A deaf brother and sister performed at the House of Commons at an event organised by the charity that taught them to speak.

Alice Campbell,11, and her six-year-old brother Oliver, from Surbiton, were part of the Power of Speech event run by Auditory Verbal UK.

The event is hoped to challenge perceptions of what deaf children can achieve, and show the communication skills of young people who have been helped by its early intervention programme.

The pair gave readings from their recent exams to an audience of more than 100 MPs and professionals from the deaf sector - they were among ten children from across the country who performed.

Alice said: “It made me feel excited and proud to be a part of the Power of Speech. I was a little bit nervous but most of all happy to be there and help more people understand why auditory verbal therapy is so important.

"I think Auditory Verbal UK are really special and lovely people because they have helped so many children.”

Alice was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at 18 months after her parents noticed that she was not making the same developmental milestones as her older brother.

She had surgery for a cochlear implant after doctors discovered she had been born with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Having started the programme at Auditory Verbal UK when she was two, she now speaks as well as other children her age and goes to a mainstream school, where she enjoys reading, drama and sport.

When Oliver was born he failed the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and was also diagnosed with ANSD.

His parents Claire and Chris signed him up for the programme at Auditory Verbal UK and he received cochlear implants when he turned one.

He also mainstream school and has age equivalent language.