Audiology

The School Environment
For an oral approach to be effective, the optimum listening conditions must prevail. The classroom walls in St John’s are acoustically treated to reduce reverberation and the classrooms themselves are carpeted to reduce ambient noise.

In addition, a group hearing aid system with high amplification and where the children’s headphones are digitally programme to their individual hearing loss, is also used in all the classrooms.

The School Audiologist
The school audiologist works closely with staff at the children’s home Health Authority to ensure children have the most appropriate amplification. For some children this might mean wearing conventional aids, digital aids or transpositional type aids although an increasing number of our pupils have a cochlear implant.

Regular Checks
Class teachers carry out routine checks on hearing aids and processors at the start of the school day. Problems are immediately referred to the audiologist who will either repair the fault or replace the aid from our pool of spares. The audiology department also has spare coils and leads for cochlear implants.

The audiologist aims to test children in school routinely twice a year and will see them more frequently where there are concerns on the part of parents, staff or the children themselves. A full ear mould service is also provided in school.