The Experience in Inclusion of Hearing Impaired Children and Children with Cochlear Implant

The Elementary School Davorin Trstenjak through its normal educational activitiy has integrated hearing impaired children for the last 30 years and recently, for 3 years children with cochlear implant. Today they are 48... [ view full abstract ]

The Elementary School Davorin Trstenjak through its normal educational activitiy has integrated hearing impaired children for the last 30 years and recently, for 3 years children with cochlear implant. Today they are 48 students integrated in normal classes from grade 1.-8. Two of these students have cochlear implants. They are students of 8th grade (14 years old). Both of them were integrated in our classes from the very start (1st grade). They went through the surgery 2 years ago, at the age of 12. There was no interruption in their integration.

Besides ordinary lessons that those children attend, they get specialized professional treatment after their classes. They have groups according to their age. The group is managed by a group leader – a specially qualified teacher. To monitor the development of each student everyday contact between the teachers of the school and the group leaders is very important. The exchange of information at any moment, detecting the problems, having a good insight in their success, taking care of their school obligations and homework is a very important part of integration. 

Using their speech abilities hearing impaired children and children with the cochlear implant are able to communicate with the hearing children at any moment. Hearing children can develop their sense of understanding and tolerance and they will be more perceptive for the needs of those who have any kind of problems. Treating those children with hearing problems as equals in the everyday school life will help their full inclusion in the community, will qualify them for their further education and finally will make them educated efficient members of the society.

Keywords: Hearing impaired children, inclusion, integration