New research has been published on the experiences of children with mild / moderate deafness. The research was carried out by the Ear Foundation with funding from the National Deaf Children’s Society. It can be found online at www.ndcs.org.uk/research
Key findings include:
- nearly half (47%) of parents reported that their child was behind their age compared with their classmates, with 35% performing in line with their peers and 18% advanced for their age
- poor acoustics, background noise and understanding speech at a distance were cited by 69% of parents as challenges faced by their child at school; with a third (33%) blaming a lack of staff awareness
- the terms “mild” and “moderate” do not adequately reflect the impact described by parents and professionals.
NDCS’s website also features information for parents of children with mild / moderate deafness – http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/audiology/types_and_causes_of_deafness/mild_and_moderate.html.