How do you choose to communicate? Choices for deaf children and their families

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1 How do you choose to communicate? Choices for deaf children and their families look talk What are we trying to do? (Mission statement) We want everyone involved with deaf children (Parents, carers, teachers and all other professionals) to know about all the different ways children can choose to communicate. They can choose which is best for them, no matter where they live in Norfolk. Why we wrote this policy: Sometimes the family of a deaf child finds it hard to choose how to communicate with their child. Sometimes they might have heard about different methods of communication but be unsure what is involved or how to find out more. This can be confusing. So, to help make things more clear, all the people who work with deaf children got together and made a communication policy for Norfolk. This tells everyone about the choices about communication that they can make in Norfolk. Everyone is different and so is every family, so the right choice for you is the one that works best for you and your family. It s ok to change your mind about how you want to communicate as you grow and change. That s normal.

2 Who is this policy for? This policy is for deaf children and their families and anyone working with deaf children. It is to make sure everyone knows what help is available and that this is the same no matter where in Norfolk you live. Child s opinion. Your opinion is important and we will ask you for your views and ideas. This could be done at your annual review. Communication Approaches These are the Communication Approaches available in Norfolk. You can change your communication method if you want to. Choose which feels right for you. The three main communication approaches are: Speaking and listening. British Sign Language and spoken language. Total Communication. Speaking and listening talk Some children prefer to communicate by speaking and listening. They will use hearing aids, radio aids or cochlear implants to make the best use of any hearing they have (residual hearing). Lip-reading helps them to understand. They may not use sign language or fingerspelling. The aim is for these deaf children to develop speech and communication skills. They can use these to communicate with hearing people.

3 The things they may need are: Speech, Cued speech, lipreading, speech reading, gestures, residual hearing British Sign Language and spoken language talk Some children prefer to communicate using British Sign Language and spoken language (usually English, but it can be another language if that is what the family speak). The aim is for these children to communicate using sign language and spoken language, BSL is a visual language. They don t need hearing to learn it. When they have become confident in BSL, they can use it to help learn English. They can use BSL to communicate with the Deaf community. The things they may need are: Sign Language, English, Speech, Fingerspelling, Lipreading, gesture

4 Total Communication Some children may prefer to use several different ways of communicating, at the same time. How they choose to communicate depends on what is meaningful to them e.g. BSL signs, voice, picture symbols, photos, objects, assistive devices. The aim is to provide an easy method of communication between the deaf child and their family, friends and others. The child is encouraged to use speech and sign language at the same time, as well as using other strategies to help them communicate effectively. The things they may need are: Lipreading, Cued speech, speech, residual hearing, gestures, English-based sign system, fingerspelling, picture communication symbols, photos, objects of reference.

5 Will my child speak? Questions you may want to ask. It depends on lots of things like how deaf they are and whether they use hearing aids. Most deaf children today are able to develop some speech and lots have good spoken language. Where can we learn sign language? You can learn sign language in your own home through Language Aides, Deaf Role Models and Teachers of the Deaf. You can go to a signing class, You can also join a Parent and Baby Signing Group. Can my child meet other deaf children? Yes. There are opportunities to meet other deaf children and their families either on their own or in a group. You can join voluntary groups in order to meet families or you can attend Parent and Toddler groups arranged by Children s Services. Ask your Teacher of the Deaf for information. What problems will my child find as he/she grows up? Everyone is different and so are their problems. The main difficulty deaf children find is communication, so it is important to get good communication going as early as possible. You need to choose a communication method which suits your child. How will my child cope at school? Your child will be helped at school, depending on what they need. It is important to encourage all members of the school to be deaf aware and to make sure that your child is fully included in all aspects of school life. Good communication with the school is vital. What support can I expect for my child? Examples of the support we can give are given under each communication approach.

6 How do we choose the right method of communication? This document describes the communication methods available in Norfolk. More information can be found in The Early Support Information for Parents Deafness. Your key worker or Teacher of the Deaf can discuss the different approaches with you so you can make an informed choice about which method is good for your child and family. What if things are not working? Talk things through with your Teacher of the Deaf or school depending on the age of your child. It is always best to try to talk things through before you seek more advice and support. Often this sorts out any problems. Can I meet other Signers? Your Teacher of the Deaf, Social Worker for the Deaf, Deaf Connexions and other professionals will be able to put you in contact with other signers. The local NDCS run a number of activities including a Youth Club on a regular basis where you can also meet other signing children and young people.