Deaf and Hearing Impairment team (DAHIT)

Support for Babies and Children with hearing loss

When your baby or child is diagnosed with hearing loss, they will be referred to a Specialist Speech and Language therapy team with your consent that supports deaf and hearing-impaired children.

Who are we?

We are a team of specialist speech and language therapists that work with families in places like your home, nurseries, and schools.

What do we do?

Our aim is to help your baby or child develop their speech, language, and communication skills.
We offer early support and advice for you and your child. We’ll work closely with you to track how your child is doing.
We look at key areas like:

• attention
• listening
• vocalisation
• play
• social and emotional development
• understanding and use of language

If needed, we’ll show you activities and games you can do at home to support your child’s communication.

Who do we work with?

We work closely with other professionals, including:

• The Hearing and Balance Centre
• Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service
• Teachers of the Deaf
• Community paediatricians
• Local nurseries, childminders, and school staff

How often will we see you?

How often we visit depends on your child’s needs and what works for your family. We’ll agree this together with you.

What happens first?

Our first visit is usually at your home. We’ll be in touch soon to arrange a time that suits you. This is your chance to ask any questions and talk about your child’s communication needs related to their hearing. We look forward to meeting you.