New research published for Deaf Awareness Week 2025

A recent survey conducted by award-winning charity, Auditory Verbal UK,  for Deaf Awareness Week reveals that only a third (33%) of UK adults think a child born profoundly deaf today can learn to speak as well as a child without hearing loss*.

But it is possible. With early and effective support from Auditory Verbal therapy, deaf children can learn to speak like their hearing peers. 

Now, for Deaf Awareness Week 2025, which runs from 5th – 11th May, Auditory Verbal UK are calling for greater awareness and understanding of what deaf children can achieve when they have access to early and effective support to develop language and communication in the vital early years. 

Early and effective support is vital for all deaf children, whether their families wish to use spoken language, sign language or both. 

10-year-old Mia and her four-year-old sister Gabriella are just two deaf children challenging expectations and proving that with early and effective support the possibilities are endless for deaf babies and children. 

Both Mia and Gabriella were born deaf and supported to listen and speak on a par with their hearing peers by  Auditory Verbal UK with Auditory Verbal therapy and are now in mainstream education, love sport, music and art.

Mia and Gabriella’s mum, Rayan, is also profoundly deaf and was determined her daughters would have the same opportunities as hearing babies and children.  

She said: “My parents were incredibly supportive of me growing up and worked so hard to enable me to have as many opportunities as possible, but I knew that I wanted more for my own daughters.  

“After Mia’s hearing loss was confirmed following her newborn hearing screening we decided cochlear implants were the right choice for her and after much thought I also decided to have implants myself. Our journeys have been very different as hearing technology like cochlear implants do not work on their own which is where Auditory Verbal therapy came in and transformed Mia’s life.” 

Auditory Verbal therapy helps deaf children process sound they receive from hearing technology, like hearing aids and cochlear implants, and supports them to develop language so they can learn to talk like their hearing friends.

 “After three years on the Auditory Verbal therapy programme Mia achieved spoken language ahead of her age. She is flourishing at school, Mia loves anything sports related especially football, netball and tennis. She also loves music so much, travelling and adventure and is a brilliant big sister to Gabriella,” added Rayan.

 “To read these figures that so few people believe deaf children can speak as well as their hearing friends is disappointing and attitudes must change. We will be celebrating Deaf Awareness Week and proving that with early support the sky is the limit for deaf children like Mia and Gabriella who are wonderful and amazing shining stars who we could not be more proud of.” 

Mia said; “Having early access to Auditory Verbal therapy helped to further develop my listening and language skills that I needed. Thanks to Auditory Verbal therapy, I can now listen to music, use the telephone, communicate with my friends without any difficulty and do pretty much anything in life.”

Mia and Gabriella are not alone – 80% of deaf children who receive Auditory Verbal therapy for at least two years achieve age-appropriate spoken language skills.  

But currently less than 10% of deaf children under 5 in the UK who could benefit from this support are able to access it. Help us ensure more deaf children can access this life changing support.

Donate now to support more deaf babies and children, like Mia and Gabriella, both now and in the future.  

* YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2072 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th – 27th March 2025.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).