Communication and language: hearing impairment

The main communication and language challenges for early years children with a hearing impairment are:

• Following instructions
• Social interaction, especially in noisy environments
• Self-confidence in speaking and being understood
• Tiredness – the effort of having to listen carefully can lead to poor concentration and frustration

You can:

• Use mirrors to develop facial awareness and mouth movements in relation to sounds.
• Tap the child to gain attention or move in front of them.
• Use a visual timetable to show the order of the day.
• Use simple instruction sheets with pictures.