Sensory Impairment
Skip down to find many of the organisations and charities that work in this field....
HEARING IMPAIRMENT refers to a range of hearing loss, covering people who are slightly hard of hearing to those who are totally deaf. Four terms are generally used to describe the degree of hearing loss: mild, moderate, severe and profound.
Over 1,000 children are born deaf each year in the UK and they are now identified very early by the national neonatal hearing screening programme.
Children with hearing loss frequently appear to be normal. Hearing loss that is undetected and untreated can result in speech, language, and cognitive delays. Early identification and effective treatment of hearing loss improve language, communication, and cognitive skills.
Children might be born with a hearing loss or develop a hearing loss later in life. There are a large number of causes, which can be divided between what are known as conductive and sensori-neural hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound entering the outer ear is prevented from reaching the inner ear. This may be due to middle ear infections, injury to the eardrum or a blockage of some kind. Glue ear is a common cause of conductive hearing loss in young children.
Sensori-neural hearing loss is brought about by damage to the auditory nerves or the inner ear. Among the causes are trauma, viral infections such as mumps and measles, meningitis, brain tumours and stroke. Unlike conductive hearing loss, which blocks out all sound frequencies, sensori-neural hearing loss often affects the hearing of higher frequencies to a greater extent than the lower.
Some children with severe and profound hearing loss use sign language as well as speech to communicate. Since 2003, British Sign Language (BSL) has been recognised as an official language in the UK.
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT is the acceptable generic term that refers to all levels of vision loss. Visual impairment does not equal blindness, but vision loss can make it difficult or impossible for a person to do some things. Most children considered visually impaired have some useable vision.
Severe or total loss of vision can occur when parts of the eye or brain that process images become damaged through disease or trauma. This can happen before birth, through an infection such as measles. Neither corrective lenses nor medical treatment can restore vision in such cases. Depending on how severe the sight loss is, people so affected are described either as partially sighted or blind.
Visual impairment is a term used in the UK specifically to cover the conditions of ‘sight impaired' (partially sighted) and ‘severely sight impaired' (blind). If a child is described as visually impaired, it means that he or she has some loss or distortion of vision.
DUAL-SENSORY IMPAIRMENT also known as deafblind, is a combination of significant sight and hearing loss. Some people with dual-sensory impairment are totally blind and deaf. Others have some use of one or both senses.
Deafblindness can occur in several ways. A child might be born deafblind (typically through rubella); born blind and become deaf; born deaf and become blind (Usher syndrome); develop deafblindness in later years though accident or illness.
In terms of education, the most difficult of these situations to deal with is that of children born profoundly deafblind. It is not possible to convey abstract concepts to children who have never had the use of language.
Consequently, communication for people born deafblind is almost always at a basic level (where, for example, a sponge is used to signify the act of washing, or a cup to signify the act of drinking).
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES are the most frequently occurring developmental problems in children. They are especially common in children under five years old. It is estimated that over one million children and young people across the UK have some form of speech or language difficulty.
Speech and language difficulties cover a wide range of special educational needs. Some children have trouble in physically making the sounds of speech, others cannot understand what is being said to them, or are unable to use language to express themselves. Speech difficulties include stammering, problems with the voice and the way it sounds, and pronouncing words ways that are incomprehensible to the listener.
Children with speech difficulties might be unwilling to speak because they are frightened of being misunderstood. Language difficulties are termed either receptive or expressive.
Receptive difficulties are problems in understanding or processing language. Children with these difficulties might have trouble following instructions and making sense of what is said to them. Expressive difficulties are problems with putting words together and using them to communicate with others. Children with expressive difficulties often find it hard to voice their feelings.
The frustration of living with speech and language difficulties can cause children to develop behavioural problems. They can become angry and destructive or quiet and withdrawn when they find it impossible to communicate the way other people do.
Some of the causes of speech and language difficulties are hearing loss, brain injury and neurological conditions (aphasia), mental impairment, and physical impairment such as cleft lip and palate. However, it is frequently the case that the cause is not known.
