Helping children with hearing loss stand up to bullies

Today, as we acknowledge World Hearing Day, Spokle co-founder, Andrew Kendrick, has recorded a video to help parents empower their children to stand up to bullies.

Children with hearing loss are twice as likely to be bullied as research shows. A 2018 study from the University of Texas at Dallas showed 50% of adolescents with hearing loss reported being bullied in the previous year.

Bullying can include name calling, teasing or ridiculing, social exclusion, spreading rumours and turning other children against the targeted child. Bullying can also turn physical such as hitting or kicking. In the case of children with hearing loss or communication disorders, bullies may use a feature of the child’s disability to bully them, such as creeping up behind them to scare them or imitating their speech or sign-language in a teasing way. Obviously, these actions can be highly distressing for the affected child and their parent as well.

Some of the signs a child might be being bullied include:

·      A sudden refusal to attend school (or the place where the bullying is happening).

·      A change in their school performance – are they suddenly struggling more in class?

·      Reduced participation in after school events or social events

·      Appearing sad, depressed or angry, losing their temper quickly

·      Decreased interest in friendships

·      Refusing to wear their hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Listen to Andrew's message to all parents of children with hearing loss for strategies on how to build their child’s resilience, become advocates for their children, and address issues associated with cyber bullying. With the right skills and empowerment, children with hearing loss can become resilient, stand up to bullying and thrive.

Andrew Kendrick

Andrew Kendrick, M.Ed., Cert. AVT, PCIT-trained

Andrew has worked extensively in the field of Auditory-Verbal Therapy for more than 25 years. He is a qualified Teacher of the Deaf, world-renowned therapist, consultant, publisher and international lecturer with extensive knowledge in the field and experienced in working across cultures.

Prior to co-founding Spokle, Andrew had developed and led the global rehabilitation program for Cochlear Ltd., a global leader and innovator of cochlear implant device. He was instrumental in establishing the Beijing Training and Education Centre - introducing AVT and improved pediatric audiology to China, as well as the Cochlear Training and Experience Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Andrew spent a number of years practicing in Singapore as the Director of a Cochlear Implant program, providing pre and post cochlear implant support. He was also the Program Development Manager for The Shepherd Centre, a large non-government auditory-verbal intervention centre in Australia, where he established Professional training and development programs.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the A G Bell Academy and practices as a Senior Therapist at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC).

Andrew currently resides in Australia and enjoys his outdoor walks around beautiful Blue Mountains.