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Empowering Deaf Children and Young Adults | Sound Waves Foundation

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Sound Waves Foundation was born out of the need to empower deaf children and young adults to reach their true potential. We want to celebrate difference and deafability. We want to create a Sonic Boom!

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Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale - Parent Proxy 

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Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale - Parent Proxy 

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Fatigue for Listening with Hearing Loss in School 

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Fatigue for Listening with Hearing Loss in School 

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Deaf Football Sessions - Lostock Hall, Preston 

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Deaf Football Sessions - Lostock Hall, Preston 

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Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired Sessions Lostock Hall Juniors Football Club | Preston , Lancashire

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Our Town Directory | Wigan Athletic Community Trust - Newbridge Disability Kicks Football Junior

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We’ve put some small files called cookies on your device to allow this site to function. We’d now like to put a cookie to store any chosen accessibility settings, and to remember when you have logged in.

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Talking Time Activity Cards - Surrey Council 

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Talking Time Activity Cards - Surrey Council 

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Talking Time activity cards - Surrey County Council

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Activities to help your child’s learning at home

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Ideas for how to support your deaf child at home

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Ideas for how to support your deaf child at home

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Here are our top tips and resources:

(WWL are not responsible for the content of 3rd party websites. Please let us know if there are any broken links or changed content.)

General Ideas and Information

Talking point: information on all aspects of children's communication, including a useful progress tracker to map your child's development.

Communication Trust: The Communication Trust is a coalition of over 50 not-for-profit organisations. Working together we support everyone who works with children and young people in England to support their speech, language and communication.

I CAN is a specialist children's communication charity providing a range of information services about children's communication.
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Early Years

Tiny Happy People: The BBC Tiny Happy website is packed full of ideas and activities that are easy to build into your daily routine. They're quick and inspiring, but they're also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help your child's development.
Startwell
Startwell events in the area
Special time
Playing together
Sharing books together
Helping listening and attention skills
Helping understanding and talking
Baby Buddy
Booktrust
Baby Box University (for newborns)

A playlist of communication strategies from @Towerhamlettherapies
Adult-Child Interaction
A webinar from our colleagues in North East London Foundation NHS Trust
Special Time
A short example of the Dos and Don'ts of Special time (from our colleagues in Tower Hamlets)

Primary School Resources

Helping listening and attention skills
Helping social communication skills
Helping speech sounds
Helping understanding
Helping talking - Infants
Helping talking - Juniors
Sharing books - Infants
Sharing books - Juniors
Sharing time together
Blank Levels
Knowing what children understand, helps us ask the right questions. Blank levels are a useful framework to help us.
Colourful Semantics
Colourful semantics is an approach created by Alison Bryan, speech and language therapist, to support children who have a developmental language disorder. Teachers can use the principles to help children learn about and talk about language structure.

Secondary Age Resources

Developmental Language Disorder
DLD | Developmental Language Disorder | Language Disorder (dldandme.org) Colourful Semantics
Colourful semantics is an approach created by Alison Bryan, speech and language therapist, to support children who have a developmental language disorder. Teachers can use the principles to help children learn about and talk about language structure.

Unclear Speech (phonology)

Unclear speech (neurological conditions)

Additional Needs (Also known as Special Educational Needs, or SEN)

Wigan Parent Carer Forum
A-Team Hub
Embrace Wigan and Leigh is a user-led charity dedicated to helping people with any type of disability and their families who live, work or use services primarily within the borough of Wigan, gain the support they need to live a fulfilling life.
Down's Syndrome Association
Blank Levels
Knowing what children understand, helps us ask the right questions. Blank levels are a useful framework to help us.
Modelling Symbols
Some children and young people needs symbols to help them understand or express themselves, or to develop their language skills.
Intensive Interaction
This approach was developed by Hewitt and Nind, and helps develop meaningful and enjoyable interactions between two people.The video explains the technique and gives examples of it in action.
Communication Profile
A single page of information that helps people get to know a child or young person. Click here to download a template you can edit.

Selective Mutism

Cleft Palate

Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)

National Autistic Society
www.socialthinking.com has some great resources and information for all ages on how to think socially, and therefore develop social skills through a better understanding of what people are thinking and why they act in the way they do.

Take a virtual tour of the Grand Arcade shopping centre in Wigan. The iRoam technology allows people to familiarise themselves with the shopping centre in advance of any visit and can really help to reduce anxiety. This may be particularly useful for people with autism.
Howe Bridge Leisure Centre virtual tour (wigan.gov.uk) Wigan Life Centre virtual tour Leigh Leisure Centre virtual tour (wigan.gov.uk) Modelling Symbols
Some children find it difficult to process the spoken word, or to express themselves using speech. Symbols can help.