The table shown below highlights many of the relevant organisations or charities that work in the Sensory Impairment field.
If the particular organisation or charity that you're looking for is not shown here, but you feel that it would be helpful if it was, then please do let us know.
- 1 Voice is a support network for families involved with communication aids. It welcomes children, families, professionals and anyone interested in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).
The principle aims of 1 Voice are to preserve and protect the health and to advance the education and development of children and adults who have communication difficulties and to advance the education of the public by increasing their awareness and understanding of AAC.
Contact:
1Voice
PO Box 559
Halifax
HX1 2XT
Tel: 0845 330 7862
Email: info@1voice.info
Web: www.1voice.info
If you are the parent, carer or therapist of a child who has complex physical and communication difficulties, we offer help and support for both you and your child.
The Ace Centre provides information, support and training for parents and professionals in the use of technology for young people in education who have communication difficulties, both in speaking and writing.
Contact:
ACE Centre Advisory Trust
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7DR
Tel: 01865 759800
Fax: 01865 759810
Email (general enquiries): info@ace-centre.org.uk
Web: www.ace-centre.org.uk
- Afasic (The association for all speech and language impaired children) was founded in 1968 as a parent-led organisation to help children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families. We provide information and training for parents – and professionals – and produce a range of publications. Members meet in local groups in many areas of the UK.
Afasic seeks to raise awareness and to create better services and provision for children and young people with speech and language impairments. It works in partnership with local and national government, professional and statutory bodies and other voluntary organisations.
Contact:
Afasic
20 Bowling Green Lane
London
EC1R 0BD
Tel: 0207 490 9410
Email: info@afasic.org.uk
Web: www.afasic.org.uk
The majority of practising Teachers of the Deaf are members of The British Association of the Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD). Associate and special membership is available for other professionals working in the field of deaf education. BATOD has a UK-wide perspective representing all Teachers of the Deaf.
To promote excellence in deaf education, BATOD is at the forefront of new initiatives influencing the education of deaf children. BATOD also:
- advises government and national bodies on the specific needs of deaf children
- works in partnership with statutory bodies and voluntary agencies such as TDA, GTC, Ofqual, NDCS, RNID, CACDP
- contributes to the development of national policies
- lobbies for improved conditions of employment
- coordinates the collection and dissemination of national data about deaf children and their education
- provides opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for Teachers of the Deaf
- works closely with universities to provide high quality training opportunities
- regularly publishes a Magazine and an International Journal
- shares good practice in teaching deaf children
- collaborates with colleagues in related professional organisations
- has a charitable scholarship for small scale research into practical teaching situations
- promotes international links with those working in deaf education
Email: exec@batod.org.uk
Web: www.batod.org.uk
The British Deaf Association (BDA) is the largest Deaf organisation in the UK that is run by Deaf people. We represent the Sign Language community, which is united by shared experiences, history and, most importantly, by British Sign Language (BSL).
The BDA wants to see a society where Sign Language users have the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as everyone else. BSL was recognised as an official British language on 18th March 2003, but it still does not have any legal protection. This means that Deaf Sign Language users do not have full access to vital information and services, including education, health and employment. We want to see an end to this.
So, the BDA is campaigning for the legislation of BSL. We are also working to gain the right for all Deaf children to receive bilingual education, using BSL and English, and the right to quality and choice in education.
Contact:
British Deaf Association Head Office
10th Floor, Coventry Point
Market Way
Coventry CV1 1EA
Tel: 02476 550393
Email: bda@bda.org.uk
Web: www.bda.org.uk
The British Stammering Association (BSA) is the only national organisation for adults and children who stammer, run by people who stammer.
Its mission is to initiate and support research into stammering, identify and promote effective therapies, offer support to all whose lives are affected by stammering and promote awareness of stammering.
It helps spread knowledge of existing good practice in therapy for pre-school children and addresses neglected issues concerning education and pupils who stammer.
