Mental health

The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) aims to raise awareness of preventive mental health measures and also to encourage the development of effective services to meet the mental health needs of deaf children, when they arise. The Society also aims to promote the positive mental health and well-being of deaf children. 

NDCS recognises that deaf children experience a higher risk of psychological, behavioural and emotional problems. However, deafness in itself is not a risk factor for increased mental health needs; it is the consequence of being deaf in a hearing-orientated world where the ability to hear is considered a necessity to function in everyday life.

Environmental factors associated with deafness contribute to the increased risk of mental health needs for deaf children and young people. The most common factors are the lack of access to language and communication, the dearth of opportunity for deaf children to understand and explore the self and a general lack of knowledge of deafness within society.

These environmental factors have a significant impact on deaf children and mean that frequently they experience unfamiliar language and communication structures, reduced opportunities for fluent two-way interaction, limited access to incidental learning, a partial understanding of what is happening around them, and difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships with others.

NDCS is working towards a significant diminution in the environmental effects of deafness in order to reduce the incidence of mental health needs amongst deaf children and will continue in general to promote the emotional, behavioural and psychological well-being of the deaf child and their family.

Agreed by Management Committee - 2 September 1995