Charity Urges Government to Listen

The National Deaf Children’s Society is urging the Government to transform children’s hearing services in England, warning that delays in identifying and supporting deaf children can have lifelong consequences. 

The charity’s new report, Early intervention, lifelong impact. A call to redesign children’s hearing services in England, sets out vital recommendations to improve services following the findings of the independent Kingdon Review. 

Audiology services play a vital role in children’s lives. They are the gateway to all further support, helping to identify whether concerns about a child’s hearing, speech, communication or behaviour are related to hearing loss, and ensuring children and families can access the support they need as early as possible. 

Early childhood is a critical period for language and communication development. When deafness is identified early, children can access support that helps them develop language, build relationships and achieve their potential. When identification is delayed, the impact can last a lifetime. 

The report highlights significant pressures within children’s hearing services. Almost 50,000 children were overdue for audiology appointments in March 2025, routine follow-up appointments can be delayed by as much as 547 days, and some families report waits of up to three years for appointments. 

According to the report, long waits, workforce shortages and fragmented services are preventing some children from accessing support at crucial stages of their development.  

The report builds on the findings of the independent Kingdon Review, chaired by Dr Camilla Kingdon and published in November 2025, following catastrophic failures uncovered in children’s hearing services in England. 

The Kingdon Review found that more than 300 children had already come to harm because of delayed or missed identification of deafness, with concerns that more children may have been affected. 

The National Deaf Children’s Society believes that systemic failures require systemic change and is calling on the Government to deliver a fully funded programme of reform that puts deaf children and their families at the heart of services, backed by stronger accountability and investment.

“As a parent of a deaf child, I have seen first-hand the difference early intervention can make,” said George Crockford, Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society.

“Children’s hearing services are the gateway to the support deaf children need to thrive. When deafness is identified too late, some children can miss out on vital opportunities to develop language, communication and confidence during the most important years of their development.

“The Kingdon Review exposed serious failings, but it also showed us what needs to change. 

“Every moment counts for deaf children. The Government must now act urgently to create a more joined-up, family-centred hearing service that gives every deaf child the best possible start in life.” 

To find out more visit https://www.ndcs.org.uk