MP Iain Duncan Smith has called for deaf children across Waltham Forest and Redbridge to be given free radio hearing aids to use at home.

The MP for Chingford and Woodford Green met with representatives from the National Deaf Children’s Society at an event in Parliament last week to learn more about the aids which amplify speech and cut out background noise.

Research from the NDCS shows deaf children using the aids develop language and communication skills at a faster rate in the classroom and at home compared to using a normal hearing aid.

When using the aid in a car, conversation increased by 144 per cent, and when used outdoors conversation increases by 88 per cent.

There are more than 550 deaf children living in Waltham Forest and Redbridge and all pre-schoolers have access to free radio aids at nursery, but not at home.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Mr Duncan Smith using a radio aid to read to Sophia Green, with her parents Natalie and Thomas Green.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “I was impressed when I used the technology at the event reading a story to one of the children visiting from our constituency.

“As a result, I have now written to both Waltham Forest Council and Redbridge Council asking them to provide this life changing technology to pre-school deaf children in our area.

“Sadly at present, Waltham Forest and Redbridge are two of the 54 per cent of councils in England who do not consistently provide deaf children in the early years with this transformational technology to use at home.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

“Yet with the Department for Education making funding available for this through the Special Provision Capital Fund, local authorities can fund this vital technology.”

MP for Leyton and Wanstead John Cryer was also in attendance at the event on Wednesday, January 10, and echoed Mr Duncan Smith’s comments.

Mr Cryer said: “It was wonderful to meet so many deaf children and their parents from across my constituency at this event.

“Hearing their views and learning about the support they need was an eye opener.

“I will be speaking to Waltham Forrest Council and Redbridge Council to see how they can use this new funding to get radio aids for deaf pre-schoolers in our area.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Enid Hilton, Teacher of the Deaf in Waltham Forest, said it would be hugely beneficial for pre-schoolers’ development if the council extended funding for radio aids for use at home.

She said: “Waltham Forest provides radio aids for all deaf children in nurseries but it would be wonderful if they would provide funding for radio aids at home as well.

“A lot of the deaf child’s time is spent in a noisy place like near the TV and out and about. If they are in a push chair on a noisy road it is much more difficult for them to hear spoken language because of the loud noises.

“When adults want to talk to a child with a radio aid it’s easier for them to hear their voice because the background noise is lessened.”

Every week 34 babies born in the UK are deaf. More than 90 per cent of them have hearing parents.