🎧 Auditory Verbal Therapy

Westminster Hall

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In a passionate parliamentary debate, MPs urged the government to expand access to auditory verbal therapy (AVT) for deaf children, highlighting its transformative impact on their ability to communicate like their hearing peers. Sharon Hodgson shared the story of Sam, a deaf child who thrived with AVT, yet stressed that only a small fraction of deaf children can access this therapy due to a lack of trained therapists. MPs proposed a pilot scheme to demonstrate AVT’s potential and called for increased investment in training more specialists, noting the significant educational and economic benefits. The Minister responded positively, committing to meet with Auditory Verbal UK and consider the therapy’s inclusion in future NHS workforce plans.

Summary

  • Impact of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT): The session highlighted the transformative effects of AVT on deaf children, exemplified by Sam, who, after undergoing AVT, has achieved spoken language skills comparable to his hearing peers. This therapy empowers deaf children to communicate effectively, improving their educational and employment prospects.

  • Limited Access to AVT: Currently, only a small fraction of deaf children in the UK can access AVT due to the limited number of certified therapists (only 33 nationwide). This scarcity leads to a postcode lottery, where access depends heavily on geographic location, resulting in unequal opportunities.

  • Call for Increased Training and Funding: There was a strong call for more funding to train additional specialists in AVT. Members argued that an investment of £2 million annually could train the workforce and unlock significant economic benefits, estimated at £152 million over ten years and £11.7 billion over fifty years.

  • Postcode Lottery and Regional Disparities: The debate emphasized the uneven distribution of AVT services across regions, with some areas like the north-east lacking any certified therapists. This led to demands for national guidelines to be updated to ensure more equitable access to therapy.

  • Government and NHS Response: The Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, acknowledged the value of AVT and expressed willingness to meet with Auditory Verbal UK to discuss potential pilot schemes. He also committed to including AVT in the NHS’s 10-year plan to address the current gaps and disparities in service provision.

  • Economic and Social Benefits: Members highlighted that AVT not only aids individual children but also has broader economic benefits by reducing future support costs and enhancing employability. Socially, it helps in reducing the stigma and isolation often faced by deaf children.

  • Diverse Needs and Support Options: The session also acknowledged the need for a range of support mechanisms for deaf children, recognizing that AVT may not be suitable for every child. There was a call to ensure comprehensive support tailored to individual needs, including the use of British Sign Language.

  • Advocacy and Awareness: The presence of Sam and his family, as well as the efforts of Auditory Verbal UK, were recognized as crucial in raising awareness and advocating for better support for deaf children. The session encouraged continued advocacy to influence policy changes and funding allocations.

Divisiveness

The parliamentary session discussing the provision of auditory verbal therapy showed minimal disagreement among the participants. The overall sentiment was overwhelmingly supportive of increasing access to auditory verbal therapy for deaf children. Here are detailed points supporting this assessment:

  1. Unanimous Support: Nearly all speakers expressed strong support for auditory verbal therapy. Mrs Sharon Hodgson, who introduced the debate, emphasized the life-changing impact of the therapy and advocated for more trained therapists and wider public funding. Other contributors, including Jim Shannon, Kirith Entwistle, James Frith, Yasmin Qureshi, Baggy Shanker, Helen Morgan, and Dr Luke Evans, echoed similar sentiments, focusing on the need for increased access and training.

  2. Constructive Suggestions: Rather than outright disagreements, the session was characterized by constructive suggestions for improving the provision of the therapy. For instance, Helen Morgan suggested a pilot scheme, which was supported by others, and Dr Luke Evans called for a review of the evidence and updates to NICE guidelines. These suggestions were aimed at enhancing the initiative, not opposing it.

  3. Shared Concerns: All speakers highlighted the issue of a ‘postcode lottery’ in accessing the therapy and expressed concern over the insufficient number of certified therapists. This common concern further indicates a collective agreement on the need for change.

  4. Minister’s Response: The Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, responded affirmatively to the calls for action, indicating willingness to meet with Auditory Verbal UK and consider their recommendations. He also acknowledged the need for system reforms and mentioned ongoing efforts to address these issues.

  5. Absence of Dissent: There were no significant opposing views throughout the session. Even when Kirith Entwistle noted that auditory verbal therapy is not a ‘silver bullet’ and stressed the importance of individualized approaches, her comments were framed as part of a broader need for comprehensive support, not as opposition to the therapy itself.

Given these points, the session demonstrated a high level of consensus on the need to improve access to auditory verbal therapy, with minimal disagreement on the core issues discussed.