Questions, feelings of loneliness and confusion are often common for families with no experience of deafness after their child is diagnosed as deaf or with hearing loss, but as so many of the families we support share with us; knowing you are not alone is a huge support.

Sharing information, stories, advice, experiences and support, or just a friendly ear, is all it sometimes takes to help so many families. And at Auditory Verbal UK we are delighted to support a network of parents, caregivers and families who are doing just that.

Families like Simi and Chandresh whose son Shivaay was diagnosed as deaf at a few weeks old and keen for him to learn to listen and talk, joined the Auditory Verbal UK family programme when he was six-months. Now, aged three, his listening and spoken language skills are already age-appropriate and he is thriving.

Keen to ensure other families in their position have the opportunity to access early and effective support, Simi and Chandresh have shared their story online and are advocating the importance of developing language and communication in the vital early years.

Simi explained: “We don’t want to think much about what life would be like without Auditory Verbal therapy which is why we feel so passionate about helping to spread the word about the family programme.”

The family were living and working in Kenya and had only returned to the UK to have Shivaay, but knew that the support would be limited in Kenya, so took the life-changing decision to relocate to England. They found out about the Auditory Verbal therapy programme in a chance conversation during a medical appointment for Shivaay at Great Ormond Street Hospital where it was suggested as an option they might want to investigate.

Simi has shared her families experience of skilled, early support, and was recently interviewed on how they have been supported and coached with strategies to develop Shivaay’s listening and spoken language is through play-based activities used in everyday routines and life. The interview was shared at a professional conference in America attended by Auditory Verbal Therapists from around the global.

The family has also been spreading the word about the support they are receiving from AVUK with other families who may benefit, including at healthcare settings and toddler groups.

Family Support Manager Amy Spicer explained: “With little to no access to Auditory Verbal therapy via publicly funded service currently, we know that many families only find out about this support and its benefits via word of mouth and the kindness of others. That is why it is great to have families like Simi and Chandresh who are sharing their experience of Auditory Verbal therapy with other families, like theirs, that may benefit from this early, effective support.

“And it’s brilliant to see more families want to know how they can pass on the kindness – from dropping off leaflets or speaking  about their own experiences at a group, support can be as much or as a little as you have time to do, but it all makes a huge difference”

To find out more about becoming an AVUK volunteer to share news, information and support with other families with deaf children email: [email protected]