News for professionals

Audiology services for deaf children and their families are set to improve, following the publication of a good practice guide from the Department of Health. NDCS campaigned for and contributed to the new guidelines which will support local services in improving the quality and availability of hearing services.

Phonak have announced the launch of PALS (Phonak Auditory Loan Scheme), to allow professionals and parents/guardians the opportunity to trial Edulink as part of the management of APD.

The Sign Bilingual Consortium is hosting a series of seminar days for teachers of deaf children and professionals within the field of sign bilingual education.

The Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD) is advertising for the positions of Life Skills Advisor, Life Skills Assistant, Communication Support Worker and Community Support Worker.

NDCS is looking to recruit 12 people to facilitate the delivery of its established 'Parenting a Deaf Child' curriculum in various community languages. This curriculum is designed to support positive parenting and to give deaf children the best possible start in life.

Cochlear implant funding for deaf children has for some families been a bit of a postcode lottery with some children offered one implant, some two and some being forced to wait until the next financial year before surgery. On 1st September the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued a technology appraisal ‘Cochlear implants for severe to profound deafness in children and adults’.

The Ear Foundation is carrying out a new project, funded by the NDCS, asking parent’s views on the support that they receive from cochlear implant centres and local professionals following implantation.

Whilsts there has already been research into why some deaf children have issues with reading, there has not been enough research into problems that deaf children may have with mathematics.