We teach symbols in the same way we "teach" speech - use it, and allow children to see how powerful communication can be. Below is an example of how we can model symbols during a playdough activity. There is no pressure on the child to use the symbols. We model, and the child can use the symbols when they are ready. We can create opportunities for the child to express themself by pausing, allowing them to copy, or to tell us something new!
Intensive Interaction
This approach was developed by Hewitt and Nind, and helps develop meaningful and enjoyable interactions between two people.The video explains the technique and gives examples of it in action.

Dysfluency (stammering)

Communication Aids (AAC)

1Voice is a user-led network and support group for children who use communication aids and their families.

Communication Matters provides information and resources for professionals and families and people with limited natural speech.
Modelling the Use of Symbols
If children are learning to use symbols to express themselves, they need to see symbols being used all the time, so they can learn this visual language. Here is an example of modelling symbols during a playdough activity. There is no expectation that the child uses the symbols. We model, and when the child is ready, they will use the words/symbols that are meaningful to them. We create opportunities for them to use the symbols by pausing, or by pretending to do things wrong - we give the child something to talk about!

Signalong

Signalong - The Communication Charity Information about the signing system that Learning Disabled children and adults use in Wigan.

Watch videos:

Visual Supports

Some examples of visual supports
Word Maps

Communication Role Models

A communication disability doesn't have to stop you achieving.

Read some success stories:

Chris Packham (TV presenter and Wildlife Expert)

Professor Stephen Hawking (Scientist, Author)

Lost Voice Guy (Lee Ridley: Radio 2 Comedy Award winner 2014, writer)

Francesca Martinez (Activist and Comedian)

Rosie Jones (Actor, Activist and Comedian)

Becky (Artist and AAC user)

Pink Wheelchair Films (Film maker who uses AAC)

Eating and Drinking

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WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Children's SALT How You Can Help Your Child

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Here are our top tips and resources: (WWL are not responsible for the content of 3rd party websites. Please let us know if there are any broken links or changed content.) General Ideas and Information Talking point: information on all aspects of children's communication, including a useful progress tracker to map your child's development.

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Usher Kids UK exists to empower children and young people (aged 0-25yrs) and their families living with Usher syndrome. We provide information, support and opportunities to connect, giving every child and family the tools they need to thrive.

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Welcome to Sarabec
Sarabec® specialise in providing audio equipment for deaf and hard of hearing people. We have over 40 years of experience working with people who have a hearing or visual impairment, and pride ourselves on our fantastic customer service! Please get in touch if you need assistance: 01642 247789.
Below you'll find our wide range of hearing devices such as TV & Conversation Listeners, Telephones, Fire Alarms, Alarm Clocks, Doorbells, Tinnitus assistive products, accessories and more. We want to help you stay in touch with friends and family, stay safe at home, and enjoy recreational time. Explore our categories below.

Back to School Promotion: 15% OFF Wake 'N' Shake Alarm Clocks

Never be late again with our super loud, super bright, vibrating alarm clocks! Get 15% off this September only.

Brochure Download

Explore our range of 2023/2024 products with our catalogue, available to download, view online or receive via post.

Brochures

This Week's Featured Products

Chimeflash

Extra loud and ultra bright alerting. Perfect for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people

£37.80 ex VAT | £45.36 inc. VAT

New SOS Telephone

The portable Geemarc CL9000 Emergency Response Telephone with SOS bracelet offers a landline experience with a touch of mobile.

£116.66 Ex. VAT | £139.99 Inc. VAT

New Tower Receiver

The battery operated Signolux Tower Receiver can be used as an alternative or alongside the Standard Receiver/Signolux Pager Receiver.

£41.99 ex VAT | £50.39 inc. VAT

Accreditations & Proud Members Of

Sign up to our Monthly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter for monthly product highlights as well as hints and tips to help you get the most out of your equipment.

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Sarabec Hearing Equipment - Help with Hearing Loss. | Sarabec

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Sarabec provides hearing devices for the hard of hearing. with 40 years\' experience, we offer Listening & Conversation devices, Telephones, Alarm Clocks & more

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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

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Find out more about our Free Home Fire Safety Assessments.

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Back

Primary target audience: Parents, Professionals

Knowing how to communicate with other people in socially appropriate ways is known as 'pragmatics'. Sometimes, deaf children can experience delays in their pragmatic skills.

This booklet explores in depth how children develop pragmatics and includes lots of fun activities to help you practise these skills with your child.

This resource is aimed at parents of deaf children but may also be helpful for
Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs) and other professionals working with deaf children.

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Pragmatics and social communication | Documents and resources

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An in-depth exploration into how children develop pragmatics (social communication skills), with lots of fun activities to help you practise these skills with your child.

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The Elizabeth Foundation for Preschool Deaf Children - We help deaf preschool children learn to listen and talk

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British Sign Language - The Elizabeth Foundation for Preschool Deaf Children

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Learn British Sign Language (BSL) signs In this section you can watch videos to learn a range of useful British Sign Language (BSL) signs. These signs show some of the key words we use for topics in our preschool classes following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. We have arranged these BSL signs by

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Assistive technology can be used in addition to your child's hearing aids or hearing implants to support them with communication. Other devices can help your child to be more independent at home, in education, and at work.

