Resources and links

Below you can find a range of leaflets, information sheets and rehabilitation materials made by NAIP for patients and their families. We have also included links to a range of websites and resources from other sources that we know that our patients and families have found useful. 

During an appointment the clinician may suggest a particular information sheet or resource from this page to help you or your child to make progress in your listening, understanding or communication.  

If you cannot find the resource you are looking or want further information please let your clinician know or contact us at nuhnt.naip@nhs.net 

Babies and young listeners

These information sheets and leaflets are aimed at parents of babies, toddlers and young children who are thinking about cochlear implants or have recently had a cochlear implant operation. When searching for resources for your child it is important to bear in mind your child's hearing experience (sometimes called 'listening age') and level of language development, as well as their actual age, to find the most useful resources for them.

NAIP Resources for Young Listeners
Title Contents Ref#
Help your baby learn to listen

A guide for parents and carers to encourage early sound awareness in babies and young children using hearing aids or cochlear implants

PAS1
Cochlear implant assessment: A guide for parents All about what happens when your child has a cochlear implant assessment PAS2
Keeping the equipment on    
Pilot Caps and bonnets One way to stop little fingers removing hearing aids or processors PRT1
Keeping processors safe leaflet (children) To help prevent your child's sound processors getting lost or damaged PRT2
What if my child will not wear their processors? Things to think about if your child is reluctant to wear the processors PRT3
Early Days    
Ready to listen Now your baby can hear, what do you need to do to help them listen PED1
Discovering noise, music and songs Have fun listening to sounds and music with your little one. PED2
Getting your baby interested in your voice Grab your baby's attention and develop their early interaction skills PED3
Developing Understanding    
What are you telling me Showing your baby that you understand their communication PDU4
Listening links Ideas for how to use repetition and routine in play PDU7
Recognising and finding sounds Games and activities to help your child recognise and locate sounds PDU8

 

Other useful resources and links:
Resource Provider/source
BabyBeats Advanced Bionics
This app includes a range of musical activities to help you and your baby bond, play and learn together so that your child can learn to listen and communicate through music. Available on the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android.  
Action songs Words for Life
A page with ideas and the words for lots of songs and rhymes.  
Let’s Listen and Talk The Elizabeth Foundation
An online resource for families which takes you step-by‑step through the process of building your child’s listening and speaking skills. It is split into three sections: baby, toddler and preschool.   
Hearingfirst.org Hearing First
This website gives lots of information about learning to listen and talk from diagnosis of deafness onwards. There is a useful section called 'What to do' with lots of tips and strategies.  
National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) NDCS
Information and support for families, deaf children and young people  
rehabilitation resources for babies and preschoolers Cochlear
On this page you can access a range of Cochlear resources including: Listen learn and talk booklet, Chit Chat resources, Small Talk Booklet, and video resources.  
Talking With Your Toddler  Speech and Language UK
Information and webinars full of useful advice on how parents can encourage their child to talk and interact with them.   
Med-el Blog MED-EL
On this blog, in the 'Tips and Tricks' section, you can find the For parents tab or the Rehab at home resources with ideas for you to do at home with your young and school aged children.  
Tips for talking to your baby or young child National Literacy Trust
Talk to your baby National Literacy Trust
These are a series of quick tips for parents and practitioners to help children develop good talking and listening skills. Each sheet is available in thirteen languages (and growing).  
Words for Life Words for Life
This website has information and ideas about talking and reading to children and is divided into age sections  
Advanced Bionics Rehab Portal Advanced Bionics
Once you have registered for this free portal you can access information about a range of rehab resources including live webinars.  
The Listening Room Advanced Bionics
You need to register to create a free account and then you can access free activities for infants and toddlers or preschool.  

 

 

 

School aged children listening to develop language

When searching for resources for your child it is important to bear in mind your child's hearing experience (sometimes called 'listening age') and level of language development, as well as their actual age, to find the most useful resources for them.

