A deaf teenager from Hayes is one step closer to seeing her assistance dog win the Child’s Hero award at Crufts in Birmingham next week.

A viral infection rendered 14-year-old Sarah Khanzadeh, of Hesa Road, profoundly deaf from the age of two, a condition which hindered her development until seven-year-old Waffle came into her life five years ago.

After her mother, Sapedeh Mohammadi, contacted Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Sarah was matched with Waffle, a cockapoo, a week before Christmas in 2012.

“We’re one of the lucky ones,” says Sapedeh. “It’s had a huge impact.

“Sarah was coming up to the age of nine and yet she would not sleep in her own bedroom – we tried everything.

“She was scared of the dark and night, and wouldn’t want to sleep by herself.

“It affected her schooling, it affected her friendships. In the days she was tired and frustrated because she wasn’t getting the sleep at night that she wanted.”

Now, Waffle not only sleeps with Sarah in her bedroom every night, but wakes her up every morning.

The cockapoo is not just Sarah’s personal alarm clock – Waffle has impacted every facet of her life.

“Before if you approached her out and about and asked her something, she would not even make eye contact, never have a conversation,” recalls Sapedeh.

“Waffle has given her visibility. It’s a big transition for a young child to go through, the teenage years and I’m happy that she has Waffle there.

“She’s much more confident now; when someone approaches us Sarah is happy to explain what Waffle does to them. She’s now confident enough in herself to make conversation.

“It’s not just Sarah’s life she’s changed, but the whole family.

“I take her out for a walk, so we’re more active from looking after her, too.”

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People matched Sarah and Waffle over a year-long process. The charity, which was launched at Crufts in 1982, has more than 900 working partnerships in the UK.

Their main breeds are Labradors, spaniels, poodles and crosses like the cockapoo – a cross of a cocker spaniel and a poodle.

“The matching process requires an awful lot of work between the recipient and the dog, so it makes a difference,” says Steve Hayes, who works with the charity.

“You wouldn’t want a little old lady matched with a dog who needs lots of walking and pulls them over, so we find out in terms of the recipient what kind of dog they need.

“The dogs that go with the children are our best, super-super dogs because they’ve got a slightly harder role, working with a younger person and their family.

“So, we make sure they’re our absolute best dogs that go out with the children.”

The Crufts nomination came as a huge surprise; Sapedeh received an email telling her Waffle and Sarah had been put forward in the Friends for Life category, but had no idea who it came from.

Friends for Life is a celebration of just how much dogs change and improve people’s lives. Five of the finalists will go to the 127th edition of Crufts – where every dog has its day – held once again at the NEC in Birmingham, where the winner will be announced on Sunday, March 11.

People can vote for the dog they want to win by visiting the Crufts website, with the victor receiving £5,000 from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust to donate to a dog charity of their choice and runners-up £1,000.

“I was like, ‘Who did that!’” laughs Sapedeh. “It turns out it was a friend that we had from hearing class.

“Because they have seen how Waffle affected Sarah’s life, they nominated us. We were shocked!”

For Sarah, a student at Vyners School in Ickenham, whether Waffle wins the Child’s Hero award next week is immaterial – she is simply grateful for having the opportunity to share her experience.

“It’s all about sharing how much Waffle does for me,” she says brightly, a far cry from the shy little girl her mum remembers.

“If I win or lose, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is what these dogs can do for people.

“It’s been really amazing!”

People can vote for the dog they want to win by visiting the Crufts website, with the victor receiving £5,000 from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust to donate to a dog charity of their choice and runners-up £1,000.