We're no longer running our Technology Test Drive or Borrow to Buy loan services, but the information in this section can help you to decide which assistive technology could benefit your child.

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Assistive technology | National Deaf Children's Society

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Find out about technology that helps deaf children and young people at home, work or in education.

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Manchester Deaf Centre - 5 week Introduction to BSL courses 

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Manchester Deaf Centre - 5 week Introduction to BSL courses 

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Learn BSL for free at the Manchester Deaf Centre

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Learn BSL for free at the Manchester Deaf Centre

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Applications now open, see below
This year we have received funding from Manchester Adult Education Service to deliver a programme of free BSL courses. These courses are all suitable for beginners.
Eligibility Criteria

A resident of Manchester (Home postcode: M1, M2, M3 (excluding Salford postcodes), M4, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16 (excluding Trafford postcodes), M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M40)
Please note:
The funding criteria mean that to be eligible for a place you must be:

if you are allocated a course place, we need to meet with you to complete an adult education enrolment form and to check your proof of address and ID before your place on the course is fully confirmed.

Upcoming Courses

5-hour Introduction to BSL (online, Monday mornings)
Start date: Monday 15 April 2024
Time: 11am to 12 midday
Duration: 5 Weeks (1 hour per week)
Location: Zoom classroom
Dates: 15/04, 22/04, 29/04, 13/05, 20/05 (Note: no class on Monday 6 May as it is bank holiday)

5-hour Introduction to BSL (online, Monday evenings) NOW FULL
Start date: Monday 15 April 2024
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Duration: 5 Weeks (1 hour per week)
Location: Zoom classroom
Dates: 15/04, 22/04, 29/04, 13/05, 20/05 (Note: no class on Monday 6 May as it is bank holiday)

10-hour Introduction to BSL (in person, Friday mornings)
Start date: Friday 17 May 2024
Time: 10am to 12 midday
Duration: 5 Weeks (2 hours per week)
Location: Manchester Deaf Centre
Dates: 17/05, 24/05, 07/06, 14/06, 21/06 (Note: no class on Friday 31 May as it is the school holidays)

More about our free BSL courses

British Sign Language is a rich and beautiful language comprised of hand gestures, facial expressions and body movements. All of our BSL courses are delivered by experienced tutors who are themselves profoundly deaf British Sign Language users. This provides a unique and authentic learning experience for students. Where necessary, a fully qualified BSL Interpreter will be present to assist with the facilitation of communication between tutor and students.
5-Week Introduction to BSL courses (5-hours and 10-hours)
What will I learn?

These courses provide an insight into this fascinating visual language, and equip you with basic skills needed to engage in conversation with a deaf BSL user.

Fingerspelling

G​reetings and Introducing Yourself

Numbers, Dates and Time

Family and Friends

You will cover the following topics:

20-Week Introduction to British Sign Language (60-hours)

These courses are a non-accredited version of the Signature Level 1 BSL qualification. This means that there is no pressure of exams, just lots of learning and fun. The course will include all of the Signature Level 1 syllabus and more.* The aim is to teach you to communicate using BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use.

understand and use a limited range of simple words and sentences in BSL

take part in simple, everyday conversations in BSL

give and follow simple directions or instructions in BSL

give and follow simple familiar statements or descriptions in BSL

*Please note, we can organise for any student who wishes to take their Level 1 exams to do so on a self-funded basis after the 20-week course has finished. A​pply for a free BSL course here
At the end of the course you will be able to:

Further Information: If you would like further information about these courses before applying please email: admin@manchesterdeafcentre.com

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Manchester Deaf Centre Learn BSL for Free

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Learn BSL for Free Applications now open, see below This year we have received funding from Manchester Adult Education Service to deliver a programme of free BSL courses. These

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Learn BSL at Wigan and Leigh College (p9 of prospectus)

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Learn BSL at Wigan and Leigh College (p9 of prospectus)

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Adult Spring Guide 2023 Download Adult Spring Guide ADULT ADVICE & ENROLMENT EVENTThursday 30 March 2023 3.00pm - 6.00pm Location: CATS building (Centre for Advanced Technical Studies) New Market Street, Wigan, WN1 1RP Book your place at our Adult Advice & Enrolment Event

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CHSWG - Children's Services Working Group

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CHSWG - Children's Services Working Group

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Groups for parents, carers and professionals working together to improve local services for deaf children

What are CHSWGs?

Children's Hearing Services Working Groups (CHSWGs) are groups of parents and professionals who work with deaf children and young people. They meet regularly to help improve health, education and social care services for deaf children, young people and their families.

There are 136 CHSWGs across the UK. Typically:

Groups meet three or four times per year.

They have 10 to 15 members (depending on the geographical size of the area).

Meetings last about two hours.

Meetings take place during the day, though a few do take place during the evening to enable more parents to attend.

A chair steers each meeting through a prepared agenda.

