Begin by meeting with the school’s administrators and your child’s teachers to identify your child’s specific needs. Discuss the use of an FM system for the classroom if this has been recommended by your child’s hearing healthcare professional.

Inquire what resources the school has available to support your child, modify classroom materials and assist in lesson planning. Most school boards have access to either an itinerant teacher for children with hearing impairments, an educational hearing healthcare professional or a speech pathologist.

The entire staff, including gym and music teachers, librarians, caretakers, lunchroom staff and bus drivers should be informed of your child’s needs. An atmosphere of encouragement, acceptance and respect is paramount.

Provide a checklist to your child’s teacher to summarize your child’s requirements and strategies for success.

Have your child meet with his or her teacher several times before school begins. This is an excellent opportunity to establish a mutual comfort level as well as identify academic and social strengths and challenges.

Show your teacher how to create a classroom that will offer an ideal listening environment for your child, including an appropriate seating plan, background noise reduction tips and good lighting (natural if possible) for speech reading.

The support of peers is invaluable: encourage your child’s teacher to incorporate a segment on hearing into the classroom learning. This can include some discussion of hearing loss even a show and tell by your child about his or her hearing aids (note: it’s important to first ensure that your child is comfortable with this approach.)

Show your child’s teacher how the hearing aids work and provide a supply of spare batteries.

Direct your child’s teacher to this website for further information and ideas.