Back in 2021, the Ear Checks Programme began with the important goal of developing accessible ear checks for children and young people who are autistic and/or have a learning disability in residential special schools.
Led by NHS England, the Ear Checks Programme set out to make ear checks more accessible, using co-production to ensure the needs and preferences of students are firmly at the core. It has been an exciting few years, with award-winning collaboration, a national rollout, and a co-produced animation hosted by Seashell that we are excited to share with you today!
The Hearing Health Collective - The start
As part of this programme, we have been hosting a series of online Hearing Health events since 2022, bringing together a community of parents and carers, healthcare professionals, education professionals, NHS decision makers and adults with lived experience. Self-named, we now call this community ‘The Hearing Health Collective’.
The Hearing Health Collective come together with a shared passion for improving hearing services for children and young people who are autistic and/or have a learning disability. Throughout these sessions we have shared learning from the ear checks programme and discussed ways to improve local practice.
As the programme has progressed, so has our focus as we look for ways to advocate for a co-produced approach as the ear checks are rolled out in residential special schools nationally.
It was clear from discussions that we needed a clear and engaging way to explain the ear checks - for students, parents and staff getting involved with the checks, and to drum up support and interest for the programme. And so, the creation of the Ear Checks Animation began.
The process
To help students feel more comfortable and familiar with the programme, we knew the animation needed to be calm, friendly, and easy to understand. It was also important that it clearly explained the whole process, including outcomes that could be expected.
To make sure the animation reflected what mattered most to everyone involved, the Hearing Health Collective came together to co-write the script. This collaborative approach helped us highlight the key messages from each stakeholder’s perspective.
After listening to a range of voice actors, we decided that the narration should come from one of our Lived Experience Planning Group members. We chose the narrator because they are autistic, passionate about the programme ,and their voice has a naturally calming tone.
Animators at NHS Creative then brought the script to life by designing a variety of characters and storyboards. These were shared and discussed over a few workshops to gather feedback and refine the visuals.
We also shared the storyboard and narration with students from one of the colleges involved in the project. Their feedback was incredibly valuable and helped us make sure the final animation truly resonated with its audience.
We are excited that the animation is now available for people to use and watch on the Seashell’s website. Seashell are a learning disability charity supporting young people across the UK who have been an integral part of the Ear Checks Programme from the beginning, so this is a natural home for the animation. Thank you to the Seashell Trust for all of your work and support!
What’s next?
Although our formal involvement wrapped up at the end of July 2025, we remain incredibly excited to see the Ear Checks Programme progress. We want to see every student in residential special school across England to have access to co-produced ear checks, and the animation is key!
So, please have a watch and share far and wide! Let’s raise awareness, spark conversations, and keep co-production at the heart of the Ear Checks Programme!
You can watch the animation the Seashell Trust’s website or you can view it on their YouTube channel.
To find our more about the Ear Checks Programme read our case study.
Credits
Headline image: Still for Ear Checks Animation
NHS Creative created the Ear Checks Animation
Meeting notes
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