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Brent Deaf and Hearing Support Service

Brent Deaf and Hearing Support Service (BDHSS)

The Brent Deaf and Hearing Support Service aims to ensure children and young people with a diagnosed hearing loss and auditory processing disorder (APD), have equitable opportunity alongside their hearing peers to reach their full potential.

BDHSS is one of two specialist teams within Brent’s Sensory Support Service, working in close partnership with the Brent Vision Impairment Service (BVIS).

We provide support for deaf children and young people from birth to 25 years old, with or without additional needs. Currently, there are over 350 children and young people in Brent with a diagnosed hearing loss or APD.

Support is provided in homes, early years settings, schools, and colleges, in partnership with parents, carers, teaching staff, and other professionals.

The BDHSS is made up of 

  • 4 advisory teachers of the deaf with a mandatory qualification in deaf education 
  • a deaf instructor, supporting with British Sign Language (BSL) 
  • an audiology technician, supporting with hearing equipment and technology

Contact details

Address:

Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley

HA9 0FJ

What we do

Our team provides a wide range of specialist support for deaf children and young people, both at home and in educational settings.

Home support
We offer dedicated support for babies and children under five diagnosed with hearing loss or auditory processing disorder (APD) through regular home visits. This includes:

  • hearing equipment checks and provision of Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs).
  • functional hearing, speech and language and BSL assessments to support their communication.

Guidance and practical support for parents and carers, including:

  • understanding hearing loss, its impact on development, and coping with emotional aspects of diagnosis
  • managing hearing technology, attending audiology appointments, and interpreting medical reports
  • strategies to develop communication and listening skills, including Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT)
  • accessing local and national services, support groups, and entitlements, and opportunities for families and carers to learn British Sign Language (BSL)
  • supporting smooth transitions into early years and educational setting

Support in educational settings

  • deaf awareness training for staff, ongoing guidance, and advice on classroom strategies, including improving acoustics and listening environments.
  • lesson observations, guidance on exam access, school trips, and work experience placements.
  • support for speech and listening skills, social communication, and British Sign Language (BSL).
  • provision and management of Assistive Listening Devices, plus advice on using and maintaining hearing equipment.
  • contributions to Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments, annual reviews, and individual education plan (IEP) meetings.

Training opportunities
Our team provides tailored training sessions for individuals or groups, designed to enhance understanding and support for deaf children and young people. Training options include:

  • deaf awareness and inclusion: Sessions on deafness, hearing technology, and classroom strategies to ensure Deaf learners are fully supported.
  • specialist and practical training for staff: BSL and targeted training for class and subject teachers, plus practical guidance for support staff to promote effective and independent learning.
  • training for wider professionals: Support for social workers, therapists, and others to enable collaborative working.

Contact the team for more details.

Referrals to BDHSS

Most deaf children and young people are referred to the Brent Deaf and Hearing Support Service (BDHSS) by the hospital where their hearing loss or auditory processing disorder (APD) was diagnosed.

If this is not the case, referrals can also be made by:

  • parents or carers, by contacting the service directly and completing a signed referral form
  • educational settings, through the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or a key worker

Please note that referrals can only be accepted with a referral form signed by a parent or carer.

Once a referral is received, the team will:

  • make initial contact within 5 working days.
  • arrange an initial visit within 10 working days.
  • share visit records with both the educational setting and the home.

Information to download

Hearing impairment

Sensory impairment