Hearing checks for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both in special residential schools

Together, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Co-Production Collective will be working with young people, their parents and carers, and school staff in residential special schools across England to co-produce innovative new approaches and improved access to hearing checks for children and young people who are autistic, have a learning disability, or both.

This year long collaborative project forms part of the activation of point 2.31 of The NHS Long Term Plan and will be delivered in line with the NHS England and NHS Improvement Learning Disability and Autism Strategic Plan for this work.

Often autistic people, those with a learning disability, or both, can struggle to receive timely diagnosis and treatment that is accessible to them. Approaches to healthcare delivery are frequently designed by clinical staff with limited input from those who will use services. We will be changing this, to co-produce hearing checks in residential special schools with children and young people, their families, and education staff who support them, to ensure that audiology services meet their needs. By working together, we can ensure that the hearing checks delivered are accessible.

Niccola Hutchinson-Pascal from UCL and Sarah O’Brien who is involved in the co-production of the Collective, and is autistic, share their thoughts:

“Co-Production Collective is excited to work with families, professionals and NHS England on this highly impactful and necessary project. Often autistic people, those with a learning disability, or both, can struggle to receive timely diagnosis and treatment that is accessible to them. Approaches to healthcare delivery are frequently designed by clinical staff with limited input from those who will use services. We are excited to be working on the co-production of hearing checks in residential special schools with children and young people, their families, and education staff who support them, to ensure that audiology services meet their needs. By working together, we can ensure that the hearing checks delivered are accessible for children and young people who have a diagnosis of autism, a learning disability or both.”

Ruth Thomsen, NHS England and NHS Improvement, said, “I am so excited to be working on this project. We have a long journey ahead of us but I truly believe that this programme of work will develop our thinking and ways of working. Increasing our knowledge and understanding by breaking down barriers to accessing hearing checks for children.”

Through the work of this project with the UCL Co-Production Collective we hope to create a person-centred approach to hearing checks that diagnoses and treats hearing loss earlier in children and young people that are autistic, have a learning disability or both