Groups use action plans that help them to work on priorities for their local area.

Each group member - also known as a representative or 'rep' - has the opportunity to share their views, feedback on any progress made, raise issues that are affecting deaf children and young people, and provide the voice of parents.

Who can attend meetings

Parents, carers and deaf young people

Parents, carers and young people, we warmly welcome you to attend as you are perfectly placed to gather feedback from other families about local services for deaf children. These can be shared with your local CHSWG to help shape the support for deaf children and families in your area.

Professionals

If you support deaf children and their families, CHSWGs offer you the opportunity to work together with parents to help shape services. You will play a key role in making sure that families and deaf young people have a voice at your CHSWG.

Health

Paediatric Audiology

Auditory Implant Centre

Paediatricians

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Speech and Language Therapy

Health/Local Authority Commissioning

Health Visiting/School Nursing

Deaf CAMHS

Education

Specialist Education Services for deaf children

Resource Provisions

Further Education/post-16

Social care

Professionals supporting children with disabilities

Early Help

Voluntary sector

National Deaf Children's Society

other local deaf children's charities

How you can get involved

For information on how you can get involved, contact our Local Engagement staff.

They can support you to get involved with CHSWGs in a variety of ways:

Introduce you to your local CHSWG meeting chair and other members.

Answer any CHSWG-related questions you may have ahead of attending your first meeting.

Support you throughout your involvement.

Provide access to helpful workshops and resources.

Email at [email protected] to find out more.

Join your local group: become a CHSWG representative (rep)

CHSWG group members are known as 'reps'. Email [email protected] for more information about becoming a rep.

Parent reps

Becoming a parent rep means using your own experiences and unique overview of services to shape the support for deaf children and their families in your area.

You can join for as long as you feel it will benefit both yourself as a parent and the deaf children and young people in your area.

There is a time commitment to attend meetings for two hours, three times a year. You will need to seek the views of other parents to feed into the meeting.

Most CHSWGs welcome the input of all parents who ask to join. There is rarely a selection process, although CHSWGs will seek to get a range of parents with children in early years, primary, secondary, cochlear implants, post 16.

Professional reps

Becoming a professional rep means working to ensure your CHSWG has a positive impact on outcomes for deaf children and their families. You will contribute to influencing strategic and operational decisions within local authorities and health trusts about local services. This will make a real difference for deaf children and their families in your area.

Find your nearest CHSWG

To find your local CHSWG you can:

The Deaf Education Map is designed to show you what's happening with education services for deaf children where you live.

Read more about the map and the different ways you can use it.

How we support CHSWGs

Our Local Engagement staff represent us at CHSWGs. We:

Support parents, deaf young people and professionals to be effective partners in their local CHSWG.

Ensure deaf children, young people and their families' voices are heard and acted upon in service development.

Help to assure the quality of services through gathering and analysing data, and monitoring provision.

Share information and best practice to inform and plan how services are delivered.

Offer advice, guidance and challenge to ensure high quality services are available and accessible.

Help to identify inequalities in service provision and address them through joint problem solving.

Make recommendations to inform and influence operational and strategic decisions.

Work together to safeguard deaf children and young people.

This helps groups to engage effectively with local services and service users, and coordinate and improve the services that deaf children and young people receive.

Resources for CHSWGs and current members

Action plans

If you're already attending meetings and would like to link with other parent reps via social media, then there is a dedicated Facebook page run by parents that you can ask to join.

Contact us

If you have any questions about CHSWGs or want to find out more about them, email [email protected] .

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children's hearing services working group

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Children's Hearing Services Working Groups (CHSWGs) | NDCS

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Find out how we support groups of parents and professionals who work with deaf children and young people to meet regularly to improve health, education and social care services.

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Family Hubs are a new way of bringing together all the support a family may need, from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or 25 if they have a Special Educational need or disability (SEND).

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Visual Phonics UK Version Alphabetical Order

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Here you will find a host of free, fun activities and resources to support the development of speech, language, and listening skills in people of all ages with a hearing loss.

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The Let's Listen and Talk programme - The Elizabeth Foundation 

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The Let's Listen and Talk programme - The Elizabeth Foundation 

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Let's Listen and Talk is an in-depth programme developed by specialists at The Elizabeth Foundation. It provides information, advice and tailored guidance to parents, carers and professionals supporting young deaf children from birth to 5 years.

Please note: We are waiving all fees until further notice for Let's Listen and Talk, so families who need it at the current time can benefit from our advice, information and guidance.

Helping young deaf children learn to listen and talk

We have created Let's Listen and Talk especially for families and professionals who want to help deaf babies, toddlers or preschool children develop their listening, spoken language and communication skills.

We have developed the information and activities in Let's Listen and Talk based on our many years of experience delivering services for young deaf children and their families.

The programme is based on techniques we use at our family centre in Hampshire, UK, to provide our Ofsted 'Outstanding' rated education services for babies, toddlers and preschool children with all degrees of deafness.

