Two deaf sisters from Warminster are backing a call for auditory verbal therapy to be made available on the NHS.

Sade Oram, 24, and her youngster sister Topaz Oram, 22, were both diagnosed as deaf soon after birth and wear cochlear implants.

They attended an auditory verbal therapy programme supporting them to learn to speak as young children.

They are backing a call by the Auditory Verbal UK [AVUK] charity during Deaf Awareness Week, held from Monday, May 6 to Sunday, May 12, for the government to make the therapy available on the NHS.

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This Is Wiltshire: Sade and Topaz Oram from Warminster are supporting a call for auditory verbal therapy to be made

New research by AVUK, has revealed that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of adults in the South West of England believe it is not possible for a child born deaf to learn to speak as well as a child without hearing loss.

Sade and Topaz say that with early and effective support from auditory verbal therapy, deaf children can learn to speak like their hearing peers.

Sade said: “I am proud to be deaf and proud of what both myself and my sister have achieved because of the support we had as young children with auditory verbal therapy and of course our family.

“But it is disappointing that so many people still aren’t aware of what deaf young people can achieve. I am never held back by being deaf.

“I love travelling to new places - going skiing in the winter and going to different music festivals in the summer. I'm always looking for a new adventure.”

Topaz added: “Challenging perceptions about the abilities and opportunities for deaf children and young people is so important to me, my sister and our whole family. It really is time to raise expectation and change attitudes of what deaf children and young people can achieve.”

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This Is Wiltshire: Tasha Ghouri, a deaf influencer and model, is also supporting the call for auditory verbal therapy to be available through the NHS. Tasha Ghouri, a deaf influencer and model, is also supporting the call for auditory verbal therapy to be available through the NHS. (Image: Auditory Verbal UK)

The charity's chief executive, Anita Grover, added: “We know that when deaf children and young people, like Sade and Topaz, have access to early and effective support, their opportunities in life can be transformed. Early and effective support is vital whether a child uses sign language, spoken language or both.

“This Deaf Awareness Week, we want everyone to increase their expectations of what deaf children and people can do and take action, big or small, to challenge the current knowledge gap so all deaf children can have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.”