- Be aware of background noise.
- Make sure that you have the child’s attention before starting to talk. Eye contact is important; with young children you may have to get down to their level.
- Speak clearly, naturally and do not shout.
- Face the child and maintain a distance between you of about 1 – 2 metres to allow for lip reading.
- Try not to cover your face or walk around while you are speaking.
- Repeat what other pupils say so that a deaf pupil who isn’t facing them, can become part of the conversation.
- Avoid having your back to the window as it creates a shadow.
- Encourage other children to speak one at a time and to put their hand up before speaking so that a deaf child knows who it is.
- Don’t talk and write on the blackboard at the same time.
- Get into the habit of reinforcing and clarifying things.
- Try to give homework at a quiet period of the day.
- Allow time to study visual aids or instructions before talking.
- Encourage all children to get into the habit of saying when they don’t understand something.
- It might be useful to have your lesson notes written up to share with the classroom assistant working with a deaf child.
- It might be useful to encourage the support worker to take notes during the lesson for the deaf child.
Preparing Worksheets for Deaf Children
Helping your Deaf Child to Learn
This booklet is available from the NDCS 0808 800 8880 or by emailing the helpline.
Ivytar
This is an online project which helps you to learn sign language. Ivytar is a virual signer – just choose a word and watch her sign. Link Ivytar to http://www.bgfl.org/ivytar
Further Information
Teaching Hearing Impaired Children
Hearing Impaired Children in Class
Visual Spatial Learners (Relating to pupils with Auditory Processing Disorder)