ('glue ear') that cause fluctuating conductive deafness. In some cases, we might make visits to the CYP, as appropriate and in line with changing clinical need.

In some situations, we might offer phone or video call consultations to teachers of CYP’s with:

1. either a more long-term or permanent deafness, who might be using hearing aids
2. and who are making the expected progress in class.

This deafness, for example, could be due to:

• mild sensori-neural deafness
• deafness in one ear (unilateral deafness)

This offer would be on a case-by-case basis and is subject to review.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Buckinghamshire Hearing Support Specialist Teachers do not currently provide direct support for children and young people who have APD and normal levels of hearing.

The Hearing Support Specialist Teachers can provide usual levels of support for a CYP's hearing loss element if:

1. A child has been clinically diagnosed with hearing loss
2. and diagnosed with APD.

Aimed at practitioners, the Local Area Position Statement for APD improves the consistency of approach amongst professionals. It aims to reduce uncertainty for families. For further information on APD visit the APD Support UK website. For support and guidance, visit the National Dead Children's Sociaty page on APD.

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS)  

Buckinghamshire Council also works in partnership with BucksVision to offer an integrated service to children, young people, and adults in Buckinghamshire with hearing, sight, or dual sensory loss. This service is called Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS).

BISS provides several support services to CYP’s with sensory loss, including:

• Assessment and support to ensure people are safe and well.
• Enablement Services to maximise independence and wellbeing.
• Equipment assessment and provision to improve independence and wellbeing.
• Habilitation Services focusing on independent living skills for children and young people (CYP).
• Information and advice for people with sensory loss, carers, and community sector partners.
• Registration of sensory loss to access services and welfare benefits.