Early support for deaf children

This column provides an overview of the current landscape for deaf children in the UK.  This column aims to raise awareness and understanding of childhood deafness.

One to two of every 1,000 children born in the UK has a hearing loss and around half of these children will be severely to profoundly deaf¹.  Around 92% of deaf children are born to hearing parents².  By age three and a half, the human brain has completed 85% of its growth, making the first three years of life critical for optimal development³.  Throughout the literature the importance of early, effective intervention is stressed repeatedly.