If you are a parent or relative of a newly diagnosed deaf child and are looking for help, visit the website of the National Deaf Children's Society (external link, opens new browser window), which is a source of information and support for the families of deaf children.

Early identification of deaf children

For many years the importance of early identification of deaf children has been recognised.  Early diagnosis of deafness enables families and professionals to begin to work together on behalf of the child before a substantial language and communication deficit builds up.

The Early Support Programme  (external link, opens new browser window)(ESP) is a UK government-funded programme hosted by RNID that supports the development of effective, well coordinated, multi–agency support services for disabled children under three and their families.

The Early Support Monitoring Protocol for deaf babies and children under three has been devised to help families of deaf children (and the professionals that support them) document the progress that their children make, in the first three years or so after deafness has been identified.