Did you know that a child born profoundly deaf today can learn to speak as well as a hearing child? 13-year-old Sam is proof they can. Sam is thriving in school, loves science, dreams of becoming an astrophysicist and has just interviewed two British astronauts from the UK space mission.
Sam's parents – who are both hearing – were worried he wouldn’t be able to speak or do other things hearing children can do when they found out he was deaf. They weren’t alone: 28 per cent of adults in the UK believe it is not possible for a child born deaf today to learn to speak but now Sam can listen, speak and do anything he puts his mind too.
On this global day of celebration, it is time to change mindsets about what deaf children like Sam can do and ensure the Government takes action to invest in their futures. As so many professionals working with young children know, access to language and communication is crucial. For deaf children to reach their potential, skilled early support is essential. With three babies born deaf every day in the UK, this support is vital whether families wish to use sign language, spoken language, or both.
Sam outside the Houses of Parliament
What support helps deaf children learn to develop optimal listening and spoken language? For families wanting their deaf children to learn to listen and talk, the evidence is compelling: Auditory Verbal (AV) therapy transforms outcomes and opportunities. Sam spent three years in an AV therapy programme and graduated aged four with spoken language skills on par with hearing children.
AV therapy is a parent and caregiver coaching programme which supports pre-school deaf children to learn to make sense of the sounds their brains receive from their hearing technology, like cochlear implants and hearing aids, and develop spoken language. It is most effective when started early. Eighty-five per cent of the neural pathways in the brain that we need for spoken language are connected in the first three- and- a half years of a child’s life.
National and international research shows more than 80 per cent of deaf children, like Sam, who spend at least two years on an AV therapy programme achieve age-appropriate spoken language. The majority are attaining educational outcomes on a par with hearing children. They are getting an equal start at school and the health and education benefits are lifelong.
There is a serious issue, however: only 10 per cent of deaf children who could benefit from an AV therapy programme can access it. I am just one of only 34 certified AV Therapists in the UK.
By training a small proportion of the existing public sector workforce already working with deaf children, we can increase access to this early support, ending the postcode lottery currently facing families.
Teachers of the deaf and speech and language therapists are already taking action. Many have already begun their training in Auditory Verbal therapy. For those who have completed their training, they report significant growth in their knowledge and skills. They have enhanced their practice in working with deaf babies, developing optimal listening and spoken language. Last week I was in Falkirk delivering training to Scottish professionals who are able to train thanks for the fundraising efforts of charity Auditory Verbal UK.
More trained professionals means more families can access this early support through NHS and local services, reducing the inequality which sees many families unable to access it based on where they live or how much money they have.
AV therapy provision is mainstream in Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark. In Denmark, all deaf children under age 6 will now be able to access AV therapy. This was put in place after a government-funded pilot showed that 84 per cent of deaf children acquired age-equivalent spoken language after three years of AV therapy. Before AV therapy was put in place only 30 per cent of deaf children reached age-equivalence. The Danish government has now taken action to ensure this family-centred therapy can be available across Denmark. The majority of AV therapists in Denmark have trained through Auditory Verbal UK.
UK government investment of just over £2 million for the next 10 years, would not only transform opportunities and outcomes for deaf children, but could yield £152 million in economic benefits, rising to £11.7 billion over 50 years, with savings in reduced educational support, increased employment, and improved quality of life.
Investing in workforce skills for deaf children leads to life-transforming opportunities for the children and significant economic benefits.
This investment would also support the UK Government’s goal to raise early childhood development levels to 75%, currently at only 38% for deaf children in England.
Sam and his family will highlight the urgent need for public investment when they meet with Minister Stephen Kinnock later this month. In the meantime, I am proud to be among professionals who are already taking action, but we know that equality of access is vital and there should be at least 300 of us trained as Auditory Verbal Therapists across the UK.
World Hearing Day is the perfect time for the government to commit to investing in the workforce and the future of deaf children. For professionals, why not mark this day by joining the training? Learn how to enable deaf children to utilise their hearing to develop speech. You can find out more here.
Frances Clark is a senior auditory verbal therapist and clinical lead at charity Auditory Verbal UK. Frances currently trains and mentors therapists working towards Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification while supporting families with deaf babies and children across the UK
