A new storyline on hearing loss will feature in the children's TV programme Peppa Pig. The new episodes, which will air in March, have been developed in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society and the leading toy company Hasbro.
Peppa and George, Image courtesy of Hasbro, Inc.
This storyline represents thousands of children across the UK who are identified to have moderate and unilateral hearing loss. The upcoming episodes will see Peppa's younger brother, George, attend an audiology appointment, where his family discovers he has moderate hearing loss in one ear and he is then fitted with a new hearing aid. The first episode, ‘Hearing Test’, will feature a special appearance by deaf rugby star Jodie Ounsley, who provides the voice for the audiologist.
As part of the inclusivity of George’s storyline, Hasbro has made Peppa Pig content more accessible to the deaf community with the Peppa Pig Sign Language for Kids YouTube channel, featuring episodes interpreted in both British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL).
George Crockford, CEO at the National Deaf Children’s Society says, “Introducing this storyline in a series as beloved as Peppa Pig is an important step toward creating a world where anything is possible for deaf children – a world where differences are celebrated and every deaf child feels seen, valued and included.”
