Hearing & Vision Engage - Enable - Enrich Welcome back to Connections; the monthly blog brought to you from the Oasis teams at JESS Jumeirah and JESS Primary. Our 'introductory' sway gave you an insider look at the work of Oasis from the perspective of the staff parents and students at JESS. We look forward to bringing you future editions that will continue to focus upon our two key intentions;
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to provide information about the enrichment and support work that our departments provide. •
to share our knowledge, experience and support strategy suggestions.
Barriers to learning can come in all shapes and sizes. Whilst some of our students will never be faced with significant challenges, it is highly likely that a high number will need a little extra attention at some point on their learning journey. One of the most common, and easiest issues to resolve, can be challenges related to vision or hearing. As an adult that struggles to pay attention to conversations in a noisy social venue, it can be exhausting trying to interpret discussions. The temptation would be to get fed up and go home! Imagine how hard it must be to be a child with a potential hearing difficulties, battling to hear the teacher at the other side of the classroom over the hum of voices or the occasional roar of the air conditioning. The children don't have the option to go home, but they might give up trying to focus! Similarly, difficulties with visual acuity or eye movements can create unnecessary and frustrating barriers to success in reading and writing,
In this edition we hope to share information that will help you to recognise the possible signs that indicate your child may be having some challenges in these areas and what you can do to help them. If you're ever in doubt and would like to discuss these issues further, please always remember that the first place to go is to your child's class teacher.
Support for success
‘Much of the sensory information that is vital to children’s development comes through the sense of vision and hearing. During the first 3 years of a child’s life major neural networks are being formed in the brain. Much of this development comes from the distance senses, ie. vision and hearing......... even mild problems with these senses can have major impact on learning.' Vision Research shows that around 20% of school-aged children have an undiagnosed vision problem. The Association of Optometrists recommends that 'all children visit their optometrist for a sight test around the age of three'. Impact of vision problems: •
Major percentage of children with a reading problem have an undetected vision problem
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Poor vision affects the learning and coordination of physical activities including writing, negotiating the classroom space, PE.
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A child who is sensitive to light may not enjoy or feel secure playing out of doors.
Keith Holland (Behavioural Optometrist) - Speaking about how visual problems can affect learning. Hearing Only half of children with hearing loss are identified as babies. Impact of hearing loss: •
It causes delay in the development of receptive and expressive communication skills (speech and language).
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The language deficit causes learning problems that result in reduced academic achievement.
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Communication difficulties often lead to social isolation and poor self-concept.
It may have an impact on vocational choices. In school, children with hearing loss may be misidentified as having ADHD, behaviour disorders, speech and language disorders or even cognitive/developmental delay. Why? What are some of the behaviours you seeing? •
Appears to have articulation problems or speech/language delays
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Has difficulty locating sounds
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Has difficulty understanding what people are saying
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Watches others to imitate what they are doing
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Responds inappropriately to questions
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Doesn’t reply when you call him or her
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Seems to speak differently than other children of the same age
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Complains of earaches, ear pain, or head noises
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Has academic or behavioural problems
Let’s hear from the expert
Sarah Darwish is the Senior Audiologist at the Advanced Hearing and Balance Centre. Here she writes about detecting hearing loss early. Sarah's Blog For parents, detecting hearing loss in an infant or young child can be challenging. Knowing the warning signs to look out for and detecting a hearing problem early will equip you and your child with the greatest chance at speech and language development success.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 6,000 young children in the UAE have some form of hearing loss and up to 900 are born with hearing problems each year. Many facilities in the UAE will offer a hearing screening for newborns using a quick and easy computerized test. If a baby fails, they must be booked for a follow-up with an Audiologist within a few weeks. Despite this newborn period being a busy time for a new parent, it is important to attend this appointment to recheck the result and to proceed with additional tests, if necessary. Being told that your new baby failed a hearing test can be pretty frightening, it is important however to try to stay calm as the result can mean a number of things. It is also important to ask as many questions as you can of your Audiologist so that you have all the information you need.
There is no formal requirement for hearing assessment in the UAE if a child is discharged after the newborn screening. I recommend an annual test for all children (to look out for fluctuating conditions that arise during the cold and flu season), or at the very minimum - a test at age 3 years.
Parents, teamed with Paediatricians and General Practitioners, must all be on the lookout for any signs of hearing loss; early intervention is critical. If at any time a hearing issue is suspected, an Audiologist with the facilities to test young children should be consulted. As a minimum these facilities must include; • a sound field • an audiometer • a tympanometer • an otoscope • OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) equipment • ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) equipment
So how would parents know if their infant, toddler or young child has a hearing loss? Some children are at higher risk for hearing problems due to prematurity or low birth weight, serious infection, jaundice, treatment with certain antibiotics, craniofacial abnormalities, certain medical conditions, and family history. But hearing loss can still occur even if there are no risk factors. Here are some early warning signs that parents might be able to recognize: • no startle reflex • inconsistent responses and reactions to sound or familiar voices • a lack of tuneful babbling or a decline in babbling • delayed speech development • poor attention • poor balance • an unusually loud voice • changes in speech patterns • atypical speech sounds/ mispronunciation or absence of some sounds in speech • difficulty with academic achievement or decline in performance • need for repetition of statements
Hearing is a primary channel for brain development and learning which requires consistent stimulation. Early identification is critical for a child’s development whereby a team of specialists (such as Audiologists, Speech and Language therapists, ENT Doctors and Teachers) work together through the parents. It is important that once a diagnosis has been made that parents are heavily involved as without the parents, the care team cannot function effectively.
