Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH)

DHH pupils with hearing aids or cochlear implants should be wearing these consistently throughout the day.

Some DHH pupils may use assistive listening devices as well as their hearing aids so ensure you are familiar with these and they are used correctly.

Ensure that all equipment is checked daily and working appropriately.

Support DHH pupils to manage their equipment independently.

Speak with your local Qualified Teacher of the Deaf (QToD) if you have any issues or concerns regarding a piece of hearing equipment.

Look at the DHH pupil and get their full attention before speaking or signing to them.

Try to face the DHH pupil when speaking to the class and avoid turning around to write on the board as you speak.

Give DHH pupils some ‘thinking time’ before asking them to respond to questions.

Check in regularly with DHH pupils throughout the lesson to ensure they have heard and understood the learning.

Keep background noise levels to a minimum.

Support DHH pupils to become active listeners and ask for information to be clarified or repeated if needed.

DHH pupils should be seated at the front, not necessarily in the centre, with a clear view of the teacher and interactive whiteboard.

Having tables in a horseshoe layout allows for DHH pupils to see everyone’s face.

When you are speaking to the class try and stay in one place and avoid moving around.

Try not to make yourself ‘backlit’ (this will turn you into a silhouette) and DHH pupils often rely on lipreading and signing. It is better if you face a window or light source.

Stand at an appropriate distance from the DHH pupil. If you are too far away it will make it harder for them to hear, see lip patterns and signs and facial expressions.

Use a visual timetable that includes the word and a picture.

Use visual resources to support the learning, especially when introducing new vocabulary or topics.