Emotional Wellbeing and Deaf Young People

Deaf children and teenagers are significantly more likely to experience mental health difficulties than their hearing peers. Understanding why is the first step to helping.

Research consistently shows that deaf children are at higher risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties compared to hearing children. A frequently cited study by the NDCS found that deaf children are twice as likely to experience mental health problems. These aren't inevitable consequences of being deaf — they're consequences of growing up in a world that isn't always set up to include them.

Communication barriers, social isolation, frustration, identity questions, and the sheer daily effort of navigating a hearing world all take a toll. As parents, carers, and professionals, recognising these pressures and responding to them early can make an enormous difference.

Why Deaf Young People Are at Higher Risk

Communication Frustration

When a child can't fully express their feelings or understand what others are saying, frustration builds. Younger children may show this through tantrums or withdrawal. Older children and teenagers may become angry, anxious, or shut down. The root cause is often the same: a gap between what they want to communicate and what they're able to.

Social Isolation

Friendships depend on easy, spontaneous communication. Deaf children, particularly those who are the only deaf child in their school, can miss out on the casual banter, whispered confidences, and group conversations that hearing children take for granted. This isolation can be especially acute during adolescence, when belonging to a peer group feels critically important.

Identity and Self-Esteem

Growing up deaf in a hearing family raises questions about identity that hearing children rarely face. "Am I different? Is there something wrong with me? Where do I belong?" These aren't unusual questions for deaf teenagers, and they deserve thoughtful, honest answers. Some deaf young people find a strong sense of identity through the Deaf community and BSL; others identify primarily with the hearing world. Both are valid.

Listening Fatigue

The cognitive effort of listening with hearing aids or cochlear implants all day is exhausting. By the end of the school day, many deaf children are running on empty. This fatigue can look like irritability, poor concentration, or emotional fragility — symptoms that might be misinterpreted as behavioural problems.

Signs That a Young Person May Be Struggling

Every child is different, but watch for:

• Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy.
• Increased anger or aggression, especially around communication difficulties.
• Reluctance to go to school or unexplained physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches).
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels.
• Expressing feelings of being "stupid", "different", or "not normal".
• For teenagers: risk-taking behaviour, substance use, or self-harm.

If you're seeing several of these signs persisting over weeks rather than days, it's worth seeking support. Trust your instincts — you know your child better than anyone.

What Parents Can Do

Keep Communication Open

This sounds obvious, but it's harder than it seems. If your family communicates primarily in spoken English, make sure your deaf child can follow conversations at home. If they use BSL, invest in your own signing skills so you can have proper, nuanced conversations about feelings. A child who can't talk about their emotions at home has nowhere to process them.

Validate Their Feelings

When a deaf child says "It's not fair" or "Nobody understands me", resist the urge to minimise it. They're probably right — it often isn't fair, and many people don't understand. Acknowledge the difficulty before offering reassurance. "I can see that's really hard. What would help?" is more useful than "Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Build Connections with Other Deaf People

Meeting deaf adults and other deaf young people can be transformative. It shows your child that deafness is not a barrier to a full, interesting life. Deaf role models — professionals, athletes, artists, and ordinary people going about their lives — communicate a message that no amount of parental reassurance can match: "You're not alone, and you're going to be fine."

Look into NDCS events, local deaf clubs, and our own family activities for opportunities to connect.

Advocate at School

Many emotional difficulties are rooted in school experiences. If your child is struggling socially or academically, address it with the school. Ask about pastoral support, anti-bullying policies, and whether the SENCO is aware of the emotional impact of deafness. Our educational rights guide can help you navigate these conversations.

Know When to Seek Professional Help

If your child's difficulties are persistent or severe, professional support may be needed. Options include:

• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) — NHS services for children with mental health difficulties. Waiting lists can be long, so ask your GP for a referral sooner rather than later.
• Specialist deaf mental health services — some NHS trusts have psychologists or therapists who specialise in working with deaf children and can communicate in BSL.
• School counselling — many secondary schools have counsellors on site. Check that the counsellor is prepared to work with a deaf young person (they may need a BSL interpreter or speech-to-text support).

Supporting Siblings Too

The emotional wellbeing of hearing siblings shouldn't be overlooked. They face their own pressures: sharing parental attention, managing feelings about their deaf brother or sister, and navigating their own social world with an awareness of deafness that their peers don't share. Our sibling support page has more information.

A Final Thought

Deafness itself doesn't cause mental health problems. What causes them is the mismatch between a deaf child's needs and the world they're growing up in. Every time we improve communication access, reduce isolation, and help a deaf young person feel understood and valued, we're closing that gap. It's work that matters, and every small step counts.

If you're concerned about your child's wellbeing, talk to us. We may not be mental health professionals, but we can listen, signpost, and connect you with parents who've navigated similar challenges.