Bea has just completed her midwifery degree – 22 years after her parents were told that she was profoundly deaf and wouldn’t be able to hear people talk or a dog barking.

Now about to embark on her career as a midwife she said: “Being deaf has never stopped me achieving my goals and my advice to anyone else would be just go for it, you will be absolutely fine.”

When Bea’s hearing loss was identified following her newborn hearing screening, her parents – who had no experience of deafness - battled many emotions. Her mum, Kate explained: “For months I awoke in the night, reliving the shock of being told. Would Bea ever hear my voice? Would she make friends and be happy? I felt completely isolated and the professionals’ expectations for her seemed so low.”

After Bea’s parents discovered Auditory Verbal UK, Kate explains that  “One teary telephone call to Auditory Verbal UK dramatically changed the path we were on. I was advised to get the best hearing technology available for Bea and to start Auditory Verbal therapy immediately.  

“At last there seemed to be a sense of urgency to get Bea hearing as best she could. During our first session with Auditory Verbal UK, we were horrified to find out that Bea, now 16 months old, had absolutely no understanding of sound – she didn’t even associate sound with meaning. Whilst we were reeling from this, Bea, through play, began to respond to her name. It took just an hour. Witnessing my profoundly deaf daughter react for the first time to my voice was a miracle.”

With no Auditory Verbal therapists available via the NHS where the family lived in Lincolnshire, they travelled a 180-mile-round trip to attend the family-centred sessions at Auditory Verbal UK’s centre in Oxford.

By the time she was five, Bea graduated from the Auditory Verbal therapy programme with age-appropriate language, starting school at the same level as her hearing peers.

Bea sometimes still had to prove that being deaf wasn’t a barrier, something she showed when she succeeded in earning a place on a midwifery course at university.

As she comes to the end of her three-year degree Bea explained: “I have absolutely loved my time at university. I have enjoyed a full uni experience, including ups and downs. But earning my independence and proving that my hearing loss won’t stop me has been amazing.

“I have an incredible stethoscope designed for people with hearing impairments which allows me to practice as a midwife and I’ve also been delighted to offer advice and support to other deaf students. I try to reassure them that they will be okay and remind them that having a hearing loss will not stop them from achieving’

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that without Auditory Verbal therapy and the support I had from AVUK, I would not be doing what I am doing now.”

Proud Mum Kate added: “We always believed that deafness should not overshadow Bea’s character or preclude her from any opportunity in life. 

Bea has always supported AVUK, challenging perceptions of what deaf children can achieve and help spread the word so more deaf children can have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.

In 2016 she shared her hearing journey at an event at the House of Commons calling for more support for deaf children like her. The following year she interviewed Jeremy Paxman and in 2018 her efforts were recognised with an Inspiring Communicator Award.

Mum Kate is also an AVUK Parent Ambassador.

Beatrice's mother, Kate Cadman