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Primary education

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Original poster

Ear defenders

18 replies

Confussedhampshire · 03/06/2023 19:18

Please help! My daughter is turning 5 in July and is in Yr R. We have had a meeting with her current school as they said she is very distracted. Over the half term our daughter told us that the teacher put ear defenders on her in class! Now we have not be informed of this and it’s upset me as I feel this is something they should have, had a conversation with us about. Apparently only once but they said to her they would try it again. I will contact the school to find out exactly what happened but am I unreasonable to think that they should have told me before trying them! She is also still under 5! Who isn’t distracted! Should there be an assessment by a qualified person before going ahead with ear defenders? She is not distressed at all by noise! Any advice appreciated. She has no diagnosis of any nurodiversity

OP posts:
cansu · 03/06/2023 19:20

You say that they have had a meeting with you to flag up she is struggling. Ear defenders are just a tool like having a cushion or a pencil grip. I would be more interested in whether this might help her.

ArnoldBee · 03/06/2023 19:22

I would not be bothered by this at all. Surely anything that can help your child is worth a try?

Trinity69 · 03/06/2023 19:23

I suspect they tried them to see if they helped. Even if she were neurodiverse, ear defenders aren’t a one size fits all fix for distraction. They can’t contact you every time they try something.

Harebrain · 03/06/2023 19:23

If it helps then I don’t see a problem.

ArnoldBee · 03/06/2023 19:23

And yes she's only 4 but is her being distracted more than the expected level of distraction?

Brendabigbaps · 03/06/2023 19:25

Pull your big girl pants up! If they’re trying ear defenders on your child she’s is very likely neurodiverse and you’ll need to be a lot more amenable to support.

Pinkflipflop85 · 03/06/2023 19:29

As a teacher, I try all sorts of tools and adaptations to help the children in my class at different times. It would add a ridiculous amount of unnecessary time to my workload if I had to keep running these by parents.

Original poster
Confussedhampshire · 03/06/2023 19:45

There are 11 children in the class one teacher and a teaching assistant. I am dyslexic so I do not have a problem with being neurodiverse quite the reverse! I am not a helicopter parent!

OP posts:
Xrays · 03/06/2023 20:06

Was she upset about it? If she didn’t mind and was happy to give them a go it really wouldn’t bother me.

I thought this thread was going to be asking for recommendations for some and I was going to suggest the Loop earplugs (they do different varieties that block noises to different degrees) as my son hates the big ones that go over their heads. He finds them really useful. He has autism and sensory issues and uses them a lot of the time.

Pjmasksonrepeat · 03/06/2023 22:41

I don't see any issue with them trying ear defenders? They don't hurt, are designed to help and tour child wasn't distressed. Can you explain why you feel so upset maybe?

Sirzy · 03/06/2023 22:44

I’m struggling to see what the issue is. They are trying to find the best way to support her surely that’s a good thing?

ds is in year 8 now and the ear defenders are vital to help him cope with school

user134276 · 04/06/2023 18:27

I teach in a school that has 5 ear defenders per classroom just available as a tool for anyone who needs them. The children use them whenever they would like and some use them all the time. It's fine. I have before asked children of they would like a pair of I can see they are struggling to focus or perhaps being overly chatty! There is no stigma attached to them and of course we would never make anyone wear them.

As an aside, if you are dyslexic (and ND) then just to make you aware if you aren't already that neurodiversity is often genetic. My DH is dyslexic and we have 2 boys. One has ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia and the other has dyslexia. I am sure you are, but be open to the possibility that your daughter, like you, may be ND but that it may not just be dyslexia. Ear defenders (and other tools others have mentioned) are ways that teachers work hard to make classrooms more accommodating for those with ND and related sensory issues.

FatGirlSwim · 04/06/2023 18:35

What on Earth is the issue? Ear defenders should be universally available in schools imo and expecting the teacher to contact you every time they try something to see if it helps is nuts. Ear defenders don’t equal autism you know!

Sprogonthetyne · 04/06/2023 19:09

I wouldn't expect to be told about ear defenders any more then I'd expect them to check before putting an ice pack on a bump or lending out gloves on a cold day. There's a lot of trail and error in finding what works for each individual, if they work for her you'll probably be told and advised to get some of her own, if they don't work they'll move on to the next thing.

hoodieorhoody · 04/06/2023 21:20

Why on earth would they run that past you? It's just some ear defenders. Good teachers would try them if they think it might help. You don't need a diagnosis to try and make things more comfortable for a child. Year R is loud and chaotic so difficult for some children.

TeenDivided · 06/06/2023 16:11

I agree with others, no need for teacher to tell you before trying something they think might help.

TheSnowyOwl · 06/06/2023 16:12

What’s the issue? Would you expect them to run past you whether a thick pencil was easier for her to grip than a thin one?

TeenDivided · 06/06/2023 16:19

They clearly think the DD is more distractable than is the norm for children her age.

I think you should be thanking the school for being on the ball. Not thinking about criticizing them.

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