Using Loops / earplugs in exams

[Cremebrulee45]

Anyone’s DC been allowed to use these in exams (neurodiverse)?

This was 15 years ago now so things have probably changed. I wasn't allowed to use them but I was allowed to take my exam in a private classroom with just 3-4 other students and a couple of staff supervisors. It had the same effect for me in helping not be distracted.

I work with deaf children. Lots of schools have been worried about them wearing Bluetooth heating aids in exams! I think asking for a quiet room is a good idea. There will be lots of other students doing the same. Although do it quick because of it's for GCSES the deadline is soon for reasonable adjustments.

Dd had a private room

Yes, can be access arrangements but might be ear plugs rather than loop.

Thanks all. I have just looked at Amazon reviews and seems to be a few saying they’ve used loops in exams. DD already at the back of the room because she was struggling with the invigilator shuffling paper so earplugs actually preferable to a room on her own. Will have to see what school say. Loops don’t have electronics so can’t see why they’d be treated differently to ear plugs ?

Loops are earplugs aren't they?

I've known students to wear ear defenders. Get in touch with the schools exam officer asap to discuss. I would definitely advise against just turning up with them.

not allowed at dc school.
for exams the teachers/invigilators check for any electrinics; phones, earphones, smart watches. non of those are allowed. calculators have to be taken out of their case and any pre-programming deleted.

they don't have separate rooms but noise is strictly controlled. they use fabric room dividers for those needing separation.

For my uni exams, I was allowed to take it in a classroom on my own. It's worth asking to see what adjustments can be made and if earplugs can be worn

I'd be interested in the answer to this too. My son uses them in class. I can't see why they wouldn't be allowed in an exam but you never know do you.

and any special measures need a dr note (not uk)

My daughter has Loops. They’re just earplugs. They’re not Bluetooth or electronic.

She uses them in exams - they’re part of her reasonable adjustments/access arrangements, however, she has been using them in college for a while now - college had to justify their use in exams and the fact that she’d been using them successfully in class was part of it.

My son is allowed to use earplugs in exams at school.

My daughter has been given permission to wear Loups (y13). I've had to buy a new pair that is kept in college. It's documented as part of her exam provision.

Thanks @Sticki . Interested to know rationale for having to keep them in school? So they can’t be modified or something??

Loops are not electronic at all. They are simply a more comfortable to wear earplug that is either noise cancelling or like the ones I use at gigs, reduces noise over a certain decibel level.

Or swapped out for actual wireless earpieces.

DP used to administer lots of private exams for different things (driving theory, life in the UK, doctors' English competency, building trade Health & Safety, accountancy, etc, etc) and there was usually at least 3-5 people a week attempting to cheat with something they claimed was a hearing aid or earplugs (varied depending upon whether there was a female member of staff there to ask ladies with headcoverings and hairpieces to step into a private room to check. Schools and colleges aren't immune to cheating, either.

For anyone interested they were approved immediately by Senco so that’s a relief.

"they use fabric room dividers for those needing separation."

That would be no use at all if the issue is noise/distraction. My AuDHD DS also needed a separate room as he talked out loud, needed a prompter and had to be taken on supervised breaks - all of which would be distracting to the other candidates.

They can't just say "sorry we don't have any separate rooms!"

I’m late to this one but both my DC have diagnosed ADHD Misophonia etc and we’re allowed to use mp3 players with white noise and lyric less music

The mp3 players had to stay at the exam location, were listed to by invigilators prior to use and recharged between exams

This was approved by multiple exam boards across 3 different educational settings, both of them had gaming music loaded which they listened to when revising and then helped focus in the exams

They weren’t around then, were they, are you meaning ear defenders or normal earplugs?