Hearing impairment (deafness)
Hearing impairment (also described as hearing loss or deafness) is measured in terms of the sound level (in decibels or dB) that someone can hear at a given frequency (pitch). Hearing impairment is tested across the range of speech frequencies, usually between 250 Hz and 8kHz. If a person has good hearing across all these frequencies they are considered to have normal hearing.
Levels of hearing impairment are often assessed as follows, through it is dangerous to assume that because a hearing impairment is labelled as 'mild' the consequences are barriers for the individual will be negligible.
Mild hearing impairment threshold 21-40 dBHL
Moderate hearing impairment threshold 41-70 dBHL
Severe hearing impairment threshold 71-95 dBHL
Profound hearing impairment threshold in excess of 95 dBHL
What this may mean in real life situations is illustrated in the following table:
| Better ear average hearing level in decibels of hearing loss (db HL) | Hearing in a quiet environment | Hearing in a noisy environment |
| 20-34 dbHL | Does not have problems hearing what is said | May have real difficulty in following/taking part in a conversation |
| 35-49 dbHL | May have difficulty hearing a normal voice | Has difficulty hearing and taking part in conversation |
| 50-64 dbHL | Can hear loud speech | Has great difficulty hearing and taking part in a conversation |
| 65-79 dbHL | Can hear loud speech directly in one's ear | Has very great difficulty hearing and taking part in a conversation |
| 80-94 dbHL | Has great difficulty hearing | Cannot hear any speech |
| Unilateral hearing loss: Up to 20 dbHL in the better ear; at least 35 dbHL in the worse ear | Does not have problems unless sound is near the poorer hearing ear | May have real difficulty following/taking part in a conversation |
Source: NHS England Comissioning Guidance 2016
Key Facts:
- There are at least 46,933 deaf children in England. This figure of 46,933 is a reported increase of 1,262 (3%) from 45,6718 in the previous year. CRIDE 2024.
- There are a reported 220 resource provisions, a decrease from 227 in 2023. Looking at the spread of resource provisions across England, on average, there is one resource provision for every 213 deaf children in 2024.
- 4,201 deaf children (9%) were reported to have at least one cochlear implant. This is increase from 2021 when 3,907 children (9%) were reported to have a cochlear implant. CRIDE 2023.
- It is estimated that 49% of children with severe or profound deafness had at least one cochlear implant. If one were to make an assumption that nearly all children with cochlear implants were those with a profound deafness, this percentage would rise to 84%. CRIDE 2023.
- 3,831 deaf children (8%) had a bone conduction device. The proportion has increased from 7% in 2021. CRIDE 2023.
- 89% of deaf children use Spoken English (34,500) 2% British Sign Language (792) 2% Spoken English together with signed supported English (2,238) and 6% another combination (1,381). CRIDE 2023.
- There are a reported 220 resource provisions, a decrease from 227 in 2023. Looking at the spread of resource provisions across England, on average, there is one resource provision for every 213 deaf children. CRIDE 2024.
- There was a total of 8,809 deaf children with an EHC plan (of whom 6,320 are children where deafness is a primary need and 2,489 a secondary need) according to DfE census figures. Comparing this figure with the number of children identified by the CRIDE survey, this would indicate that around 19% of deaf children have an EHC plan. CRIDE 2024.
The School Census records a total of 28,600 children where deafness is a primary or secondary need. The 28,600 deaf children identified by the School Census amount to 61% of the 46,799 deaf children identified by local authorities through CRIDE 2024.
Source: Consortium for Research into Deaf Education (CRIDE)
Your local Sensory Service should be able to provide accurate numbers of CYP with sensory loss including level of need, level of loss and placement in youir area.