Sensory Impairment Service (SIS): Guide to Eligibility for Radio Aids - NNC and WNC

The Sensory Impairment Service (SIS) will assess a child’s need on an individual basis, and (in partnership with health professionals) will make a decision based on the following criteria.

Criteria for School Age Children (Including 6th Form)

Every child with permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) with or without an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan, who has a hearing loss of 5-frequency average of minimum 40 dBHL will be offered access to a radio aid system, following a discussion regarding evidence.

Any other child with a PCHI will be considered for a radio aid system on a case-by-case basis. There will need to be evidence that:

1. A radio aid system will improve access to their learning
2. The radio aid system will be used daily in school and managed appropriately following a successful trial period

This evidence should include the voice of the child (or young person), input from the parent/s or carer/s, and input from the educational setting. There should be and evidence on Capita One of discussion with educational audiologists (EAs). All information should be recorded and easily accessible on the ‘Radio Aid Evidence Template.’

Criteria for Early Years Children

The Sensory Impairment Service (SIS), qualified teachers of the deaf (QTODs), and educational audiologists (EAs) will assess children individually. They will take into consideration the Quality Standards (QS)  and other relevant information from the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).

The Radio Aid Quality Standards

Standard One:

“Every deaf child should be considered as a potential candidate for provision with a personal radio aid as part of their amplification package, at first hearing aid fitting.”

The National Deaf Children’s Society recommends that local authorities ensure that radio aids are more readily available to parents of deaf children where parents would like one to support their child’s spoken language and communication development.

(The National Deaf Children’s Society ‘Right from the Start’)

Standard Two:

Any child (aged 0 to 3 years) with a permanent childhood hearing Impairment (PCHI) and with a 4-frequency average hearing loss of 50 dBHL or greater in the better ear will be eligible for a radio aid system to support:

• Speech and language development
• Social and emotional development
• Positive behavioural management

Standard Three:

For any child with a permanent childhood hearing Impairment (PCHI) from the age of 3 years who is an established hearing aid user and with a 4-frequency average hearing loss of 40 dBHL or greater, evidence will be discussed and recorded both pre and post fitting, using the ‘Radio Aid Evidence’ form. Where the radio aid is deemed successful by the educational audiologist /QTOD, a permanent radio aid will be offered.

Standard Four:

For children who have a cochlear implant: Following discussion with the Auditory Implant Centre and after completion of the FM Readiness Toolkit Programme and/or where clear evidence has been discussed, a radio aid will be offered and reviewed after 6 months.

In all cases, the QTOD/educational audiologist will assess the child’s need on case-by-case basis and will list evidence on the ‘Radio Aid Evidence’ form.

Please note that a home and/or setting loan agreement will be arranged by your QTOD when a radio aid system is issued.