Jim Fitzpatrick joined a children’s deaf charity at the Houses of Parliament to learn about how pre-school deaf children in east London can benefit from new ‘hearing’ technology.

The Poplar & Limehouse member was among 50 MPs from across the political spectrum who joined children, parents, teachers and campaigners at the event urging local authorities like Tower Hamlets Council to provide the technology to pre-school deaf youngsters.

The radio aids technology amplifies speech and cuts out background noise to help the youngsters hear their parents more clearly and develop their language and communication skills faster, according to research by the National Deaf Children’s Society.

Its London regional director Nicola Ward said: “Tower Hamlets is one of 54 per cent of local authorities who don’t consistently provide deaf children in the early years with this transformational technology to use at home.

“Radio aids have a huge impact on deaf children to hear their parents more clearly, allowing them to acquire language faster and help them achieve just as well as their hearing friends.”

The Department for Education is now making funds available so local authorities can pay for this technology, the society points out. The society is now contacting local authorities.

Parents can contact the society’s free helpline on 080-8800 8880 (voice and text), or email helpline@ndcs.org.uk or chat online.