Available programmes

Let's Listen and Talk offers the following programmes:

It is quick and easy to join using our secure online membership form. Once you have submitted the form, you will be able to access ALL programmes and resources for FREE.

If you have any questions about which Let's Listen and Talk programme will be most appropriate for your child, please contact us.

Watch our Let's Listen and Talk video

Find out more about Let's Listen and Talk - our unique online resource to support parents and professionals helping deaf children learn to listen and talk.

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Help your deaf child learn to listen and talk

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deaf deafness "deaf children" ndcs ndcs bsl

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Welcome to the official YouTube channel for the National Deaf Children's Society, the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. We make videos with deaf young people and their families so others can benefit from their ideas and advice.

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Supporting Communication with Deaf Babies and Toddlers - The University of Sheffield 

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Supporting Communication with Deaf Babies and Toddlers - The University of Sheffield 

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Help and support for deaf young people (NDCS)

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Help and support for deaf young people (NDCS)

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Did you know there are more than 45,000 deaf young people in the UK? If you are deaf and aged 8-18 then this playlist is for you. Videos are all subtitled, a...

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deaf deafness "deaf children" ndcs ndcs bsl

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Welcome to the official YouTube channel for the National Deaf Children's Society, the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. We make videos with deaf young people and their families so others can benefit from their ideas and advice.

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Cochlear Implanted Children's Support Group 

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Cochlear Implanted Children's Support Group 

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We offer first-hand experience of the difference that cochlear implantation can make to the lives of deaf children and their families. We can help with issues that surround life with an implanted child to provide a vital part of the pre and post implantation process - support for families by families.

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CICS | Cochlear Implanted Children's Support Group

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We offer first-hand experience of the difference that cochlear implantation can make to the lives of deaf children and their families. We can help with issues that surround life with an implanted child to provide a vital part of the pre and post implantation process - support for families by families.

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About Hear Together

Hear Together is all about living well with hearing loss.

We work with children and adults with any type of hearing loss.

We believe that connecting with other people is at the heart of living well.

Our activities develop the confidence, skills & knowledge that help people to communicate, participate & thrive.

Our experienced team have worked with deaf and hard-of-hearing people for many years.

Meet the Team!

Sarah Allen

Sarah started work as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1989 and joined the Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme (now NAIP) in 1992. She went on to work as Specialist Advisor for hearing impairment in Nottingham from 1999-2015. During this time, she completed a Masters degree in Research Methods. Following a secondment to the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit for Hearing, she joined The Ear Foundation as Research Lead and subsequently as Chief Executive. Sarah is currently a practising SLT for Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust as well as Co-ordinator of Hear Together.

Diana Harbor

Diana is dual trained as a Speech and Language Therapist and Audiological Scientist; she is also a registered Educational Audiologist with RCCP. She started work as an audiologist and research associate in 1999, working for the MRC Institute of Hearing Research. In 2001 she joined the Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme (now NAIP) as a specialist speech and language therapist. In 2006 Diana joined the growing team at The Ear Foundation developing the education programme, delivering courses and creating education resources. She also co-led activities and summer residentials for teenagers with hearing loss. Diana is currently a practising educational audiologist and SLT for Leicester City SEND service, runs her independent SLT practice, Khuluma and is a Project Manager at Hear Together.

Clare Allen

Clare has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist with children with hearing loss since 1988, completing the specialist MSc and Advanced Clinical Studies Diploma, Speech Therapy with Deaf Children in 1995. In 1996 she joined the Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme (now NAIP) developing a specialist interest in speech intelligibility. Her passion for developing resources led to writing LEAPing on with Language, a programme for parents to accelerate spoken language from simple sentences to complex abstract language. In 2015 she joined The Ear Foundation leading the Family services, which were inspected by Ofsted as Outstanding in all areas for 4 consecutive years. She also led the nationally recognised multi-disciplinary assessment team as part of The Ear Foundation Sound Advice service. She currently works at the Royal School for the Deaf, Derby and runs our activities for children and teenagers.

Didi Crisp

Didi started to lose her hearing when she was 5 years old due to measles and has always been a consistent user of hearing aids.

She worked as a dental nurse for the NHS and ever since retiring was a volunteer for Hear Together.

Didi now runs several of our Hear2Help clinics using her own experiences to help support others.

Melissa Koc

Mel runs several of our Hear2Help clinics using her skills and experience as the Mum of a child with hearing loss.

Rachel Lightfoot

Rachel supports us all with her organisation and efficiency!

Our Trustees

Nick Tedd

I'm Nick Tedd & I'm delighted to be part of Hear Together on the board of trustees.

I'm an Artist, Blogger & I own 3 hair salons. I see myself as am an ambassador for the hearing loss community & am determined to succeed at life & have positive experiences.

My role as a Hear Together Trustee is very important to me to leave things better for others and myself 'next time'. It is my intention to bring my experience and stories to Hear Together so that other people with hearing loss can see that we are not alone & that the more awareness & education we can give people the better it will be for us all.?

