Pick a School for Your Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child

A child who is deaf or hard of hearing may require special accommodations to succeed at school, but fortunately, there are high-quality options available in many places. Once you have come across a few options, visit the schools and ask plenty of questions. Class size, distance, and parent recommendations may also factor into your decision. Keep an open mind, and do thorough research to find the best school for your child.

Steps

Identifying Schools and Accommodation

  1. Decide if you want to send them to a school for the deaf. At a school for the deaf, your child will be in class with other deaf or hard of hearing children. The teachers may be either deaf or hard of hearing themselves. Schools for the deaf will work with your child in sign language and other forms of visual communication. There are both local and residential schools for the deaf.
    • A school for the deaf will introduce your child to Deaf culture. This is important for many people, as it helps your child feel included and welcomed into the Deaf community.
  2. Look into mainstream schools. Your child may be able to attend a mainstream or neighborhood school. These are ordinary public schools, where your child will attend school with hearing children. Accommodations, such as note takers or the use of an FM system, will be provided.[1]
    • Depending on their level of hearing, your child may join hearing children in a class or they may be in a special education class for deaf students. Some children may even spend part of the day in a class for deaf children and part of the day in a class with hearing children.[2]
    • In a mainstream school, your child will have the opportunity to communicate with hearing students. They will be able to live with you at home. That said, some deaf or hard of hearing children may find it difficult to keep up in a mainstream school. You may find that teachers are not adequately trained to deal with deaf or hard of hearing students.
  3. Weigh the pros and cons of a residential school. Many schools for the deaf are residential schools. This means that your child will live at the school during the week and come home on the weekend. Sometimes, residential schools are the only option for families, but some parents may not want to send their children away.
    • Residential schools will provide complete accommodation for your child. Teachers will have the proper training to teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and your child will attend school with other deaf children. Children will also learn and participate in Deaf culture.
    • Living away from the family may be difficult for both children and parents. There may be a difficult adjustment period. You also may not be able to be actively involved in their education.[3]
    • There are many schools for the deaf that are day schools, where your child will come home in the afternoon and live at home. The availability of these schools depends largely on area.[4]
  4. Consider the personality of your child. Like all children, deaf children may have particular personality traits that make them suited for certain types of education.[5] Some things you might consider include:
    • Does your child do better with more structure or less structure?
    • Does your child prefer to work alone or with other children?
    • Is your child artistic? Logical? Athletic?
    • How active is your child?
    • Does your child fidget or can they sit still for long periods of time?[6]
    • Does your child already have hearing friends? How well do they play and communicate with hearing children?[2]
  5. Ask your child what they are looking for in a school. Your child may have their own preferences when it comes to school. Let them have a say in which school they will attend. Ask them what type of school they would prefer.
    • You might ask your child if they would prefer going to school with other deaf or hard of hearing children or if they want to enter a mainstream school with hearing children.
    • Consider bringing your child along with you to visit schools so that they understand what their options are. They can interact with teachers and visit classes.
    • If you are thinking about a residential school, you might ask your child how they feel about living away from home.
  6. Research potential schools. Once you have an idea of the ideal school for your child, spend some time to look up schools that fit your profile. While you can use the internet to do this, it is also a good idea to contact your local school board, education agency, or state services for the deaf.
    • If you live in the US, you can contact a state department of rehabilitation services. Some states may even have agencies for the deaf.
    • Reach out to a local chapter of a Deaf association or nonprofit, such as the Hearing Loss Association of America (US) or National Deaf Children Society (UK and Australia).
  7. Determine what accommodations your child will need. Depending on your child’s needs, they may require particular accommodations. Identify what your child's needs are and how they can be met in the classroom.
    • Children who are hard of hearing may use an FM system in the classroom. The teacher will wear a transmitter, and your child will have a receiver that is either hooked up to their hearing aid or worn as earphones. The teacher’s voice will be transmitted directly to the receiver.[7]
    • Children who are profoundly deaf will likely need an instructor trained in sign language or other forms of visual communication. Interpreters can be used if there are no teachers with sign language.
    • Older children may benefit from having a note taker. A note taker will ensure that your child does not fall behind because they missed something that the teacher said.[2]
    • Deaf or hard of hearing children can typically participate in classes as well as any hearing child if proper accommodation is granted. If your child has learning difficulties, however, you will need to factor them in as well.

