This is a medically diagnosed hearing impairment which is permanent and/or necessitates the use of amplification equipment. If a child/young person presents with amplification hearing devices, this indicates they have been assessed for a hearing loss. They are likely to have an audiogram which will help define their level of hearing loss:
Normal hearing:
You can hear quiet sounds of less than 20dBHL (although it is possible to have hearing difficulties even if your hearing is in this range).
Mild hearing loss:
Hearing loss between 20 – 40dBHL (typically you might find that you have difficulty following speech in noisy situations).
Moderate hearing loss:
Hearing loss between 41 – 70dBHL (you will probably find that you have difficulty following speech).
Severe hearing loss:
Hearing loss between 71 – 95dBHL (you will have severe difficulty following speech without a hearing aid).
Profound hearing loss:
Hearing loss over 95dBHL (you may have need of hearing aids, cochlear implants, sign language and lip-reading).
The NATSIP (National Sensory Impairment Partnership) eligibility framework is used to help assess levels of specialist support. NATSIP framework considers a wide range of contextual factors in addition to the degree of VI or HI impairment.
The child or young person's impairment has an impact on their access to the curriculum and on their ability to be fully involved in learning and social activities.
If a child or young person’s rate of progress is slower than others, this does not necessarily mean that they have SEN or that it is definitely related to a hearing impairment. Individuals learn and progress at different rates and times. If progress is much slower than other people, slower than previously or appears to cease, then this should be immediately investigated and supported through an ‘assess, plan, do, review’ process.