The Shepherd Centre, an Australian not-for-profit providing specialised programs to children with hearing loss, is urging the community to support the families of children with hearing loss this Mother’s Day, so their children can reach their speech and language goals.

The charity revealed that one in two children with hearing loss and their families are still not receiving the specialist support they need.

For families of children with hearing loss, important development milestones can feel like an unattainable dream. However, with the support of early intervention services and specialist care, children with hearing loss can reach their full potential and achieve their speech goals.

“Parenthood is an enriching journey, especially the moment your child says their first words. But for many families with a child with hearing loss and no access to specialist service, this moment can feel so far out of reach. We need to change this for as many families as we can,” said Dr Aleisha Davis, CEO of The Shepherd Centre.

To illustrate the positive impact of early intervention services and specialist care, The Shepherd Centre is sharing the story of Sallie and her youngest child, Archie. When Archie did not pass his first or second State Wide Infant Instant Screening Hearing (SWISH) test, Sallie suspected that he may never be able to hear. Archie was ultimately diagnosed with profound bilateral mixed hearing loss, which left Sallie in disbelief. As an additional adversity, at the time of Archie’s diagnosis, Sallie’s eldest son was receiving treatment for Leukaemia.

Despite the challenges, Sallie was determined to help Archie get the care he needed for his hearing. She drives an hour each way to take Archie to The Shepherd Centre for regular one-to-one sessions with his Speech Therapist and group programs such as Confident Kids, Acoustic Skills, and Circle of Security. With his new cochlear implants and fast learning skills, Archie is catching up quickly to children his age who were born with typical hearing – and has just uttered the word “mummy” for the very first time.

“Archie said ‘Mummy’ the other day which was extra special. As a single parent, I don’t often refer to myself as ‘Mummy’ very much, so I wasn’t sure if he’d pick up on it. He doesn’t say many words as he’s still learning, so it was a really memorable moment for our family, and I have to thank The Shepherd Centre for that,” added Sallie.

The Shepherd Centre cannot rely on government funding alone and depends on the generosity of the community to deliver its programs. The charity is calling on Australians to donate and help create life-changing milestones for families, just like Sallie’s, who have children with hearing loss.

“By donating to The Shepherd Centre today, you can ensure a child’s hearing loss will mean they’re never left behind, and that families can have the confidence to dream big for their children’s future,” added Dr Davis.

To donate to The Shepherd Centre, visit their website at www.shepherdcentre.org.au.