Spoken language

Last reviewed: 11 June 2024

All children have the right to language. Deaf children might use speech, sign language or a mixture of both. Every deaf child is different, and there's no evidence that any one communication approach is better than another. It all comes down to what works best for your child and your family.

This section introduces some of the ways you can support your child’s speaking and listening.

See also our information about sign language and sign systems.

Methods to support speaking and listening

Lip-reading

Lip-reading (sometimes called speechreading) is the ability to understand speech by carefully watching a person's lip patterns and the movement of their tongue and face. Only 30% to 40% of speech sounds can be lip-read under the best conditions, so lip-reading alone is not enough for a child to develop spoken language.

Lip-reading: further information

Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT)

AVT is an early intervention programme that focuses on developing active listening and speaking skills. It discourages the use of visual clues, including sign-based approaches. It aims to make sure deaf children develop age-appropriate spoken language by the time they start school.

If your child has a cochlear implant or another kind of implant, you may be able to access AVT through the cochlear or auditory implant programme delivered by their implant centre.

Alternatively, you can access AVT through the charity Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK). AVUK offer AVT sessions in person at their centres across England, or online via telepractice.

AVUK charges for its services but offers a bursary scheme based on household income. They also offer support to find other financial options you may be able to apply for. In some cases, local authorities will provide funding to help your child access AVT.

AVUK's AVT programme for families

AVUK's fees and bursaries

The Language of the Home approach

The Language of the Home approach focuses on developing listening and speaking skills through everyday natural experience, rather than direct teaching. It relies on the effective use of hearing devices (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) to make the most of a child's residual hearing.

In some areas, the Language of the Home is used by Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs) and speech and language therapists who work for local authority services. Speak to your ToD or check your local authority website to find out exactly what support is offered in your area.

Find contact details for your local authority:

• England – check your council's Local Offer
• Northern Ireland – contact your Health and Social Care Trust
• Scotland – find your local council
• Wales – find your local authority

DELTA (Deaf Education Through Listening and Talking) is a national charity that supports and develops the Language of the Home in deaf children. DELTA’s website has information and downloadable resources which you may find helpful. They also host meetings and run events for families with deaf children.

DELTA website

Cued Speech

Cued Speech is a visual communication system that supports a deaf person to access speech. It uses eight hand shapes in four different positions (cues) around the mouth to make spoken language more ‘visible’, with the aim of developing lip-reading skills.

Cued Speech is used in combination with lip-reading and can be used to support other communication approaches, such as Total Communication, but is not normally used by itself as a sole method of communication.

Deaf Choices UK (formerly Cued Speech UK) offers advice, support and training in Cued Speech for families with deaf children. They offer:

• home visits to give you ideas and tips on how to use Cued Speech with your child
• visits to parent support groups, nurseries and schools
• online cue tutoring
• free self-study foundation online course.

Deaf Choices UK website

Speech and language therapy

All children develop language at their own pace. For deaf children, delays in speech and language are fairly common. Once they have access to language, most deaf children will catch up and be able to communicate with their peers.

If you’re worried about your child’s communication development, or your child’s communication difficulties are impacting their development, learning or mental health, speech and language therapy could help.

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) don’t just support children to speak. They can also support with all forms of language and communication, including signing or using tools such as a communication board, which may be useful for children with additional needs.

Speech and language therapy: further information

Communication approaches in education

Schools can offer a variety of communication approaches to support your child to access learning and the curriculum. Your child’s teachers, support staff or speech and language therapists might refer to their communication approach using one of these terms.

• Auditory–oral or oral/aural approach (also known as oralism). This means that a child is taught to use hearing and speech (through residual hearing and/or hearing devices) to develop spoken language. Sign language is not used in this approach.
• Sign-bilingual approach (also known as sign-bilingualism). This means that a child learns sign language at the same time as learning spoken language.
• Total Communication approach. This means that a child uses a variety of methods flexibly in whatever combination works best for them. This could include sign language, spoken language, fingerspelling, gesture, facial expression, lip-reading, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, such as word boards.