September is International Deaf Awareness Month
International Week of Deaf People: 22–28 September
International Sign Language Day: 23 September
Every day in South Africa, up to 17 babies enter the world in silence. That’s around 6,000 babies each year born with permanent hearing loss. For most of them, this life-changing condition goes unnoticed for years—until it is too late to unlock the full potential of their developing brains.
September, marked globally as International Deaf Awareness Month, is not just a time for raising awareness; it is a call to action. It is a plea to rethink what it means to truly listen, and a reminder that sound—or the lack of it—shapes futures.
The Silent Crisis
Early hearing detection and intervention is the single most effective tool to give children with hearing loss a chance to thrive. Yet, in South Africa, newborn hearing screening is not offered to every child. This means thousands of children are denied their first chance to connect—to hear their parent’s voice, to build language, and to unlock the foundations of learning.
When a baby is screened in the first month of life and receives intervention before six months, their likelihood of developing spoken or signed language increases dramatically. Without it, children risk being locked out of vital milestones in bonding, education, and social development.
The result? Families navigating a painful silence, children missing a critical window for cognitive growth, and an unequal healthcare system where only those who can afford private care or navigate complex bureaucracies gain access to life-changing hearing aids, cochlear implants, or therapy.
A Call for Universal Screening
This September, Hold My Hand, in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Side-By-Side, is shining a spotlight on the urgent need for universal newborn hearing screening.
“Every child deserves the chance to hear their name, sing a song, or laugh with their friends,” says Dr Noxolo Gqada, Strategy Lead for the Hold My Hand Accelerator for Children and Teens.
“Too often, only families with resources can access implants or early therapy. This inequality must end.”
Hold My Hand envisions a South Africa where:
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Every baby is screened within the first 4 weeks of life.
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Fair and timely access to intervention is guaranteed—whether through sign language, spoken language, or both.
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Caregivers are supported with information and services to make empowered decisions.
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No child is left behind because of where they are born or how much their parents can afford.
Human Stories Behind the Numbers
Behind every statistic is a child with untapped potential. Take the story of Abdullah Myles, identified with profound hearing loss thanks to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s newborn screening programme. With access to early support, Abdullah’s mother, Rameeza Myles, was empowered to make informed choices about his care. Abdullah now has the chance to connect, learn, and thrive.
But for every Abdullah, there are countless children still waiting in silence. Their futures depend on the choices we make today.
Join the Movement
On Monday, 29 September 2025 at 3:00 PM, Hold My Hand, CHAI, and Side-By-Side will host a free webinar: “Little Ears, Big Futures: Newborn Hearing Awareness.”
This 60-minute session will bring together caregivers, audiologists, speech therapists, and policymakers to share life-changing stories and practical steps for integrating newborn hearing screening into South Africa’s healthcare system.
📌 Register here: Zoom Webinar Link
Speakers include:
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Dr Sadna Balton – Head of Speech Therapy & Audiology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
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Mr Kwanele Ntuli – Audiologist, Western Cape Department of Health
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Dr Busisiwe Ndlovu – Director for Non-Communicable Diseases, National Department of Health
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Rameeza Myles – Mother of Abdullah Myles, diagnosed through newborn screening
Why This Matters
Babies begin to recognise sound in the womb. Their first cries, their caregiver’s lullabies, their siblings’ laughter—all of these shape how they connect to the world. When hearing loss is not identified early, a baby’s chance at this natural development is stolen.
This is not just a medical issue—it is a human rights issue. Every child has the right to communicate, to be understood, and to be heard.
This International Deaf Awareness Month, Hold My Hand is calling on all of us—parents, healthcare workers, policymakers, and citizens—to demand universal newborn hearing screening. Because every child deserves more than silence. They deserve possibility.
