BOOST Study
Better Outcomes for deaf children: Optimising and Targeted interventions
About BOOST Study
Each year, 1–2 in every 1000 children is identified with hearing loss or deafness in one or both ears. This can lead to problems with language, communication, reading, and emotional wellbeing. Deaf children often lag behind their classmates in school.
Better Outcomes for deaf children: Optimising and Targeted interventions Study (BOOST) uses linked health and education records from deaf children to fill gaps in our understanding about their health, neurodevelopment and educational outcomes at different ages (e.g. Year 2, SATS, GCSE). We are working with the National Deaf Children’s Society, parents and professionals who work with deaf children.
We compare children who are deaf with those who are not and describe the support they receive at different ages. We also look at how outcomes differ for children with different types of deafness and explore whether newborn hearing screening has changed interventions and outcomes since it was introduced in England in 2006.
Project duration: February 2026 to June 2027.
Why it matters
We are interested to know what interventions and support provide the most benefit and when these should be provided to have the most impact.
Our findings will inform improvements to newborn screening and to the timing and targeting of interventions to get the best outcomes for deaf children at school-age.
This study uses information from health, education and related records. We take privacy seriously and ensure all data is handled securely.
Meet the team
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health:
National Deaf Children’s Society:
- Dr Simone Walter - Consultant Audiovestibular Physician, Croydon Health Services
- Dr Waheeda Pagarkar - Consultant Audiovestibular Physician, UCL Hospital / Great Ormond Street Hospital
Advisory Groups
Our Parent Advisory Group includes 5 parents of deaf children from all regions of England. They are helping us to understand children and family experiences and guiding the research.
- Charlotte Lavin
- Louise Bowdery
- Laetitia Khenchelaoui
- Graham Stenson
- Rachael Mullane
Our Parent and Professional Joint Advisory Group includes 3 parents of deaf children and 10 health and education professionals who work with deaf children. They will help us to apply study findings to clinical practice, screening and education policy.
- Bryony Parkes - SignHealth
- Ellen Swann - Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Network for Deaf People
- Dr Fiona Kyle - Deafness, Cognition and Language (DCAL) Research Centre, UCL
- Hannah Garnett – NHS England Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
- Jo Harris – British Association of Paediatricians in Audiology
- Kirsty McPherson – Parent
- Lindsey Rousseau - National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP)
- Dr Samantha Lear - Lead Clinical Scientist in Audiology
- Simone Walter - Consultant Audiovestibular Physician
- Teresa Quail - British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (BATOD)
- Waheeda Pagarkar - Consultant Audiovestibular Physician
- 2 parents from the Parent Advisory Group will also attend each meeting.
Partners and funders
We are proud to be collaborating with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).
This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Contact us
For questions or to get involved, email the team at:
