Another is to begin appropriate medical, One of the aims of the early intervention audiological and early intervention services services is to establish and maintain a before the child is six months old. language programme that meets the needs and choices of the family and child. The This programme is jointly led by the goal is to achieve a strong foundation Ministries of Health and Education. in the chosen communication approach The Ministry of Health then provides “so that foundation language skills can the hearing assessment services (by be developed to an academic level for audiologists within district health boards). educational learning”.72 NZSL is included The Ministry of Education then provides in the information and choices provided to the follow-on early intervention services. families. The Ministry of Education states Where significant hearing loss is identified, that information and advice on support an audiologist refers the baby or child options is impartial. It aims to enable to medical specialists and provides families to make an informed choice based information to the family/whānau on on the family’s and baby’s needs. deafness.68 Parents may also be referred to the Ministry of Education’s advisors on The northern and southern cochlear deaf children (AODC) and parent support implant programmes receive funding organisation, the NZ Federation for Deaf from the Ministry of Health. They accept Children (NZFDC).69 referrals from medical specialists, audiologists, AODCs and family doctors. The AODCs provide advice and guidance The programmes provide cochlear implant to families and schools, and coordinate services and follow-on early intervention an interdisciplinary team of specialists services for deaf children who have who provide ongoing support to the child cochlear implants, including listening and and family. Specialists, such as speech speech therapy. language therapists and educational psychologists, work together for the best Pre-school children enrolled in the DECs outcome for each learner. The AODC may have access to audiology services such also make referrals to other specialists if as fitting, checking and maintenance of needed or where requested. These include hearing aids. The DECs’ Resource Teachers: NZSL instructors or tutors,70 depending on Deaf (RTDs) provide an average of three availability. The Ministry of Education has hours per week support to children aged advised that changes to the AODC role, three or older who are attending an early giving greater focus to their involvement childhood centre. in a child’s early years, are currently being trialled.71 34