Julie Mather

My name is Julie Mather. It has been my privilege to work as a teacher of the deaf in Nottinghamshire for forty years now and for The Ear Foundation in different roles.

Easy & fluent communication is something most of us take for granted. Cochlear implants & digital hearing aids have brought great benefits to lots of deaf people but there are still many, often unseen, challenges associated with deafness.

I am delighted to be a trustee of Hear Together. The team is composed of incredibly knowledgeable, creative, & positive people who make a real difference in helping deaf people to connect with each other and live well with hearing loss.

Claire Page

I experienced hearing loss and became a hearing aid user as an adult. I'm surprised at how challenging the whole experience has been for me, not only because hearing loss is not obvious to others, but also the impact can vary so much from day to day depending on the environment, who I'm talking to and even the weather!

I'm keen that everyone has the best opportunity to communicate effectively with others. I believe it's important to educate people about the impact of hearing loss and how they can help. When someone says 'Oh, it doesn't matter' instead of repeating what they said, the sense of isolation that creates can be massive.

I'm an internal auditor in the NHS, so as a Trustee I also bring skills in supporting governance, risk management and internal control.

Our Volunteers

Suzanne Harrigan

Suzanne is a Speech & Language Therapist with lots of experience supporting children with hearing loss and their families. She currently works in independent practice, providing advice and consultancy to families, manufacturers and education services, as well as supporting children with a range of speech, language and communication needs.

Suzanne loves working with pre-school children with hearing loss and is delighted to be supporting the lovely team at Hear Together to provide fun, support and advice through the pre-school sessions

Isabel Widdowson

Robert Braithwaite

Sebastian Probert

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Hear Together <br> Registered charity:  1188842

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Helping people live with hearing loss | About Hear Together

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We are passionate about helping people connect and communicate, and we're dedicated to helping both young & old live well with hearing loss.

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Jump to main content Jump to main navigation Jump to main navigation

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Please note, paper copies and previous versions of user guides will be provided on request. A copy will be sent within 7 days. Please contact your local Phonak distributor if you do not find the user guide you are looking for.  Please choose your country here for local contact information.

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Find the hearing aid user guides/manuals for Phonak product support.

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We are a national charity, promoting inclusion and achievement for deaf children through listening and speaking. Our team of Education Advisors and Technology Consultants support professionals in acquiring the skills and confidence needed to help deaf children use their residual hearing, access technology and develop natural spoken language. We work with teaching staff, schools, services and resource bases. Please browse our pages to learn more about the Ewing Foundation, our work and how to contact us.
Due to charitable support, we are able to offer our services at a subsidised rate. If you can support us with a gift, please click here. Thank you. Our history
Ewing Foundation was established by construction businessman Malcolm McAlpine and his wife Sheila in 1952. We are named after the eminent audiologists Sir Alexander and Lady Irene Ewing. The Ewings were of enormous help to the McAlpines when their eldest son was born profoundly deaf in 1944.

The McAlpines established and supported the foundation so that other deaf children and families could benefit from the expertise and legacy of the Ewings. The charity is now chaired by their youngest son Hamish.

'The Ewings were ambassadors who made a difference,' says Professor Kevin Munro, Ewing Professor of Audiology at University of Manchester. 'They recognised the importance of early identification and intervention, and of early involvement of the family. They were hugely influential and their impact is recognised throughout the world.'

Today, our team of Education Advisors and Technology Consultants work with deaf children and their teachers in the classroom. We ensure that hearing technology is working correctly, and that students and teachers can communicate effectively with one another. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Find out more about Ewing Foundation's work and origins at The University of Manchester:

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We are a national charity, promoting inclusion and achievement for deaf children through listening and speaking. Our team of Education Advisors and Technology Consultants support professionals in acquiring the skills and confidence needed to help deaf children use their residual hearing, access technology and develop natural spoken language.

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Improving Deaf people's health and wellbeing. Our services offer support through mental health challenges, domestic abuse, and more.

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The Hear Glue Ear app is a valuable tool to help families manage their child's glue ear at home. Glue ear is one of the most common childhood conditions in children aged 2-6, and the concern is that some young children with persistent or recurrent glue ear might struggle to develop speech, language, listening, and social communication skills.

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Originally developed by Cambridge Digital Health , in collaboration with Dr Tamsin Brown and the Cambridge Hearing Trust Charity , the Hear Glue Ear app supports learning and development in children with glue ear, to help them avoid developmental delays.

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The app includes audiobooks, songs and listening games for children. It also provides accurate, up-to-date glue ear information for parents and a hearing screen to monitor fluctuations in children's hearing levels over time. Moreover, speech and language therapists can upload therapy sessions onto the app, and there is a clinician's portal for providing insights on progress between appointments.

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Hear Glue Ear App | Cambridge Digital Health

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A free, award-winning app, providing resources for children, experiencing hearing loss due to glue ear.

