Positive support in the lives of deaf children

Over the past two years, almost all families living in England whose child is identified as having a hearing loss by newborn screening have been invited to take part in a major new study into the kind of early support that can lead to a better quality of life for deaf children and their families.

[Project grant, 2005-2008]

Permanent deafness from birth can cause problems with language, communication and literacy. These can affect a child's behaviour, quality of life and achievement at school, as well as affecting the life of the whole family.

Now in its fourth and final year, Positive Support looks set to provide some interesting and useful results.

More than 100 families have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to provide the research team with information on their children’s language, communication, play and social behaviour and motor and physical development. The team has also collected data from professionals that were nominated by parents as good providers of support to themselves and their child. A range of Deaf and hearing professionals nominated from different services such as health, education, and the voluntary sector have provided additional information. Finally, the team has been in contact with Teachers of the Deaf to find out more about the work they are doing with families.

Now the data collection phase is coming to an end, the team has begun their analysis. The findings should enable better knowledge of what types of support and interventions different families receive and consider valuable, as well as how these impact upon child and family outcomes.

Further information

Further details of the project, our progress and events that are taking place are on the project website at www.positivesupport.info (includes details of a new internet discussion forum for people interested in the project and its findings).

The study is made possible through funding by the National Lottery and involves a collaboration between Deafness Research UK, the National Deaf Children's Society, University College London and the University of Manchester.