Does anyone have any experience with cochlear implants/deafness?

[griddlebone]

Hi there!

I have had a job offer yesterday which involves being a one to one support to a child with cochlear implants. I will be with them all day at school and I have had no experience of working with children with deafness/cochlear implants. I don't know too much about the child yet as we don't have a case file and they don't start until September.

They will have a signer for some of the time I believe however their parents want the child to sign as little as possible.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of working with deaf children/is deaf themselves/is the parent of a deaf child and wouldn't mind giving me some pointers about what is useful/helpful. I really want them to achieve the best they can possibly do and as I will be a big influence with that I want to be as prepared as possible.

Thank you!

Liv.x

[little.ophelia]

Hi Liv!

I've worked with several children who are deaf, with and without CIs, in groups and one-to-one. How to support them will depend a lot on the child themselves, how long they've had a CI (it's an incredibly different ball game if they got it as an infant, or if they're 10 and just got it etc) or if they have more issues that require support besides deafness (which I'd guess they do, since most kids with CIs don't need a one-to-one just for that, at least here they don't get them anyway).

It's important to remember that a CI doesn't give a child "normal" hearing, and they can be very frustrating for them. An 8 year old girl I worked with, who'd had them for as long as she could remember, would turn them off at any possible opportunity because, since they don't filter out background noise like your brain does, they were really overwhelming and exhausting for her. So depending on the child, be prepared for them to really WANT to sign as that may be easier for them. Again though, all kids are different.

A big deal will be to help them connect socially. If they have you AND an interpreter around, it's going to be really hard for them to make friends, so make sure to step back and let them have some space sometimes, and help other children with how best to communicate with them (make sure they're facing them, etc). Depending on the age of the kid, you can really spin CIs to be "awesome" instead of "weird" (amazing bionic ears etc).

The child themselves will be your biggest helper in learning about CIs and how to support them! Some kids love them and some hate them. Be aware that there's a lot of controversy surrounding them in the Deaf community, so be sensitive.

It sounds like an awesome opportunity! I hope you enjoy it.

[griddlebone]

Hi,

thanks that's all really good info! I believe she has had one CI for a year or so and now has another one which is very recent. Before she was attending a school that was specifically for children who are deaf but her parents want her in mainstream now.

She is going to be learning in a separate space so that there is less noise for her to cope with. The plan is for her to have 2/3 children join in on her lessons with me so that she isn't singled out. It means the children with her get extra support as well so I am hoping that might help her make friends. She is only 6 so young enough that the other kids will hopefully take her under their wing!

I know some BSL but she is aware that I'm not proficient in it and from what I understand she doesn't sign much at all so I am hoping that wont be a barrier but I do have the holidays to brush up on in slightly!!

Yeah I think it will just be a case of trial and error and seeing what works for her and it will give me experience too!

Thanks again for your help, I'm looking forward to the challenge :D

[Iamcatbug]

I know this isn't exactly the same, but my dad only has 50% hearing and has had it all his life. He was offered a hearing aid, which he has but doesn't use.

Anyway, the main reason I wanted to comment was to share my experience of interacting with him on a day to day basis as it might help you with the child you are going to be working with.

My dad often lip reads so often I have to face him while speaking and to speak a little slower if he can't quite understand what I am saying if I am speaking too quickly. That said my Dad doesn't actually let me know that he hasn't understood what I have said, but you can see it in his face that he has misheard. If it turns out the child is one who lip reads it might be worth getting to learn her 'signs' that she hasn't seen what you have said as she might be nervous of letting you know.

Also the following point might be pointless so feel free to ignore it;

My dad is only actually deaf in one ear, so when I do try to talk to him, I try to ensure I am speaking that side of him as opposed to the deaf side, especially when in noisy situations. If this child also has better hearing on one side, it might be worthwhile ensuring you are on that side of them while talking.

Hope some of this helps.

[griddlebone]

That's really good info too thank you!

I think it will just be a case of figuring out what works best for her and I will just have to keep reminding myself that I do have to taper my teaching style to fit her needs.