School aged children
Resource provider/source
New experiences with your child Hearing First
This website is aimed at younger children but this useful page talks about after school activities.  
National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) NDCS
Information and support for families, deaf children and young people  
Rehabilitation resources for school age children Cochlear
On this page you can access a range of Cochlear resources including: Every moment matters, Cochlear Classroom Care Guides, and video resources.  
Sound foundation for starting school Cochlear
This rehabilitation guide is designed to support parents in the weeks leading up to their child’s first day at a school  
Advanced Bionics Rehab Portal Advanced Bionics
Once you have registered for this free portal you can access information about a range of rehab resources including live webinairs.  
The Listening Room Advanced Bionics
You need to register to create a free account and then you can access free activities for school aged chileren.  
Musical Journey Advanced Bionics
Designed for children aged 2½ to 6 years old.  You can download the book and the songs/music that go with it In the AB rehab portal.  
Med-el downloadable resources MED-EL
A range of booklets and resources which can be downloaded from the support area of their website  
Med-el rehab apps MED-EL
A range of rehab apps including 'Hear Today' available for apple or android.  
Med-el Blog MED-EL
On this blog, in the 'Tips and Tricks' section, you can find the For parents tab or the Rehab at home resources with ideas for you to do at home with your school aged children.  
How can I teach my child about thoughts and feelings? MED-EL
Why should my child practise listening to descriptions? MED-EL
Secondary milestones poster Speech and Language UK
This poster is an easy reference for teachers to understand children's speech and language development from 11-16 years  
Primary milestones poster Speech and Language UK
This poster is an easy reference for teachers to understand children's speech and language development from 4-11 years  
Words for Life Words for Life
This website has information and ideas about talking and reading to children and is divided into age sections  
Resource library for families Speech and Language UK
Factsheets, based on most frequently asked questions from parents, carers and practitioners regarding children with speech and language difficulties.  
Go for Gold Dr Helen Willis,    BATOD
Dr Helen Willis wrote this leaflet about empowering deaf children with cochlear implants to manage listening effort. Find it on the BATOD website  
NASA at Home NASA
Here you will find a wide range of space themed activities for all ages.  
Twinkl Twinkl
This teacher's website also has free downloadable resources for parents: For children aged 5-11, and for secondary aged children (Beyond area)  
Home learning Hub Twinkl
This has lots of free resources divided into age groups  

 

Children with complex needs

In addition to the resources in the sections above, some websites provide specific resources and ideas for children with complex needs and disabilities.
Children with complex needs
Resource provider/source
Sense Sense
An organisation supporting people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities.
150 sensory learning ideas Inclusive teach
Scope Scope
Provide advice and support for disabled people  
Other ways of speaking Communication Matters
This short booklet provides information about children and young people who use a variety of different ways to communicate (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Let your hands do the talking Communication Matters
A leaflet about using signing for communication
SEND Home learning resource pack Twinkl
A resource pack designed  to be used as a supplement to anything sent home by school; it contains activities at different levels with some symbol support. Set up a free account to download.

 

Older children and teens

You may also find our resources for adults useful - find them in the drop-down section below.

Teens and young adults
Improving communication for people with severe/profound hearing loss NAIP
Includes advice and information about how to make the most of your hearing and what others can do to help when you cannot hear easily. It also includes information about useful organisations. 
Answers to Lillie's questions NAIP
Answers to frequently asked questions
National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) NDCS
Information and support for families, deaf children and young people.
Rehabilitation resources for teens and adults Cochlear
Here you will find the 'Raising Confident Teens Toolkit', and video rehab resources.
Bring Back the Beat Cochlear
A fun app with different games to help people with cochlear implants to regain the joy of music.
Advanced Bionics Rehab Portal Advanced Bionics
Once you have registered for this free portal you can access information about a range of rehab resources including live webinairs.
The Listening Room Advanced Bionics
You need to register to create a free account and then you can access free activities from the appropriate age related sections.
Sound Success Advanced Bionics
Set up a free account (as for the rehab portal) to access this programme which includes exercises to help you better using your hearing technology. Work on your lap-top, iPad or tablet.
Musical Atmospheres Advanced Bionics
Set up a free account (as for the rehab portal) to access this interactive program designed to help teenagers and adults with cochlear implants explore the world of music.
Med-el downloadable resources MED-EL
A range of booklets and resources which can be downloaded from the support area of their website
Med-el rehab apps MED-EL
A range of rehab apps including 'Hear Today' available for apple or android.
Med-el Blog MED-EL
This blog has a range of tips and tricks for adults some of which are useful for older teens.
How to deal with questions about your hearing implant MED-EL
Tips on how to answer tricky questions from people about your hearing implant on the MED-EL blog.
Secondary milestones poster Speech and Language UK
This poster is an easy reference for teachers to understand children's speech and language development from 11-16 years
Zone in Words for Life
Tips on boosting reading, writing, speaking and listening skills for young adults.
Go for Gold Dr Helen Willis,    BATOD
Dr Helen Willis wrote this leaflet about empowering deaf adults with cochlear implants to manage listening effort. Find it on the BATOD website
Twinkl for secondary aged children (Beyond area) Twinkl
This teacher's website also has free downloadable resources for parents.
The Buzz NDCS
A website for deaf young people with lots of information about daefness and identity, communication and British Sign Language.

