From the very beginning of The Elizabeth Foundation, the aim was to promote the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention for deaf children, and within our family centred atmosphere help provide Hope, Guidance, Encouragement and Education for parents and wider family.

Over our 25 years technology has got better and better. Today, profoundly deaf children have the option of a cochlear implant, digital hearing aids, even more powerful conventional hearing aids, sound field systems, and best of all NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING and EARLY DIAGNOSIS.

Children with a profound or severe hearing loss, diagnosed, aided and taking part in a good early intervention programme before six months old, can achieve age appropriate speech and language by six years old.

Understanding the value of early diagnosis, The Elizabeth Foundation started campaigning 25 years ago for babies to be screened at birth for hearing loss and we are now delighted that a government-backed National Programme of Newborn Hearing Screening has been introduced.

At our flagship centre, we have a unique and pioneering partnership with Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, screening over 12,000 babies every year. Most have their first screen where they are born, but many arrive at The Elizabeth Foundation for the first screen, having missed it for one reason or another at the hospital. Any subsequent screens or early diagnosis take place at The Elizabeth Foundation