Choosing a Preschool for Your Cochlear Implant Child

Deaf School or Mainstream

The process of choosing the right school for your hearing impaired child can be very confusing. Should the child be sent to a specialized school for the deaf where the child’s hearing loss is given the proper attention and care? Or is it better to send the child to an ordinary preschool where he or she must struggle to keep up with the other ordinary hearing children?

The Choices

Many children with cochlear implants live in an area where they have an option of attending a special preschool for the deaf. These are usually part of a larger Deaf School, which is an institution that focuses exclusively on educating children with hearing loss or other auditory deficiencies. The school’s staff will usually include audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and teachers who have completed courses in Deaf Education, such as those offered by First Step. Most of the children that attend have some level of hearing loss, and are either cochlear implant or hearing aid users. Ordinary preschools can also be a choice for your cochlear implanted child. There are usually quite a few to choose from in your area, so you can be select the one that best meet your child’s needs, as we outline below. Since your child has the benefit of being able to hear sounds with their cochlear implant(s), he/she can usually keep up with the other children at the school without falling behind.

As a parent, you are faced with making this decision. Just what is important to take into consideration when choosing one particular type over the other? How does one decide on which school will be the best for their child?

Pros and Cons

The following list outlines the general pros and cons of both the specialized Deaf Schools and ordinary preschools:

Deaf Schools

Pros

Geared towards your child’s hearing loss – equipped to do the job right
Child’s professionals on staff – audiologists, speech language pathologists, and Teachers of the Deaf
Small Class Size – Child receives individual attention
Therapy and Audiology Sessions available on site – no need to miss school
Can easily accommodate special needs of your child

Cons

Locations not available in all areas
Does not give the child a real-world experience with normal hearing kids
May have many “deaf-culture” beliefs, such as promoting the use of sign language and other visual cues that hamper the child’s auditory and language development
High tuition costs, somewhat offset by governmental assistance
Limited choice of schools

Regular Preschools

Pros

Child learns to speak from “normal hearing” children
Other children learn to accept your child’s hearing loss at a young age
Large choice of schools usually available
Lower tuition fees, less paperwork and hassle
Forces child to use ordinary communication methods
Parent is more likely to be involved in therapy sessions which take place outside the school

Cons

Inconvenience of not having therapy or audiology services available on-site
School is usually not equipped to handle issues relating to your child’s hearing loss
Child may have to struggle to keep up with peers
Child may have to miss a lot of school to attend therapy and audiology sessions

Making the Decision

Actually deciding on one particular school is a difficult task. There are many things to consider in a school, in addition to all the items listed above. Is the school warm and friendly? Will they do their best to ensure my child will have a positive experience there? Will the staff go the extra mile to properly care for my child’s special needs? Are they attentive and responsive to my inquiries and concerns?

The final decision on this matter is ultimately made by you – the parent. However, being well informed about your choices will make the process a lot easier. By preparing yourself first with knowledge about your particular choices, you are most likely going to make the right choice for both you and your child.