Become more deaf aware

Deafness is a spectrum. Hearing loss varies a lot from child to child. Some children were born deaf and have never been able to hear. English is a second langauage for them and they are still learning their first language – Auslan. Others have lost their hearing over time and understand English quite well.

Each deaf or hard of hearing child will have different ways of communicating including hearing aids, li reading, sign language, visual aids and gestures, written notes, apps and technology, and combinations of all of these.

Be aware that lip reading is only about 30% accurate – the rest is guess work! Add a moustache or an accent, and lip reading becomes even harder, especially for children.

Deafness is not an intellectual disability. Some deaf people do not believe they have a disability at all.

Recognising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing

Some signs that a child is deaf or hard of hearing include:

• Asking you to repeat what you have just said
• Seeming confused while talking to you or receiving instructions
• Appear to be ignoring you
• Staring at you – paying close attention to your facial expressions
• Be wearing a hearing aid or cochlear implant

Everyone is different

If you are not sure if a child is deaf or hard of hearing, ask them!

Simple questions can help such as:

• Do you have trouble hearing?
• How much can you hear?
• Do I need to speak louder when I’m talking to you?
• Can you lip read?

They will tell you what works best for them as they want to communicate with you as much as you do, and they are working much harder.

Getting their attention

If you suspect a child is deaf or hard of hearing, move to where they can see you clearly. Yelling at them is not cool! They don’t want attention drawn to them. A friendly wave can let them know you are interested in a chat.

When speaking to a deaf or hard of hearing child:

• Face the child and make sure you are in good light
• Identify the topic first
• Speak clearly and naturally with an expressive face
• Don’t shout – they don’t want to stand out
• Use visual clues eg pointing at something
• Move to somewhere that is quieter
• Pause occasionally to allow them to catch up or ask questions