Meet our in-house paediatric audiologists

At the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), our audiology advisors work in different ways to make sure every moment counts, from the time a child’s deafness is identified to their first day at school and beyond.

Here, our in-house audiologists Ally, Anushri and Sam introduce themselves and share a little bit about what they do to help us provide the best possible support to deaf children, young people, their families and the professionals who work with them.

Ally Gauci-Taylor, Audiology Specialist Advisor

Ally provides vital one-to-one support to parents and families of deaf children. This includes explaining diagnostic processes and treatment options, including hearing aids, cochlear implants and other devices.

I help parents understand diagnoses, audiological tests, early intervention, and manage expectations. I receive referrals from the Helpline, advice and guidance officers (AGOs) and external professionals. I provide parents with clear, unbiased advice about deafness, its causes, and related conditions, helping them to make informed decisions.

My responsibilities include:

• training Helpline staff and AGOs
• delivering talks to audiology undergraduates
• working collaboratively with our audiology policy advisors to contribute to NDCS’s audiology initiatives
• ensuring content accuracy
• staying up to date with new developments in audiology and ear, nose and throat (ENT).

Empowering parents to advocate for their child’s needs in healthcare and education is crucial. I refer them for AGO support, to local services, support groups, educational resources and other organisations.

Additionally, I help with complaints and speak with professionals when necessary. I identify issues related to delayed intervention, waiting times and poor service quality, reporting issues and trends to our local engagement team.

Sam Lear, Senior Audiology Policy Advisor

Sam is instrumental in supporting our wider external influencing work to improve quality in audiology and in supporting audiology work within the organisation.

I make sure that NDCS is aware of current issues within audiology and healthcare in the UK. I often represent NDCS in external audiology workstreams to ensure the needs of deaf children and their families are at the forefront of decision-making.

Within NDCS itself, I offer specialist support to my colleagues. I keep them up to date with key issues, interpret and explain audiological information for them, such as the national quality standards, and help them to shape policy. I ensure my colleagues are well-informed when making key policy decisions.

I work within the Listen Up team to help prepare, analyse and interpret the data NDCS collects from audiology services annually. I support our local engagement teams in discussing issues and trends.

I am passionate about improving NDCS’s offer for audiology professionals and have some exciting plans for the future. Watch this space!

Anushri Patel, Audiology Advisor

Anushri plays a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy of our information and in supporting Sam and Ally with their work.

In the relatively short time I’ve been with NDCS, no two days have been the same! My audiology background means I can provide valuable advice across the organisation.

One of my key responsibilities is ensuring our audiology-related content is up to date. This involves reviewing existing information (such as our print booklets) and collaborating with colleagues to create new, relevant content. I am always happy to hear feedback around how our information can best support professionals alongside the families they work with.

I represent NDCS in various stakeholder forums, working with organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England.

I also help Ally with more complex casework, respond to queries from the Helpline, support Sam with projects such as Listen Up and train colleagues around aspects of audiology. I recently shared my knowledge of newborn hearing screening and diagnostics with our international arm, Deaf Child Worldwide, to help inform their projects in developing countries.

I’m lucky to work with a diverse group of people, all aiming to improve the lives of deaf children and young people. The opportunity to listen to a range of views and lived experiences has also broadened my outlook as an audiologist. Audiologists have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of deaf children and their families. Often, we are the first professionals that families meet on their journey. Let’s continue to strive to make that journey a little bit easier for them.

Find additional support

Check out our range of information and services for professionals who work with deaf children and young people.

If you're looking for advice or support, please contact our free Helpline or take a look at our online information section.