Further help
National Deaf Childrens Society provide national resources which may differ from what can be provided locally. This service is offered to all families to gain advice and guidance in relation to deafness. Their website has a wide range of resources and contacts including diagnosis, education and living with deafness.
Lincolnshire Sensory Services - sight and hearing loss support. This service offers specialist support to enable people with a sight or hearing loss to live life as independently as possible. The service offers support, information, guidance and issues equipment specific to the client's sensory loss needs
Lincolnshire BID services - Lincolnshire Sensory Service is delivered by BID services on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council. BID is a sensory loss charity. We work with families, carers, organisations, and other professionals to promote wellbeing and independence.
Chance to meet Lincolnshire BID services - this service enables families who live with sight or hearing loss to meet for events and share lived experiences. This is also an opportunity to access information, guidance and support.
Lincolnshire children's therapy services -
Speech and language therapy
Speech and language therapy aims to help all children to communicate as well as possible and develop their speech and language skills.
A speech and language therapist will work as part of a team with your child’s audiologist, teacher of the deaf and teaching assistants (SEST) and other professionals to help your child.
Lincolnshire NHS has a specialist speech and language therapist (SALT) who works with deaf children.
A speech and language therapist can:
- assess how well your child’s speech, language and communication skills are developing
- identify if your child is experiencing any difficulties and the reasons why
- develop a plan to address those difficulties and work with you to carry out the plan
- give advice on your child’s progress and the next steps
- work with teaching staff to support language-based aspects of the curriculum
All teachers of the deaf will also have had training on supporting deaf children’s language development and will be able to give you advice on what you can do at home to make sure your child makes good progress.
They’ll also be able to advise staff working in any settings that your child goes to.
Teachers of the deaf and speech and language therapists work together closely to meet the needs of deaf children
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech and language development, talk to your teacher of the deaf, GP, health visitor or nursery or school staff to ask if your child needs a referral to a speech and language therapist. Or, you can contact your local speech and language therapy service yourself to make a referral
Lincolnshire Family Hubs programme: This programme aims to make a positive difference to families by providing high-quality, joined-up support services from pregnancy, through a child’s early years and up until they are 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities). Family Hubs are based in children’s centres across the county.
Lincoln Deaf Children's Society (Facebook page) is a voluntary service that enables families and children to meet and socialise. Information sharing and guidance can also be accessed
RNID is a national service which is available to people who live with a hearing loss. They offer a digital service with a wide range of resources to access
DELTA - Deaf Education through Listening and Talking are providing monthly online drop in events for parents, guardians and grandparents through Google Meet. You can be a part of the DELTA community, to ask questions, discuss and share experiences of raising your deaf child at home and at school using the language of the home and community.
CODP -Midlands - children of deaf parents group for children 0-10 and their deaf parents, to meet up across the Midlands
The Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum works alongside the local authority and health partners to improve the services that they plan and commission.
It is a charity that ensures that the needs of children with SEND are met
Children’s Hearing Services Working Groups (CHSWGs) are groups of parents and professionals who work with deaf children and young people. They meet regularly to help improve health, education and social care services for deaf children, young people and their families. If you would like to become involved as a parent representative please email them
