Abstract
This paper explores the issue of deaf children in mainstream education and the implications this has for their health. Currently more than 48,000 children in the UK are classified as deaf with some 85% taught in mainstream schools although they are significantly educationally underachieving. The vulnerability of deaf children and some of the difficulties they face are highlighted. An outline is provided of the nature of deafness and the Deaf Community, together with a description of cochlear implants and of British Sign Language. Some of the issues relating to the need for assessment, treatment and support for deaf children are discussed, including increased risk of sexual and physical abuse. Possible professional roles for psychologists are identified.
Highlights
Introduction to Hearing LossThe aim of this paper is to explore the issue of being deaf in mainstream education and the implications for deaf school children's health in the UK
Deaf children have differing educational requirements compared to hearing children; they need to be fully assessed by a Specialist Teacher of the deaf and preferable by a Psychologist
In cases where deaf children are exposed to abuse, there appears to be limited awareness of the extent to which specialist knowledge of cultural interest is required for deaf children [44] and as such a child’s impairment could mask child protection concerns [45]
Summary
The aim of this paper is to explore the issue of being deaf in mainstream education and the implications for deaf school children's health in the UK. The conduction pathways for sounds to reach the inner ear are affected. This usually influences most frequencies of hearing evenly. Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the delicate sensory hair cells of the inner ear or the nerves which supply it. Of note is the work of CRIDE [2] a consortium bringing together a range of organizations and individuals with a common interest in improving the educational outcomes achieved by deaf children through research. The search highlighted the limited work on deaf children's health issues compared to hearing children
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