The St Petersburg children's deaf club

Summary

The deaf club in St Petersburg is the only place where parents can take their child as soon as they realise that they have a hearing problem. It offers reassurance and support to families, helps them access the best treatment, and teaches the children vital communication skills.

Why is your help needed?

The earlier a child with a hearing impairment receives appropriate help, the less their development will be damaged.  Parents too desperately need support when they discover that their child is disabled. 

Sonia's story

I had many questions and I couldn’t always find answers to them. When problems arise and you don’t know how to resolve them it is always frightening.

Fortunately, Sonia's hearing was tested by specialists using state-of-the-art equipment donated by St Gregory's. They recommended that Sonia's mother take her to the deaf club.

"I met other mothers whose children had serious hearing problems, and chatted to them. The club’s specialists answered many questions which interested me. Sonia began to play with the children and leant a great deal from them. She began to develop better. She began to say ma-ma, pa-pa and ba-ba. Social contact is very important for children like Sonia, and they don’t hold sessions to develop the hearing and speech of such young children anywhere else. We always go to the sessions with great pleasure. Such a club is very important for children with a hearing impairment."

How are we helping hearing impaired children?

This club meets once a week for three hours. Each session involves music therapy, free play, speech therapy, and the chance to have hearing tested and hearing aids adjusted. Specialists frequently attend to give parents advice on specific issues of concern.

The club aims to give children with hearing impairment full involvement in society. They have successfully won funding for cochlear implants, a revolutionary treatment that restores a sensation of hearing, helped children develop speech and understanding of speech, and campaign for inclusion in mainstream kindergartens.

Importantly, parents are treated as equals by the specialists here. They feel relaxed, are able to ask as many questions as they like, and find great support in each other. The club is unusual in that both hearing and hearing impaired parents attend with their children.

Who takes part?

More than ten families attend the club with children ranging in age from 9 months to three and a half.

How you can help

• £14 means that an audiologist can check that he children's hearing aids are correctly adjusted.
• £11 pays for one 3-hour group session with a music therapist

The full cost for one year is £3,500

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