For a number of years Chime campaigned for the establishment of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children. We were acutely aware that the absence of a specialist service meant that many D/HH children with additional needs were losing out. In many cases their additional needs were either not diagnosed or misdiagnosed, with significant impact on their development and quality of life.

In 2017 a HSE Working Group recognised that D/HH children with additional needs may be given “a non-specific diagnosis of co-occurring disorder, and/ or experience delays in diagnosis.”  The Group recommended the establishment of a specialist MDT for D/HH children and young people within the Progressing Disability Services framework.

After many meetings with Minister Anne Rabbitte and HSE officials, the MDT for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children was launched in 2023 by Minister Rabbitte. This new service will bring lifelong benefits for those D/HH children with complex needs.