The Invisible Disability

Because hearing impairment isn’t immediately visible, most
people don’t understand how serious the consequences can be,
especially for children
Without adequate hearing the normal process of acquiring
language will be seriously affected If children don’t have
language, they don’t have access to education And without
education, their opportunities in life are greatly curtailed
Cochlear implants and advanced hearing aid technology have made
a huge difference to outcomes for deaf children in only a few
years
Now, children with impaired hearing have a much better chance of
learning to listen and speak well enough to complete their
education alongside their hearing peers, and communicate with
people around them
But even that sort of technology is often misunderstood – some
people believe that a cochlear implant will miraculously cure
hearing, like glasses can fix eyesight
You can help deaf children by:
* Facing the child directly, and don’t shout or exaggerate your
lip movements
* Keeping your hands away from your face – to enable the child
to see all of your face, especially your lips
* Reducing background noise by turning off the television or
radio
* Being sure that you are in a well-lit place, and that light
is not shining into the eyes of the child with whom you are
communicating
* If you are not making yourself understood, finding a
different way of saying the same thing
* Being aware that the child who has impaired hearing may have
difficulty understanding speech even with a hearing aid or
cochlear implant
Among the biggest challenges facing a child who is deaf is
access to appropriate education opportunities
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children provides
services for children with sensory disabilities, from just a few
months old, until the end of secondary school
You can help by donating to this important work In Australia,
your donation will be tax deductible and your name and address
details will be kept fully confidential

Tags | background, chance, children, cochlear, details, education, eyesight, impairment, implants, opportunities, result