And they're asking you to do the same.

"Over one million Australian children are born deaf or hearing impaired each year," said John Bowie, CEO of the Shepherd Centre, the charity behind Loud Shirt Day.

"The efforts of Beechwood Public School will assist The Shepherd Centre to continue providing learning and educational services to deaf and hearing impaired children in the region and throughout NSW."

Groups and individuals can get involved in Loud Shirt Day by registering on 02 9351 7888 or online at www.loudshirtday.com.au; a participation kit with information on how to hold a fun Loud Shirt Day Fundraiser can be downloaded from the site or mailed out to interested individuals.

Proceeds from Loud Shirt Day will help fund The Shepherd Centre's five centres in NSW and ACT.

DID YOU KNOW?

- Ninety five percent of deaf babies are born to hearing parents.

- Approximately 1.5-2 in 1000 children are born with a hearing impairment.

- Five in 100 school aged children have hearing impairments, usually caused by illness, accident or genetics.

- It costs the Australian community around $400,000 to care for a hearing impaired person, if they are not integrated into mainstream schooling.

- The average age of diagnosis of a deaf child has decreased from eighteen months to one month.