If you think you may have noticed some of those early warning signs, or just have that funny feeling and need to know for sure, seek the advice of a trusted medical specialist. Follow through with an Audiologist who has experience with children to be sure that your child is best equipped for speech and language success.
Advance Hearing and Balance Center Phone: +971 (0) 561059894 Email: sdarwishaud@gmail.com Facebook: @sarahdarwishaudiologist Sarah's Blog
Parent's perspective
It is always valuable to learn from the experience of others. We are very grateful to the families that share their personal stories in order to help us to better understand some of the challenges that our children might face. Should you be willing to share your story (anonymously if you prefer) please don't hesitate to contact us oasisjj@jess.sch.ae (Jumeirah) or primaryadmin@jess.sch.ae (Arabian Ranches) The importance of hearing screeners by Mr and Mrs Meintjes - F1 parents JESS AR
In Dubai, the current recommendation is a hearing screening test before 3 months of age. This ensures that every child born with a permanent hearing loss is identified and provided with timely and appropriate intervention services before six months of age. Obviously, the earlier we can identify hearing loss the sooner we can begin to treat the problem and have better outcomes for that individual. We opted to do the test, and were completely caught off guard by the results. After the initial test, we did more in depth tests and found out that our son had a high frequency hearing loss. We worked with the audiologist and a speech and hearing therapist on the correct path for him. We decided to opt for hearing aids, and give him the best chance for speech development. We also worked with our speech and language therapist on a bi monthly basis over Skype. These sessions were there to make sure he was on the correct path and developing his speech and hearing. I can't emphasise enough how important this process is, starting out not knowing anything and then realising how much we take the hearing and speech development for granted in children. To say we are grateful that it was caught early is an understatement, and has hugely impacted our lives. If unidentified, these children often fall behind their peers in speech and language development, cognitive skills and social skills. This means that not only does their speech develop slower, their social interactions can suffer, and even the way they perceive the world is impacted. audiologyonline, also has this to say. “Early childhood screening is also common as not all hearing loss can be identified at birth. Screening during early childhood is critical because hearing loss is an invisible condition.� Early detection can help to avoid communication roadblocks and potentially means a better quality of life. Early detection means addressing hearing loss before it significantly impacts a person’s quality of life.
Tech support
This month's 'app-ortunities' are intended to provide support for the different component challenges related to vision and hearing that may inhibit success! If you click in the top left of the image you will be able to find the name and focus of the app.
1 – LetterReflex
2 - Monster Hunt
3 - Drawnimal
4 - Dexteria
5 - Sound Match
6 - Hear Coach
A good book
Every month we will make a recommendation for a book (or two!) that offer helpful information and advice, we hope over time to cover a range of topics that will be of interest to everyone in our primary school communities.
There are many titles available for books about vision and hearing. What follows are just a few written by parents and professionals. We have include a range which are aimed at different audiences (including children) and vary in content and complexity.
In the news... The JESS Jumeirah Clicker 7 Leaders created a wonderful video sharing their thoughts on the new software; advocating for its benefits with aiding writing and demonstrating some of the tools that can be used. If you wish to see them in action check out the Clicker 7 Video. At JESS Arabian Ranches we have introduced a new early morning club called Sensory Circuits. The children enjoy a series of activities which help them to alert, organise and calm their sensory systems so that they are ready for their day. When asked what he thought of sensory circuits, one of the children smiled and said, " I love it; It puts a smile on my face.'
7 - This book provides the rationale and the basis for our club's activities. The children begin by alerting their sensory systems. This section includes activities like jogging, jumping jacks and bouncing on the hoppers. Next we may do activities that require them to copy others - to organise their movements. And finally, we relax and calm ourselves ready for the day with a variety of deep pressure movements, like wall push-ups and the plank.
And finally... We hope that you have found some useful ideas and strategies in this edition of Connections. Should you wish to contribute you ideas, request a particular topic focus or share a recommendation for a book or app please let us know. You can always pop in to the department or email us at oasisjj@jess.sch.ae (Jumeirah) or primaryadmin@jess.sch.ae (Arabian Ranches)
A reminder of the Oasis teams...
8 - Emma Dibden
9 - Carolyne Palmer
10 - Jacki Garner
11 - Nadine Sylvester
12 - Bethan Crosby
Jumeirah Oasis Team (JJ) •
Head of Oasis (& KS2 Link teacher) - Emma Dibden
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Oasis Link teacher for FS & KS1 - Carolyne Palmer
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Learning Support Assistant - Jacki Garner
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Learning Support Assistant - Nadine Sylvester
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Learning Support Assistant - Bethan Crosby
13 - Liz Morris
14 - Orla Rogers
15 - Lynne Moody
16 - Heidi Underwood
17 - Reem Al Ghussein
18 - Colette Breslin
Arabian Ranches Primary Oasis Team (ARP) •
Head of Oasis - Liz Morris
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Oasis Link teacher for F1, F2 and Yrs 3 and 4 - Lynne Moody
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Oasis Link teacher for Yrs 1,2,5 and 6 - Orla Rogers
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Learning Support Assistant - Reem Al Ghussein
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Learning Support Assistant - Heidi Underwood
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Learning Support Assistant - Colette Breslin
19 - Karen Wanliss
20 - Annette Bentley
21 - Lee Shadbolt
22 - Sarah Sneesby
If you are a parent with children in Arabian Ranches Secondary, please keep an eye open for the Connections sway from our colleagues in the Oasis Secondary team. Karen Wanliss Annette Bennett Lee Shadbolt Sarah Sneesby