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How to Prevent and Address Bullying with Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

5 min read
Bullying Prevention October 2024
Learn strategies for equipping children who are deaf or hard of hearing with the skills and confidence to address bullying.

Bullying is a pervasive issue that affects many children, but it can be particularly challenging for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. These children face unique vulnerabilities that make issues around bullying more complicated, leading to potential emotional distress and social isolation. Understanding the prevalence of bullying among children with disabilities, especially those with hearing loss, and implementing effective prevention strategies are crucial for fostering a safer and more inclusive environment.

Definitions of Bullying and Cyberbullying

According to Stop Bullying, “bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.” The Stop Bullying organization also notes that for a behavior to be considered bullying, it must be repetitive and include an imbalance of power. The person in the position of power might use physical strength or the release of embarrassing information as intimidation tactics.

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens via digital platforms like cell phones and computers, commonly taking place over text, social media and gaming forums. This video from Stop Bullying helps identify cyberbullying.

For the purposes of this post, we will use the term bullying to refer to both.

The Prevalence of Bullying Among Children with Disabilities

Research indicates that children with disabilities are at a higher risk of being bullied than their peers without disabilities. According to the National Institutes of Health, the rate of bullying for students with disabilities in elementary school was 24.5% and 34% in middle school—one to two and a half times the rate reported in students without disabilities. This statistic is particularly alarming for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, who may struggle with communication barriers that can hinder their ability to defend themselves or seek help.

Perception of Bullying

Emily Snow, a Clarke itinerant teacher of the deaf who works with students in mainstream settings, notes that in her experience most bullying incidents happen in middle school and high school grades.

But she also shares that identifying bullying can sometimes be a challenge for her younger students.  

“What happens time and time again,” she says, “Especially with children who are on the quieter side or less confident about their hearing loss, is that they perceive bullying to be happening when it isn’t, because of the nature of hearing loss.”

For example, when a child with hearing loss sees other children looking their way, talking quietly or whispering, they may feel as though they’re being targeted.

As Emily puts it, “You don’t know what you can’t hear.”

She cites an example of a student with hearing loss who returned from a trip to the bathroom crying about an incident that happened there. When Emily and other teachers were eventually able to help her calm down, they learned that two girls in the bathroom had told her she’d used too much soap.

Emily recommends using a “how big is this problem” scale in scenarios like this. “It can really help to use that language,” Emily says. “Use a scale of one to five, for example, and ask, ‘Where do you think using-too-much-soap is on the scale?’ The student might say it’s a two. And then you could say, ‘How big did the problem feel? What was your reaction with crying and shutting down and not being able to talk about it?’ The student will probably admit it felt like a five.”

Six Steps Parents Can Take to Address Student Bullying

Adapted from the Special Needs Alliance

  1. Check your school’s conduct code to be sure it includes anti-bullying provisions.
  2. Find out your school’s plan to prevent bullying (e.g., supervision in hallways) and to handle it when it happens.
  3. Talk about any concerns at IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings. Your child’s support team may be able to offer additional supports if necessary.
  4. If you feel your child has been bullied, report it to your school immediately. Document all concerns and incidents in writing, and continue to follow up as necessary.
  5. Maintain a record of all incidents of bullying in a digital document or journal, and gather any physical evidence as well (including photos and medical records).
  6. Above all, provide support for your child. Ensure they receive the necessary counseling or assistance, and tackle the issues right away.

Talking it through after the incident has occurred can help the child develop some insight into situations like this that come up in the future. They may be able to recognize that an initial reaction doesn’t necessarily align with the problem at hand.

“After you’ve spoken to the other children involved, you can recap with the student,” says Emily. “They might see that it wasn’t really a serious problem, or it wasn’t actually bullying. To have a visual scale and be able to talk about their emotions can be really helpful. And then we can practice how she might respond in a similar situation in the future.”

Strategies for Preventing Bullying

And despite some common misperceptions, bullying does still occur. Here are some strategies for equipping children who are deaf or hard of hearing with the skills and confidence to address bullying.

Promote Awareness and Understanding

One of the most effective ways to prevent bullying is through knowledge. Clarke teachers of the deaf working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing in mainstream settings provide classroom in-services to help the student’s peers understand the hearing loss, the technology and how to best communicate with them. Understanding the challenges faced by children with hearing loss—as well as all the things they have in common—can foster empathy and reduce stigma.

Encourage Open Communication

Create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their experiences. Encourage open conversations about bullying and promote the importance of reporting incidents. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing should be given specific avenues to communicate their experiences, whether it’s through trusted adults in their school or family members at home.

Foster Social Skills

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from programs that focus on enhancing social skills and peer interactions.

Books About Bullying 

(Recommended by Emily Snow, Clarke Teacher of the Deaf)

Find more book recommendations from Emily Snow (and other Clarke experts!) at clarkeschools.org/bookclub

School lunch room
Since cafeterias can be overwhelming for students with hearing loss, teachers and support staff can offer them a quiet space to have lunch with a few friends, along with a trusted adult.

Emily Snow, and many other Clarke teachers of the deaf, organize “lunch bunches” for their students in mainstream settings. Since the lunchroom can be a noisy and potentially isolating space, teachers and support staff can offer a child with hearing loss a quiet space to eat their lunch with a few friends, along with a trusted adult.

“As a teacher of the deaf, I like to facilitate lunch bunches for as long as possible,” explains Emily, “sometimes up through sixth grade. This gives my students one day of the week where they don’t have to have such a hard time listening, and they can look forward to talking with their friends. And usually, we’ll play a little game too.”

Engage Families

Involve parents and caregivers in discussions about bullying prevention. Provide resources and information that help them understand the signs of bullying and how to support their children in advocating for themselves.

Preventing bullying among children who are deaf or hard of hearing requires a concerted effort from families, schools and communities. By promoting awareness, fostering open communication and implementing effective prevention strategies, we can create a safer environment where all children feel valued and supported. If bullying does occur, it’s essential for children to know they have the tools and support system of reliable adults to address it effectively.

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