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Audiology Curriculum Parent Information Sheet 

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Audiology Curriculum Parent Information Sheet 

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We’re Sense, the national disability charity. We believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability.

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Manchester Adolescent Cochlear Implant Programme 

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Manchester Adolescent Cochlear Implant Programme 

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The Manchester Adolescent Cochlear Implant Programme - Manchester Royal Infirmary

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In addition to those patients referred directly to the adolescent programme, all children who received a cochlear implant on the paediatric cochlear implant programme will transition to the adolescent programme during the summer holidays prior to the start of secondary school. By 18 years of age most of our young people will transition to the Adult programme.

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Manchester Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme 

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Manchester Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme 

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Manchester Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme - Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

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A critical component of the candidacy process are the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT) scans. Once it is determined that a patient is or may be a candidate for a cochlear implant, the scans will be undertaken to ensure that the anatomy is suitable for an implant.

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Track, adapt & empower your hearing today...

Hearoes provides gamified auditory training platform to support, develop and enhance hearing health around the world.

Improve your

Skills & C onfidence

Train with over 75+ games across the auditory training pathway that are designed to boost and improve skills and confidence in areas such as sound and phonetic awareness, auditory memory, and background noise.

By using the combination of proven assessments used in rehabilitation sessions with engaging activities and interactions helps creates an aesthetically engaging, self-paced experience to maximise outcomes.

Learn through

Play

Our specialist take tasks from the lab and adapt them into easy-to-learn games covering the five key modules in training:

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Environmental Sounds

Introduction to Words

Vowel Identifications

Consonant Identifications

Sentences and Narratives

Each module contains a series of different specialised activities to help create a dynamic learning pathway to help make the most of all stages throughout the hearing journey.

Track your
Improvement

We understand the importance of progress. Hearoes allows you to see your progress on different activities as well as overall results in your daily training, so you can spend the time focusing on where you can develop progress and opportunities in learning.

Supported by
Research

Hearoes collaborates with audiologist and speech pathologist to help bring engaging auditory training games suitable for different stages of your hearing journey.

By using the combination of proven assessments used in rehabilitation sessions with engaging activities and interactions helps creates an aesthetically engaging, tailor-made experience to maximise outcomes.

Testimonials

"I am newly implanted and this is a brilliant app. Very easy to use, and learn what you actually can hear. I have really seen an improvement through using this app. I am sure it will benefit a great deal of people and I certainly will be recommending it."

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Lamina, 34, US

"This is a really great program for re-training your ear and brain after a cochlear implant.

It's engaging and challenging enough to keep me motivated."

"Barely a week of activation and cannot hear sounds yet, but I think I'm getting the hang of the difference in vibration of each word using Hearoes app"

"I've been using Hearoes with my (Deaf) students...they love it. One of my students enjoys 'What's that Order?' and now wants to work in a restaurant. Thank you for Hearoes. "

Jackie, Teacher for the Deaf, AUS

"It's a great app for practicing my understanding in different sounds and similar words. I love the activities."

"I began using the Hearoes app in mid May after my new cochlear implant was fitted. I have achieved 100% in environmental sounds and a average 92% in all other sections. The whole way each area has been produced is amazing. It makes practising what could be boring and demoralising quite a calm and enjoyable activity."

"This the best thing that I ever did. I just would like to thank you all. Thank you!"

"This is the best leveled training test. I hope cochlear implant patients find this app. Thank you, Hearoes"

"I live by myself and find it really helpful. I love the different voices and accents"

Join the
Hearoes Mailing List

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive regular updates of latest news and updates about on Hearoes along with helpful blogs, and tips to make the most of your hearing device.

With Thanks to Our Sponsors

Start your training today

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Hearoes | Engaging Auditory Training Games

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Hearoes focuses on unique auditory feedback games so you can track, adapt and empower your hearing like never before...

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When a child is diagnosed as severely or profoundly deaf, parents' first question is often "Will she be able to talk?" DELTA can help you & your deaf child

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The main objectives of this charity are:

To advance the education of children and young people with particular reference to those with a hearing impairment.

To support any other Charitable Object, which promotes the welfare of hearing impaired children and young people which may conveniently be pursued in conjunction with the pursuits of the above...

Grant Applications:

The Charity makes grants to young people up to an age in their mid-twenties resident in the UK. This funding provides support in a variety of ways and to organisations linked to deaf young people.

The Trust welcomes applications which will always receive careful consideration. Trustees are required to respect the guidelines set down by the Charity Commission so they cannot guarantee all applications will be approved.

BTHI Limited provides two application forms, one for individuals and one for groups, educational establishments and charities. The forms can be downloaded using the links opposite, or obtained by writing to the Administrator at BTHI Limited.

Before completing an application please read the Grant Application Form Guidance Notes carefully.

The completed form should be sent by post to:

Birkdale Trust, PO Box 852, SOUTHPORT, PR8 9WG

The Trust is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations.

Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope for the Trust's reply to the application.

