Survey reveals certain children are 'overlooked' in school. Are yours?

The British government has been asked to take the needs of partially deaf children into account by the National Deaf Children’s Society who assert that nearly half of children with limited hearing struggled in school as a result of their disability.

According to a survey of parents and professionals, which coincided with Deafness Awareness Week, a child’s aural disability means the classroom can be an overwhelming place as they struggle with acoustics and a lack of understanding.

According to the parents who participated in the online questionnaire, 86% sent their child to a mainstream school, but asserted that their child’s deafness ‘had a major impact’ on their school day.

Turning their attention to their child’s teachers, one third of parents placed blame at the door of school staff, saying teachers lacked awareness when it came to moderate or mild deafness.

Explaining how a child with moderate deafness may fall behind the rest of their class, Susan Daniels, chief executive of the NDCS said: "Mild and moderate deafness can often be overlooked because of a perception that it is not a serious condition or that children are 'coping' at school.”

In an effort to fit in, Susan explained that many children develop a coping mechanism, saying: “Often these children are nodding their way through life without really understanding what is being said and missing out on vital early development.”

The study’s findings revealed that the importance of one-to-one teaching cannot be underestimated, asserting that it is ‘just as vital’ for students with moderate deafness as it is for profoundly deaf students.

Explaining the impact one-to-one teaching has had on her son, one respondent revealed: “With one-to-one at school and some superb teaching he is standing up in class and presenting in large groups and enjoying it.”

The National Deaf Children's Society estimates that there are approximately 20,000 mild to moderately deaf children in the UK.