In 1996, Canossian School set up an Audiological Department. The school then embarked on a cochlear implant project with Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctors at SGH undertook the implant procedure, while the school handled the habilitation process which integrated pre- and post-cochlear implant assessments, mapping of pupil’s implants, family counselling and educational services.
Our Audiology Unit
OUR AUDIOLOGY UNIT
Improvements in technology have led to better hearing devices for children with hearing loss. Devices are now more compact, provide high-quality amplification and incorporate technologies like Bluetooth.
With improved amplification and connectivity, a child with hearing loss can become a more engaged learner.
To ensure that a student are able to listen well, it is essential for every student to attend school with hearing devices that are in working condition all day. At Canossian School, every child begins the day with hearing aid checks.
Teachers and technical staff will check the devices to ensure that every child’s hearing devices are in working order. Should the device become faulty at any time during the day, the on-site audiological team provides troubleshooting services while the student is provided with a loaner set.
The audiological team also carries out audiological assessments for all students on an annual basis, and twice yearly checks for our preschoolers.
With these on-site services, students are spared the inconvenience and hassle of coordinating ENT appointments at hospitals. Parents may also purchase supplies of audio accessories from the school at discounted rates only available to educational institutions.
Every child is taught basic knowledge and skills in taking proper care of their devices.
Every child, from preschoolers to primary school students, learns how to check the batteries of their devices
Canossian School also uses the the Frequency Modulation (FM) system for students to enable them to hear and listen better in the mainstream school setting.
The school has an ear mould laboratory where high-quality customised moulds are made for each child. Canossian School is the only school in SIngapore with such specialised facilities and trained staff.
COMMUNICATION USING THE ORAL APPROACH
A hallmark of the education offered at Canossian School is the use of the oral mode of communication in which.students leverage on their hearing devices for amplification. In the late 1980s, the school started to subscribe to the Natural Auditory Oral approach for developing linguistic independence. Teachers now use a broader spectrum of strategies to help children use their residual hearing to develop their receptive and expressive skills in English.
An integral component is the Individual Conversation (IC) which is ten minutes of one-to-one interaction between the student and teacher. Through such sessions, students pick up not only oral language, but also the ‘unspoken’ rules of conversation such as turn talking, eye contact, the spontaneously offering of ideas, pausing, etc. Speech therapy is also offered to students who need specialist intervention to develop clear speech with accurate speech sounds and to use spoken language appropriate for different social settings.
ADAPTIVE LIVING SKILLS (AUDIOLOGY)
In these 4 sessions, the Audiologists aim to educate the children of the basic information with regards to their hearing impairment. The mechanism of hearing, parts of the ear, types of hearing loss and the like, are introduced for them to have a sense of why they have these hearing devices. These concepts were presented in a simple manner and vocabulary that their age group would be able to understand. Also, simple maintenance of the devices and some communication strategies in the classroom were also instructed so as to initiate independence and self-advocacy in these young minds.
As they grow and leave the Canossian care, these lessons are what they will bring to help them cope and excel in the society.
