Essex Audiologist Writes Short Story to Help Children with Autism Cope with Hearing Tests

Online, April 10, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Local independent hearing aid specialist, Click Hearing is helping to raise awareness of National Autism Awareness Month throughout April. Autism affects 1 in 100 people in the UK and is described by the National Autistic Society as "a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them." Often making it difficult for them to understand and process situations in the same way that others do.

Ben Mann, principal audiologist at Click Hearing recognised that a child's first hearing test can be a daunting experience, this is especially true of children with social communication disorders such as Autism, affecting the productivity of the hearing test and causing unnecessary anxiety for them before and after the test. Ben, whose son is Autistic was inspired to write a short story to prepare children for what will happen during a test. Entitled 'Jack & Molly's Hearing Test' the story follows Jack, an Autistic child and his sister Molly's experiences at an audiologist. Due to Jacks disorder he can get worried in unfamiliar situations and act in a way that seems unusual to many, however the audiologist and nurse in the story guide Jack through the test, step by step in order to make his experience an easy and enjoyable one.

Whilst Autism is incurable, prior explanation and preparation can help to reduce anxiety in new situations and reinforcing appropriate behaviour can make a positive difference to the life of someone with the disorder.

To help raise awareness of Autism during April, Click Hearing have added a FREE downloadable version of the 'Jack & Molly's Hearing Test' story for everyone to download, simply go to: http://www.clickhearing.com/media/jack_and_molly_book_hearing_test.pdf .