Ellie Brooks was born profoundly deaf and was sometimes an isolated, defiant and unhappy child.

But wiht the help of her family and Colchester Institute, she turned her life around and was given the award for outstanding achievement in the Colchester Youth Awards.

Here is her story.

Gazette:

ELLIE and her mum, Tara, look at each other. Sitting side by side, they decide Tara will do the interview, but Ellie will contribute.

They smile at the mutual decision – trusting, united, close.

Their bond is not only that of a mother and daughter. Tara is Ellie’s communicator, her voice in a sometimes harsh world.

Tara knew Ellie was deaf as soon as she was born.

She suspected she had Waardenburg syndrome,agroup of genetic conditions which can cause hearing loss and changes in pigmentation of the hair, skin, and eyes.

She explained: “I am profoundly deaf on one side.

“My eldest son, Josh, had a speech delay and the doctors looked into why he was not talking.

“They checked him for Waardenburg syndrome.Ihad never heard of it before and I did not know until then, my deafness was hereditary.

“I found out there wasa50 per cent chance of passing on the gene and a 20 per cent chance of having a deaf child.

“It turned out while Josh was not deaf, he was a carrier.

“When Ellie was born, she had the tell tale signs – the blue eyes, a white forlock of hair and white patches on her skin.

“I knew Ellie was deaf. She did not startle at anything.Ajumbo jet could have taken off next to her pram and she would have slept through it.”

At six weeks old, Ellie underwent a brain stem hearing test which bypasses the ears and it was found she had no hearing at all.

“I was devastated,” said Tara.

“To find out my princess, my child, was profoundly deaf was horrendous.Icried for about four weeks.

“There were people who said to me it could be worse, butIfelt as though the bottom had fallen out of my planet. They were dark days.”

Ellie, who is now 18, was fitted with hearing aids at ten-weeks-old and began speech therapy.

Tara learnt sign language, but she was determined Ellie would live life to the full.

“I wanted her to be proud of the fact she was deaf.

“A lot of people hide their hearing aids, but I did not want her to be ashamed.

“She has always worn her hair up or in bunches to show her hearing aids.

“She is different, but that is not a bad thing sometimes.”

Tara said she actively resisted the temptation to over-protect her daughter.

“I have never stopped her doing anything,” she said. “I always pushed her forward.”

Tara, 43, a mum-of-five, looks for confirmation from Ellie, who gladly gives it. She can talk, but their communication is also unsaid. Their smiles mirror each others.

Tara is the only one in the family who uses sign language.

“She looks to me for communication.

I give her a voice,” she said.

When Ellie was three, she underwent an operation to have cochlear implants fitted, an electronic medical device which replaces the function of the damaged inner ear.

It wasahuge decision for Tara.

“It wasamajor operation. Ellie was six hours in theatre and there wasarisk of facial nerve damage.

She had a terrible scar after it.

“You are putting your child through that, but it gave her hearing and a life.

“She hears everything now although it sounds tinny, like Mickey Mouse.”

The work to give Ellie a normal life went on. Tara spent hour upon hour encouraging Ellie’s speech through reading, jigsaws and games. But there were other problems.

Ellie’s bad behaviour was worrying Tara and her father, Gary.

Tara thought she may have ADHD like her eldest brother, Josh, but at ten, she was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

Ellie went to Lexden and St Anne’s primary schools and was due to go to Philip Morant School in Colchester which has a special unit for deaf children.

Ellie, who lives in St Andrew’s Avenue, Colchester, hankered to walk to school like other children.

She asked to go to Sir Charles Lucas School, now the Colchester Academy.

Tara said:”We looked round and it seemed so friendly. Ellie was to have her own one-to-one support.”

However, within a matter of weeks, her life began to unravel.

“She doesn’t see authority,” said Tara. “If she didn’t like someone she would not work for them.

“She was bullied and became disruptive. She became defiant, impulsive “She wanted to be at home and when she was excluded and sent home, it was just playing into her hands.”

After four years, Ellie was on the brink of being permanently excluded and prevented from taking her GCSEs.

She was offered a course at Colchester Institute – three days a week learning English, maths and ICT and two daysaweek on work placement.

Tara said: “It wasamajor turning point for Ellie. She did not fit in at school. She has been given a work placement at Boots, they have given her a chance.

“They have fallen in love with Ellie and are so kind to her.

“Ellie goes every Friday and so looks forward to it.

“She is organised and tidy loves stacking shelves.”

Ellie is a different girl now and Tara is eternally grateful to the college and to Boots for helping her turn her life around.

“She is absolutely brilliant now.

I love being with her,” said Tara.

“She helps to look after her little brother, Freddie, who is five, and sister Millie-Mai, three. She is the best big sister."

Winning the Colchester Youth Award was recognition of Ellie’s triumph over the challenges she faced.

Tara said: “I jumped for joy when she won. I cried, I squeezed her,Iwas bursting with pride.

“It has been hard work and for that and for her achievement to be recognised was just wonderful.

“Life is good now.”

Ellie, quiet, listening, smiles.

She certainly agrees.