Deafness

If you have any concerns about your child’s eating or drinking please discuss this with your child’s health visitor or paediatrician.

Deafness, or hearing loss, happens when one or more parts of the ear aren’t working effectively. This can be present at birth or children may acquire it later.

The main types of deafness include:

• conductive deafness where the sound can’t pass efficiently through the ear (this includes glue ear)
• densorineural deafness which is caused by damage to the inner ear or nerves that travel from the ear to the brain.

A hearing loss can be temporary or permanent and can occur in one or both ears. The level of your child’s deafness can be described as ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘severe’ or ‘profound’.

Children who have a hearing loss can experience difficulties developing their speech, language and communication skills. Speech and language therapy will work with you and your child to develop their listening, language and speech through sign and spoken language. We also work closely with other professionals which may include Teachers of the Deaf, Audiologists, your child’s Cochlear Implant Team, school and nursery staff.

Below are some websites with useful information: 

National deaf children's society (opens in new tab)

British sign language website (opens in new tab)

Signed stories (opens in new tab)