Kiara’s story: When a hearing check reveals more than hearing loss
When Kiara had her hearing checked at school, she expected everything to be fine.
Then, during the screening, she realised there was a sound she could not hear.
“I thought everything was fine,” Kiara said, “until the lady asked if she could hear a sound, and I realised I couldn’t. That’s when I started to worry.”
The result came as a surprise. Kiara had not known her hearing “wasn’t very good”. For her mum, Chantel, it was also difficult to believe at first.
“I genuinely thought she could hear well,” Chantel said.
Looking back, Chantel had noticed that Kiara’s speech had been poor from a young age. She had taken her to speech therapy, never realising the underlying issue may have been her hearing.
Getting answers
After the school screening identified a potential hearing health issue, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation contacted Chantel to arrange a retest and make sure the first result was accurate.
The second test confirmed that Kiara’s hearing was below the normal threshold in one ear.
For Chantel, that follow-up support made a real difference.
“They have been incredibly supportive and have covered every cost — all we had to do was show up,” she said.
That support meant Kiara and her whānau were not left to navigate the next step alone. They had answers and guidance. Through the referral process, Kiara was able to access a hearing aid that could help her hear and understand more clearly.
The part people do not always see
In many ways, the hearing aid has helped.
Kiara says she can hear better now. She also knows hearing clearly helps her understand more at school and in everyday life.
But there is another part of her story — one that cannot be measured by a hearing test.
“The kids sometimes make fun of me,” Kiara said.
Although her hearing aid helps, Kiara is not always wearing it because she feels embarrassed. Chantel says her daughter’s confidence and social life have taken “a knock”.
This is why Kiara’s story matters so much. It shows that early detection is vital, but it is only one part of the picture. For a young person, hearing support is not just about sound. It can also affect confidence, identity and belonging.
This is something Gryffen, a member of our Youth Advisory Group, understands well. Having worn hearing aids since he was two years old, Gryffen remembers worrying that people would judge him because they could see his hearing aids. Over time, he came to see them differently: “Other people’s opinions didn’t matter as much as being able to hear, learn and be involved.” For Gryffen, hearing aids became part of how he advocated for himself, helped him participate more fully in class, and gave him the confidence to be himself.
Hearing loss, identity and belonging
New Zealand research helps explain why this stage can be so difficult.
A 2023 University of Canterbury Master of Audiology thesis explored the social and educational experiences of adolescents who wear hearing aids. The research found that young people are not only managing the practical side of hearing technology; they are also navigating school, friendships, identity, normality and sociability at the same time.
That matters because adolescence is already a time when young people are working out who they are and where they fit. Adding a visible device, such as a hearing aid, can bring extra questions, attention or unwanted comments from peers.
The same thesis suggests that attitudes towards hearing aids may be changing, with some young people feeling more accepting of them than previous generations. But Kiara’s experience reminds us that stigma has not disappeared. For some students, embarrassment and teasing can still become a barrier to using the very support that helps them learn.
Why school support matters
Kiara’s story points to something bigger than one student’s hearing aid.
It asks us to think about the environment young people return to after diagnosis. Are hearing aids treated as normal learning support? Do classmates understand what they are? Do teachers feel confident supporting students who are Deaf or hard of hearing? Are students given the chance to ask questions in a respectful way before teasing or misunderstanding takes hold?
Research also highlights the positive role teachers and schools can play. When hearing aids and hearing technology are normalised, and when young people receive encouragement and practical support, this can improve both schooling and social experiences.
That is the future Chantel hopes for.
“I hope that one day wearing a hearing aid will be seen as completely normal and accepted,” she said.
Why early detection still matters
Even with the confidence challenges Kiara is facing, Chantel is clear about the importance of the Year 9 Hearing Screening Programme.
“Early detection matters because it can prevent speech difficulties from developing, improve understanding, and support better learning outcomes,” she said.
For many families, hearing loss is not obvious. A child may seem to be hearing well. They may adapt without realising it. They may miss sounds, instructions or conversations in ways that are easy to mistake for something else.
That is why school-based hearing screening matters. It can identify hearing issues that have gone unnoticed and help families take the next step.
For Kiara, the journey is still unfolding. The screening did not solve everything overnight. But it did uncover something important. It gave her whānau answers. It opened the door to support. And it showed where more change is still needed.
Because helping young people hear clearly is only part of the work.
The bigger goal is making sure they feel confident, accepted and supported enough to use the help available to them.
Thank you to our supporters
To everyone who makes the Year 9 school screening programme possible: thank you.
Your support helps identify hearing loss early, remove barriers for families, and give young people like Kiara access to the support they need.
Together, we can help create a future where no young person feels embarrassed to use the support that helps them thrive.
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