Sophia Eisenhuth was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at birth and now aged 14 she is set to take up a place at the world-acclaimed Joffrey Ballet School in New York.

Mum Becky said: "After we got the news that Sophia was deaf just days after she was born I could never have imagined planning for her to attend dance school in America."

Sophia received cochlear implants at seven months old and around her first birthday joined the Auditory Verbal UK specialist parent coaching programme which enables deaf children to learn to listen and talk.

Becky added: "Sophia would not have achieved anywhere near as much without AVUK. They didn’t just give her the head start in life from a speech and language point of view but as a family it gave us all the confidence and knowledge that being deaf did not have to limit her in anyway."

The Channel Islands' teenager who has excelled not only in dance but also gymnastics applied for a place at Joffrey Ballet School with little expectations that she would succeed but wowed those on the audition and will start her new school life in America in September.

She said: "I am over the moon to have been offered a place at Joffrey Ballet School and can’t wait to start in September. I have always felt that my hearing shouldn’t be a barrier to me reaching my goals and I’m so proud that as a result I can help improve awareness of what you can achieve and increase diversity in dance.”

Becky said: “She has never let being deaf define her and doesn’t ask to be treated any differently. We did not tell the team at Joffrey until after she got the place. Because she had her implants so early and had Auditory Verbal therapy as a baby she doesn’t know what it is like not to hear and she loves music and songs.

 “She does have to work that little bit harder but for her the main consideration is that her cochlear implants don’t move while she is performing and she has got very good at styling her hair to help them stay in position.”

Sophia was part of our 2016 Power of Speech event where she spoke about her love of gymnastics - you can watch her here and at AVUK we will following her exciting journey and time in New York with regular updates stay tuned here on our website and our social media channels.