Visiting the School

  1. Arrange a visit. Once you have found a potential school, you should arrange a time when you can go visit. Call the school, and tell them that you have a deaf or hard of hearing child. Let them know that you are interested in the school but that you want to come visit first.[8]
    • You may want to bring your child with you, so that they can help make the decision of which school they will attend.
  2. Watch a class. When you go to the school, ask if you can watch a class. This will give you a chance to see how teachers interact with students. It can also give you an idea of the structure and educational philosophy of the school.
    • If your child has partial hearing, the acoustics of the classroom may be important. Poor acoustics may interfere with how well your child can hear or pay attention.[5]
    • If it is a mainstream school, ask if you can watch the classes for children with hearing difficulties.
    • If this is a school for the deaf, try to get a sense of the different ways that they teach deaf or hard of hearing children.
    • If this is a residential school, ask to tour the dormitories as well.
  3. Talk to the staff. Take every opportunity at the school to talk to the principal, administration, and teachers. This will give you a full picture of what is available at the school. Some questions you might want to ask include:
    • What types of training do teachers receive to teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing? Do other teachers have Deaf-awareness training? Do you give Deaf-awareness training to hearing students?
    • How many members of staff know sign language?
    • In case of an emergency, how will my child be assisted?
    • Does the school offer any extra tutoring for students who are deaf? What assistance can my child expect to receive for assignments and exams?
    • What is your bullying policy?
    • Are there other deaf children at the school?[9]
  4. Examine hearing assistive technology in the classroom. The school may offer hearing assistive technology for children who are hard of hearing. Ask if you can personally see this equipment to make sure that it is adequate for your child.
    • If this is a mainstream school with few other deaf or hard of hearing children, you may want to ask how often this technology is tested to make sure it works properly.[9]

Making a Decision

  1. Compare the class size. Many deaf or hard of hearing children do better in smaller classes, where they can receive individual attention when they need it. When comparing schools, look at the class sizes. A size of around twenty is usually considered manageable while larger classes may be more difficult.[5]
    • Some hard of hearing children are easily distracted by noise or by commotion. They may not be able to hear the teacher over other noises in the classroom. Larger classes may prove to be more difficult for them to pay attention in.
  2. Ask other parents. If you know parents who send their child to a school that you are considering, you might ask them how they like the school.[10] They may be able to tell you about things that were not mentioned during your visit. You can ask:
    • How does your child like their teachers?
    • How does the school accommodate your child’s needs?
    • Is bullying a problem there?
    • How well do the teachers and administration work with you?
  3. Measure the distance between schools and home. Some people may find it difficult to locate a nearby school. In this case, you should compare how far away each school is and how long it will take you to get there.
    • If it is a day school, consider whether or not a bus is available to pick up your child. If not, factor in how long it will take you to drop your child off every morning. Does this fit in with your work schedule or commute?
    • If you are planning on sending your child to residential school, you will need to consider whether they can come home on the weekends. If the school is too far away, they may need to stay over the weekend. Check with the school to see if they allow it. Some residential schools will not allow children to stay over the weekend.
  4. Understand that your child’s needs may change. As your child grows older, they’ll grow new skills and ways of communication. This may change the type of school that is best for them. It is ok to send your child to a different school in a few years. Always consider the needs of the child first.[11]
    • For example, a child who could not speak well in kindergarten may develop strong speaking skills by third or fourth grade. This may allow them to move from a special education class to a mainstream class.
    • Alternatively, a child who did well in mainstream classes as a child may want to move to a school for the deaf as they get older, as they may feel excluded in mainstream classes.

Tips

  • Talk to your child’s audiologist. They may have recommendations.
  • Many schools for the deaf, including residential schools, are free for students to attend. They are typically publicly funded.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/education_for_deaf_children/education_in_the_early_years/choosing_a_school.html#contentblock1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/learning/choices/mainstream/
  3. ↑ https://www.ericdigests.org/1998-2/life.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/learning/choices/deafschools.php
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.hearinglikeme.com/choosing-a-school-for-your-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-child/
  6. ↑ https://www2.ed.gov/parents/schools/find/choose/choosing.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/assistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders
  8. ↑ http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/education_for_deaf_children/education_in_the_early_years/choosing_a_school.html#contentblock3
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au/starting-school-checklist.html
  10. ↑ http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/education_for_deaf_children/education_in_the_early_years/choosing_a_school.html#contentblock3
  11. ↑ http://www.handsandvoices.org/needs/placement.htm
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