About The
Elizabeth
Foundation
The Elizabeth Foundation is a registered charity (number 293835), founded in 1981.
We help young deaf children learn to listen and talk using our unique early intervention approach.
Based in Hampshire, we provide services for families and support for professionals across the UK.
Our mission
At The Elizabeth Foundation, our mission is to:
- promote the early identification of deafness in babies and young children, and the promotion of high-quality audiological care and support for all
- further the education of young deaf children, children with additional sensory needs, their families, support networks and wider communities
- empower deaf children to learn to listen and talk, enabling them to become competent and confident communicators who can advocate for themselves and face life with confidence and resilience
By doing these things, we aim to enable children with all degrees of deafness to develop their listening and spoken language skills, as well as build their self-esteem, alongside giving parents the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions on behalf of their child.
Our history
We have been supporting deaf children and their
families since being set up in 1981
Our strategy
From 2025 to 2030, we will continue our work supporting families
with deaf babies and young children during the critical
early years, both face-to-face and online.
Meet our team
Our passionate, dedicated team of staff, volunteers,
patrons and trustees make a real difference in the
lives of deaf children and their families every day.
Careers with us
Join our team and help us change the lives
of deaf children and their families.
Our unique approach
We have developed our own unique multisensory oral / aural approach to support the development of listening and spoken language skills in deaf children.
This means that we encourage deaf children to develop speech, language and listening skills by using all of their senses in a natural, fun, child-centred environment.
Our multisensory oral / aural approach:
- assists children to develop their listening skills and spoken language through everyday activities by helping them learn to notice sounds and attach meaning to those sounds
- helps deaf children to communicate with the wider hearing world
- supports literacy and numeracy skills, equipping deaf children for their later educational life
- provides the widest range of options for family, friends, schools and professionals, who may have had little or no experience caring for a deaf child
Ways of teaching communication
There are various ways of helping deaf babies and children to develop their communication skills. It is important to remember that all deaf children are individuals and there is no “one size fits all” method.
While parents are making a decision about whether the best option for their child is spoken communication (oralism), signing (such as BSL), or a combination of the two, preschool deaf children need support to:
- learn how to use their hearing aids or cochlear implants effectively
- understand visual cues – such as natural gestures and appropriate facial expressions,
- become aware that they have a voice to use that people will respond to positively
We base all of the services we provide for deaf children on our multisensory oral / aural approach. Whilst our techniques include some natural gesture and appropriate facial expressions, we do not use sign language in our teaching sessions.
The skills that children acquire at The Elizabeth Foundation will be necessary prerequisites for good Total Communication if you should choose to go down that path with your child.
We strongly believe that parents are the main educators of their deaf child; and to help parents fulfil this challenging role we are here to offer help, guidance, advice and encouragement throughout the vital preschool years, and support parents in their choice of communication methods for their child.
Statistics
Some key facts and figures about our impact
45+
years helping deaf
children
4
babies born deaf
each day
80+
children in our
classes
500+
early intervention
sessions
each year
175+
new Let’s Listen
and Talk subscribers
each year
Videos about our work
Watch these videos to find out more about The Elizabeth Foundation and how we help young deaf children learn to listen and talk.
Julie Hughes describes our activities
Julie Hughes, Chief Executive, explains how the work of The Elizabeth Foundation makes a unique difference to the lives of preschool deaf children and their families.
What we do
A short video outlining the many ways The Elizabeth Foundation helps young deaf children learn to listen and talk, and how we support their families.
Daisy’s story
Daisy’s story, as told by her mother Sarah. Daisy is profoundly deaf and attended The Elizabeth Foundation from shortly after birth to starting primary school.
Meet Oscar and Ella
Meet Oscar and Ella – two thriving and talkative four year olds. Both were born profoundly deaf but learned to listen and talk at The Elizabeth Foundation.
Just like any other child
Xander is an active and inquisitive four-year old who is just like any other child – he just needs a little bit more help hearing. Xander was born profoundly deaf and The Elizabeth Foundation’s preschool services have helped him learn to listen and talk.