The Hearing Impairment (HI) Service

A hearing loss is very common in young children. This can be a temporary condition as in ‘glue ear’ or it may be permanent. Deafness, or hearing loss, happens when one or more parts of the ear are not working effectively.

• Advise and give information to parents/carers and staff in education settings EG: on hearing conditions, classroom management, risk assessments, environmental audits, access arrangements for examinations, transition phases.
• ensure that the views, wishes, perspectives and experiences of the children and young people are fully reflected in their provision.
• Work in partnership with families offering support and information regarding hearing difficulties.
• Ongoing assessment of functional listening.
• Deliver training about raising awareness of hearing impairment in a variety of settings such as nurseries/pre-schools, schools and further education.
• Provide specialist teaching and support to children with a hearing impairment.
• Develop listening and language skills.
• Support and advise on the use of specialist equipment e.g. hearing aids, bone conduction aids, cochlear implants, soundfield and FM radio systems.
• Give advice on the modification of teaching materials and access arrangements for examinations.
• Contribute to individual communication programmes.
• Liaise with other professionals such as; Social Care, Audiologists at the Hearing Centre, ENT Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists and Voluntary organisations.
• Attend and contribute to statutory assessment, annual reviews, individual education plans.

Babies, children and students 0 -25 years (Post 16 if in further education) with a diagnosed hearing impairment, their families and carers who live in the Dudley Borough or attend Dudley schools.

Support is offered at home, Nursery or Early Years Setting, Playgroup, School or College.

Level of support is allocated according to the National Sensory Inclusion Partnership (NatSIP) visiting criteria.

We have an open referral system. Referrals can be made by parents/carers, school staff, nursery/early years settings, medical professionals such as speech and language therapists, ENT consultants, school health advisors and hearing centres. 

If you think your child may have a hearing problem:

contact The Hearing Centre 01384 321266 and ask for a hearing test appointment.

Referral form

Hearing Impairment Support Auditory Processing Disorder - recommendations for support 

Hearing Impairment Support Guidance relating to the management of glue ear in the classroom. 

Hearing Impairment Support Guidance relating to Background noise - why deaf children cannot filter the sounds they want to hear from other noise 

Hearing Impairment Support Guidance relating to hearing loss – some warning signs

Sessions held fortnightly 09.45am – 11:45pm at the Children and Families Centre, Forge Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1XF.

Information sheet for parents/carers Hearing Impairment Service Baby and Toddler Group 

The Hearing Impairment Service provides advice, information and specialist equipment for students with a hearing impairment.

 The Hearing Impairment Service consists of Qualified Teachers of the Deaf and  Educational Audiologists. 

For further information please contact:

Dawn Bevington dawn.l.bevington@dudley.gov.uk

Telephone number: 01384 818003