The following research priorities emerged as some of the most popular topics in the online survey. They were shortlisted and have been discussed extensively in the two final workshops. While they did not feature in the final Top 10 of either the adult or children’s workshops, they are nonetheless important questions that really matter to deaf children, their carers and the professionals who support them.
| How can early development of deaf children be supported, and how does early family intervention, type of play, and workforce training affect outcomes? |
| What is the relationship between childhood deafness and neurodiversity (e.g. autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)), and how can we best support children with these combined conditions? |
| How does deafness affect mental health, and what support is most helpful? |
| What are the best ways to support deaf children at key transition points throughout their education and into the workplace? |
| What activities, like sports and music, best support deaf children’s development, and how can hearing devices be improved to enable enjoyment of such activities? |
| How can the school system ensure that the voices of deaf children and their families are heard and acted upon in both mainstream and deaf schools? |
Childhood Deafness Research Network 