Contact:
British Stammering Association
15 Old Ford Road
London
E2 9PJ
Tel: 020 8983 1003
Email: mail@stammering.org
Web: www.stammering.org
- CLAPA (The cleft lip and palate association) is the representative organisation for all people with and affected by cleft lip and/or palate in the UK.
We provide support and information to new parents, specialized bottles and teats for babies, activities for children and young people, advice on accessing treatment for adults, and volunteering opportunities as individuals or through our branches. We work closely with the specialist cleft teams and generic health professionals to ensure that people receive the best possible care.
We offer free membership for anyone affected by or interested in cleft lip and palate.
Contact:
CLAPA
First Floor
Green Man Tower
332B Goswell Road
London
EC1V 7LQ
Tel: 020 7833 4883
Fax: 020 7833 5999
Email: info@clapa.com
Web: www.clapa.com
- Communication Matters is committed to supporting people who find communication difficult because they have little or no clear speech.
Communication Matters is the British Chapter of the INternational Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) which focuses on the needs of people with complex communication needs who may benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.
These include eye pointing, gestures, signing, using symbol or word boards and electronic speech devices.
Contact:
Communication Matters
c/o The Ace Centre
92 Windmill Road
Oxford
OX3 7DR
Tel: 0131 467 7487
Email: admin@communicationmatters.org.uk
Web: www.communicationmatters.org.uk
The Communications Forum is a registered charity originally set up in 1994 to bring together the organisations concerned with the needs of people with speech, language and communication needs.
It is estimated that there are 2.5 million people in the UK with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The Communications Forum promotes awareness and knowledge of SLCN, and is the UK's national information resource for people with SLCN, their carers and service providers.
Their website includes:
- Details of organisations that can help adults and children who are affected by speech, language and communication needs.
- Information about speech and language therapy for adults and children.
- News and events of relevance to people with SLCN, their carers and service providers.
Contact:
Communications Forum
c/o British Stammering Association
15 Old Ford Road
London
E2 9PJ
Tel: 020 8983 1003
Email: mail@communicationsforum.org.uk
Web: www.communicationsforum.org.uk
- Cued Speech gives deaf and hearing impaired babies, children and adults complete visual access to spoken language. It uses
Cued Speech uses eight hand-shapes in four different positions near the mouth to clarify the lip patterns of normal speech.
With the vocabulary and structure of spoken language made visible, deaf children can quickly acquire an understanding of spoken language.
With Cued Speech, deaf babies, children and adults can see all the sound based units of speech as clearly as hearing people can hear them.
Contact:
Cued Speech Association UK
9 Jawbone Hill
Dartmouth
Devon
TQ6 9RW
Tel: 01803 832 784
Fax: 01803 835 311
Email: info@cuedspeech.co.uk
Web: www.cuedspeech.co.uk
- Deafblind UK was launched in 1928 by a small group of deafblind people and their carers to offer mutual support and understanding in the face of conditions they found 'unjustifiably cruel and hard.' Since then, Deafblind UK has developed into a national charity chaired by a deafblind person.
Today, the charity supports more people with a combined sight and hearing loss than ever before and its pioneering services continue to go from strength to strength. With a central Head Office and conferencing suite now based at the flagship National Centre for Deafblindness in Peterborough and regional staff throughout Britain the charity’s doors are always open to anyone wishing to learn more about Deafblindness and the lives of deafblind people.
Contact:
Deafblind UK
National Centre for Deafblindness
John and Lucille van Geest Place
Cygnet Road, Hampton
Peterborough
PE7 8FD
Tel: 01733 358 100 (Voice/Text)
Fax: 01733 358 356
Email: info@deafblind.org.uk
Web: www.deafblind.org.uk
- Glasses Direct is Europe's largest online prescription eyewear store, and sells a pair of prescription glasses every few minutes. That’s a lot of glasses.
Not only do we have a rather impressive collection of stylish frames, all available to browse and buy from the comfort of your own home, we also want to change the way people feel about buying glasses by making the online experience quicker, easier and more fun than anyone else. In addition, and in contrast to other online businesses, we have a team of very real people including registered fully qualified opticians, who are available at the other end of the phone to help whenever our customers need them.
Trust is a word we take very seriously here at Glasses Direct, and we back up our superb customer service standards with a 14 day ‘no quibble’ money back guarantee. We really do care about our customers and recognise that although we aim to make buying glasses both a fun and engaging process, that getting the product absolutely spot on is absolutely vital. Your eyes are important and we want to take the very best care of them for you.
Contact:
Glasses Direct
Gemini House
Hargreaves Road
Groundwell
Wiltshire SN25 5AJ
Tel: 08456 88 20 20
Fax: 08450 13 18 18
Email: ask@glassesdirect.co.uk
Web: www.glassesdirect.co.uk
- The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) is the national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.
The key to unlocking a deaf child’s potential is the family unit. That is why families of deaf children must receive the full range of support and information to which they are entitled. This is not currently the case.
- There are 35,000 deaf children in the UK and three more are born every day.
- 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents with little or no experience of deafness or knowledge of how to communicate with a deaf person.
NDCS is an organisation of families, parents and carers, providing emotional and practical support through our Freephone Helpline, our network of trained support workers, our wide range of other support services and our publications and website.
As the leading provider of impartial information and individual advocacy on every aspect of childhood deafness, NDCS can help with welfare rights and benefit claims, making education choices, advising on health and audiology and technology, or simply as someone to talk to.
NDCS campaigns for improvements in services aimed at families with deaf children, working with central and local government, health authorities, education professionals, social services, manufacturers and voluntary organisations.
Contact:
National Deaf Children's Society
15 Dufferin Street
London EC1Y 8UR
Tel: 020 7490 8656
Fax: 020 7251 5020
Email: ndcs@ndcs.org.uk
Web: www.ndcs.org.uk
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to almost two million people with sight loss.
Our pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem - not just with braille and Talking Books, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.We also provide information on eye conditions and provide support and advice for people living with sight loss.
People are still losing their sight unnecessarily. We campaign to eliminate avoidable sight loss and support research into sight loss and eye health issues.
RNIB is a membership organisation which radically affects how we govern ourselves. Being a member is all about being closer: to information that can help you, to a community of other members and to RNIB itself, where you can make your voice heard and influence what we do.
Contact:
Royal National Institute of Blind People
105 Judd Street
London WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 7388 1266
Helpline: 0303 123 9999
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Web: www.rnib.org.uk
SeeAbility is the operating name of The Royal School for the Blind and is a registered charity working with people who are visually impaired and have multiple disabilities, including learning and physical disabilities, mental health difficulties and degenerative conditions.
People who are blind or partially sighted and have additional disabilities are at the heart of everything SeeAbility does. We have worked for over 200 years with people who are blind or partially sighted and have additional disabilities, such as physical and learning disabilities, degenerative illnesses, brain injuries and mental health problems.
Contact:
SeeAbility House
Hook Road
Epsom
Surrey KT19 8SQ
Tel: 01372 755000
Email: enquiries@seeability.org
Web: www.seeability.org
Sense is the leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. We provide expert advice and information as well as specialist services to deafblind people, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. We also support people who have sensory impairments with additional disabilities.
Sense has a worldwide reputation for its pioneering, innovative work with children of all ages, their families and the professionals who support them. Our services include on-going support for deafblind people and families. These range from day services where deafblind people have the opportunity to learn new skills and Sense-run houses in the community – where people are supported to live as independently as possible. Our communicator-guides offer a vital lifeline to deafblind people living in their own homes. We also provide leading specialist advice, for example on education options and assistive technology.
Contact:
Sense
101 Pentonville Road
London N1 9LG
Tel: 0845 127 0060 / 020 7520 0999
Email: info@sense.org.uk
Web: www.sense.org.uk