 

Adults

The following links are designed to give you some ideas of places to start looking for further information and resources which may be useful; there are manyt more available. NAIP does not recommend specific products or manufacturers and a link to these sites does not imply a preference. 

Follow the links by clicking on the resource titles.

Improving Communication with family, friends and colleagues

Improving communication for people with severe/profound hearing loss

This booklet from the Nottingham Auditory Implant Programme (NAIP) includes advice and information on how you can make the most of your hearing, and what others can do to help when you cannot hear easily. It also includes information on useful organisations and resources you might use. NAIP have also produced this short information sheet:

Information for family, friends and colleagues

C2Hear

This site has a very useful Communication Tactics video about improving communication for people with hearing loss. This interactive resource is ideal to watch with family and friends.

There is also a section which aims to help new hearing aid users to better use their hearing aids.

Oticon have produced a number of documents useful to discuss with family and friends. Here is one of them:

Communication is a Two Way Street

Developing listening skills; from early days to further rehab.

Listening Practice Ideas

These information sheets from Nottingham Auditory Implant Programme give ideas for listening practise at various levels. If you are not sure which to use, speak to one of the team at NAIP. Click each below to download:

Instructions - Familiar phrases

Instructions - Listening to words (same length)

Instructions - Listening to words (different lengths)

Instructions - Recognising people from their voices

Instructions - Tracking

Instructions - Practising with audio books

Advanced Bionics Rehab Portal

https://apps2.advancedbionics.com/auth/login/SsoForm

Once you have registered for this free portal from Advanced Bionics you can access information about a range of rehab resources including those listed below and LIVE WEBINARS - on line talks about developing listening skills and resources to help.

If you are just beginning with your cochlear implants try to work through all sections of the ‘Getting Started’ sections systematically as they get progressively harder. If you are a good lipreader, you might find the ‘listening to sentences’ section easier

Sound Success

Set up a free account (as for the rehab portal) to access this programme which is designed to help you improve your confidence using your hearing technology, ease of understanding different speakers and ease of listening in noisy environments. It includes exercises to help train you to hear better using your hearing technology. Your training will be self-paced. Work on your computer, iPad or tablet.

The Listening room

A range of lessons to help practise listening skills.

Cochlear Communication Corner

Choose ‘adults’ from the age ranges. You can then view the resources available and try the samples. A short assessment guides you to the best place to start and there are suggestions for what to try next

Medel Blog

This blog has a range of tips and tricks for adults to help develop listening skills and communication strategies.

How to deal with questions about your hearing implant

Tips from Medel on how to answer tricky questions from people about your hearing implant.

Listening to spoken word

Listening to stories and factual information at your own pace can be helpful in developing listening skills. If possible use the written text or subtitles alongside begin with. There are a many of these resources available on line; here are just a few to try:

Audible

TED talks (found on YouTube.com)

Videos of speakers talking on a range of interesting subjects.

Nottingham Auditory Implant Programme have a small collection of audiobooks and audio equipment which can be loaned out to our patients. If you would like more information please speak to your NAIP audiologist or speech and language therapist at your next appointment.

Helping you enjoy music

Musical Atmospheres

This interactive program from Advanced Bionics  is designed to help teenagers and adults with cochlear implants explore the world of music. To access, set up a free account on the rehab portal.

Bring back the beat app

An app produced by Cochlear which has different games to help people with cochlear implants to regain the joy of music. You can start with simple notes and instruments and work up to more complex melodies.

Music Tips for Adults

A booklet available to download free from the Medel site.

Use virtual instruments to experiment and create your own music:

Piano keyboard

Drum machine

YouTube subtitled video music

This page shows you some possibilities for adding subtitles to videos.

There are also a range of other sites which provide the lyrics of songs which you can download to read whilst listening to the songs.

Other useful links

Telephone Training Tips

A booklet available to download free from the Medel site.

Phonak Tutorials

A range of video tutorials about hearing aids, radio aids (including Roger systems), hearing and well-being, and hearing loss communities.

Otter.ai

Otter listens to your voice conversations and generates “smart notes” – machine-generated text that is synchronized with audio and enriched with speakers tags and summary keywords. 

Coffee shop and restaurant background noise

Search ‘café sounds’ in YouTube to find a range of background noise audio. These give you opportunities to practise listening and conversations with family in background noise before trying the real thing.

National Cochlear Implant Users Association (NCIUA) - Living with a CI

Association of Teaching of Lipreading to Adults

The Next Generation Text Service (NGTS) in the UK, uses a relay service to help you communicate over the phone. It's compatible with landlines, smartphones, tablets and computers. Just type your message to a relay assistant, who'll speak it to the person you're calling.

BT Relay

Sky