The Trustees are here to help, so please do not hesitate to apply

© BTHI 2018. All Rights Reserved

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Grants for the Deaf :: Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired

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Grants for the Deaf :: Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired Ltd exists to To advance the education of children and young people with particular reference to those with hearing impairment

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The Elizabeth Foundation for Preschool Deaf Children

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Helping you to meet your charitable objectives

We provide many opportunities for trusts and foundations to meet their charitable objectives by supporting our work to help preschool deaf children learn to listen and talk.

We have a wide range of both revenue and capital projects that offer opportunities for trusts and foundations to change the lives of young deaf children through one-off, multi-year or ongoing grant funding.

We have worked in partnership with trusts and foundations of all sizes over more than three decades, with grants for specific projects or purposes, as well as support for our core work over a period of time.

We are able to offer projects with clear outputs and outcomes, and provide funders with detailed feedback both during and at the end of projects demonstrating the impact their support has made.

Where appropriate to your needs, we actively show our thanks, promoting our funders through social media, on our website, in our regular Listen! newsletter and regular e-news. We also seek national and industry press coverage where appropriate to showcase initiative and inspirational stories of support.

We base our trust and foundation partnerships on a friendly and mutually-beneficial approach leading to positive outcomes. We welcome our partners to visit our Family Centre to see for themselves the difference their support is making.

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Trusts and foundations - The Elizabeth Foundation for Preschool Deaf Children

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Helping you to meet your charitable objectives We provide many opportunities for trusts and foundations to meet their charitable objectives by supporting our work to help preschool deaf children learn to listen and talk. We have a wide range of both revenue and capital projects that offer opportunities for trusts [...]

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We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

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What is British Sign Language (BSL)? BSL is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions and body language.

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British Sign Language - Learn BSL Online

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British Sign Language online course, free resources, games, information, and greeting cards. Learn British Sign Language today.

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Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity that supports and celebrates deaf people. We work with deaf people in Scotland the South of England.

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Wigan and Leigh Deaf Children’s Society 

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Wigan and Leigh Deaf Children’s Society 

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Home | Wigan & Leigh Deaf Children's Society

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We are a local charity supporting children and families with hearing loss, and / or visual impairment.

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National Deaf Children's Society | Supporting deaf children

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We are the National Deaf Children's Society, the leading charity for deaf children and young people. We're here to support every deaf child who needs us.

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Specialist Sensory Education Team (SSET) - Local Offer 

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Specialist Sensory Education Team (SSET) - Local Offer 

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The information on this page is aimed at professionals. If you are a parent and want information on what we do please see our:

What we do

We work collaboratively with schools to provide effective support for children with hearing loss and/or visual impairments to ensure that they can access the curriculum and achieve the best outcomes possible

Our support teachers provide support according to the individual needs of each child including:

Direct teaching support as required

Regular liaison with the SENCO and class teacher about the implications for access to the curriculum and advising on strategies and differentiation

Regular liaison with allocated school support staff and providing ongoing training in the support of a child with a hearing loss or visual impairments

Carry out an environmental audit of the environment providing recommendations to schools on modifications or equipment

Provide advice on any health and safety implications

Specialist equipment

Loan of specialist equipment or advice on equipment to be provided by school

Monitoring, maintenance and evaluation of specialist equipment

Advise on general classroom equipment to improve accessibility

Liaise with the Paediatric Audiology Team for updates on hearing levels and hearing aid settings

Regular hearing aid checks including hearing aid analyser checks OR cochlear implant or bone anchored hearing aid checks

Advise on, or arranging hearing aid repairs or replacements

Attend audiology appointments where appropriate

Radio aid checks (if provided)

Liaise with the ophthalmologist and/or orthoptist for updates on levels of vision and prescribed low vision aids

Monitor the use of prescription aids such as glasses and hand held magnifiers

Assessments

Non-verbal abilities tests

Annual assessments of receptive and expressive vocabulary and language

Functional vision and listening assessments

Annual reading and spelling tests

Keyboard/typing skills

Mobility and independence needs

Advice on access arrangements for external examinations or assessments. These should also be in place as the normal way of working for a child and for internal school examinations or assessments.

Training

We provide training for professionals including:

Whole school or small group training on the implications of hearing loss and/or visual impairment

Individual ongoing training on strategies to support a child

Annual courses for staff working with children with hearing loss and/or visual impairment

Our requirements

To provide effective support and advice our support teachers require:

Access to a quiet, well lit room to provide individual support and assessments

Regular meetings to discuss support and progress

Regular access to SENCO and/or class teacher

Regular liaison with allocated school support staff

Effective monitoring of the use of specialist equipment.

Referring a child

Medical professionals can make a referral to SSET if there is a hearing loss and/or visual impairment that could affect a child's access to learning. Parents must always give permission before SSET can provide support.

Contact us to refer a child for our help

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Specialist Sensory Education Team (SSET)

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Information for professionals - Supporting young people with significant hearing loss or visual impairments that could give them problems in their education.