About

What is Sound Advice?

Sound Advice (CRO 506131) is an eGovernment (Education) award-winning venture geared to technology-supported mainstream education, employment and living for children, students and graduates who’re deaf.

From 2007 to 2014, Sound Advice’s influencing addressed a historic lack in Ireland’s hearing and speech services, that led to: Ireland’s Audiology Review (2011), Education Policy for mainstreaming deaf children (2012) and HSE-funded bilateral pediatric ear implants (2013).

Over 3,300 deaf children in Ireland (90%) are mainstream-educated, with under 4% using sign language (#NCSE, 2011).

Since 2010 in the US, 89% to 95% of hearing families choose a spoken language outcome for their deaf children (Teresa Caraway, PhD, 2012). Ireland’s ratio is similar, meaning children at mainstream schools need modern supports.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Sound Advice received Ireland’s 2010 eGovernment Education award for achieving cross-sector collaboration, cost-savings and efficiencies through modelling a web-based service for the public sector. For parents, educators, tech firms, employers and healthcare personnel, sound-advice.ie is an online resource for guidance and international good practice.

The Sound Advice (IDK) Facebook page is a place to find information and talk with parents, professionals, researchers and educators working with children who’re deaf, or to talk with people who’re deaf themselves.

If you are interested in mainstream education and living for deaf pupils, students & graduates, this website is for you.

Key Facts:

• Digital hearing-technologies are converging with smartphones, for all ages
• Two babies are born deaf in Ireland every week (about 100 per year)
• 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, who use spoken language in the family home
• These children learn in English, supported by the Visiting Teacher Service
• Infant detection and spoken language teaching are crucial for deaf children
• All babies lip-read from 6 to 12 months, to learn mouth-shapes for language
• Babies with hearing devices, can start preschool with age-relevant spoken language
• Bilateral pediatric implants in Ireland from 2014 give children a great start
• Deaf children can, with the right support, live full, healthy and happy lives
• Spoken languages, music, singing, dancing and sports are enjoyed as hobbies
• Overseas work experience on TY programmes, gap years and J1 visas, is entirely viable
• Most careers are open to graduates who’re deaf, and who use tech as a leveller
• People who’re deaf hold good jobs, own houses, cars, have families and do very well in life.

Why Now?

Infant intervention and spoken language teaching are crucial for a deaf child’s mainstream education but parents and teachers lack reference points for sourcing information on hearing and digital tools for the childrens’ education.

Digital tools are a leveler at every life stage, and technology for inclusion needs discussion. With teens starting work earlier, employers must understand digital tools for workplaces, while connected homes are bringing touch-screen systems that link residents to sensors and accessible clock, smoke, fire, carbon monoxide and personal safety alarms.