I know it's not exactly the same thing, but I've recently been suffering from one of those head colds that goes for your ears! It's meant that for the last few days I've been able to hear next to nothing. What that has meant is I've noticed just how awkward and difficult life can be when you cannot hear, or that sounds are muffled and indistinct. Imagine, then, how much more difficult life is for deaf four year old "Libby" (Maisie Sly). She lives with her family - a loving but busy bunch who don't really know where to start with the young girl. Then a social worker "Jo" (Rachel Shenton - who also wrote this) arrives on the scene determined to help bring the youngster out of her shell by teaching her sign language to complement her skilled lip-reading. There are early signs of success for "Libby" but heads start to butt with mother "Sue" (Rachel Fielding) beginning to almost seem to resent the relationship that's emerging between her daughter and her new friend. Some of that drama does come across as just a little contrived here, especially when the girl starts going to a school where she is clearly struggling, but the general and sensitive thrust of this drama does touch on issues of loneliness and isolation as well as guilt and lack of comprehension. Apparently 90% of kids born deaf have hearing parents and siblings so it's a tough learning curve for everyone and nobody ever likes asking for help! This suggests that, though difficult, this need never be a fear for anyone.
