Children's commissioner meets deaf children to learn about therapy outcomes

Dame Rachel de Souza visited Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK), the winner of last year's CYP Now early years award, to learn about Auditory Verbal therapy amid rising misconceptions about help for deaf children.

Deaf children and young people shared their stories and achievements with de Souza to emphasise the importance of early and effective intervention for children with hearing loss.

The children’s commissioner also heard about Auditory Verbal therapy, offered by AVUK, which supports deaf children to learn how to make sense of the sound they receive through their hearing technology so that they can talk.

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A recent YouGov survey commissioned by AVUK revealed that 35 per cent of adults have no idea a child born profoundly deaf can learn to speak as well as a hearing child if they choose to do so.

Twelve-year-old Kush was one of a group of children to share their stories with de Souza.

He said: “Auditory Verbal therapy really gave me a head start and I can get involved in all aspects of school life and have all the same opportunities as my hearing friends. Thanks to Auditory Verbal therapy the world is my oyster.”

AVUK chief executive Anita Grover added: “Perceptions and expectations of what deaf children can achieve are really outdated and far too low, including many not knowing that deaf children can learn to speak as well as a hearing child. We know that with early and effective support to develop language and communication, deaf children can and do have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers. And early, effective support should be available to all deaf children, whether they use sign language, spoken language or both.

“It was brilliant to welcome Dame Rachel to AVUK and meet deaf children and young people who learnt to listen and talk with Auditory Verbal therapy and are challenging outdated expectations of what they can achieve.”

AVUK is calling for £2 million investment a year for the next 10 years to train the 300 specialist Auditory Verbal therapists who can ensure all deaf children under five can access specialist programmes close to their home.

Meanwhile, Speech and Language UK has launched an open letter calling for the next government to help children struggling to talk and understand words. It is calling for funding and training to catch communication struggles early on in childhood.

Jane Harris, Speech and Language UK’s chief executive said: “Right now, nearly two million children in the UK are struggling with talking and understanding words. These children rarely get an audience with politicians but their lives and their futures matter. We want the next government to know what action they need to take so that the one in five children with speech and language challenges can face the future with confidence.”