The Albury girl, 5, has profound hearing loss, but the implant and plenty of family support have her keeping pace with kids her own age.

Crucial to her development, her mother Jana Kyte said, was the work of the Albury office of Australian Hearing.

But the family is concerned at federal government moves to privatise the service.

Miss Kyte questioned if a privatised Australian Hearing could be compromised by new business-focused priorities.

The government has ordered a two-year scoping study of the privatisation model, but families have been left facing an uncertain future.

Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton told Parliament in July the feasibility study would “make sure we are getting money away from bureaucratic services and back to frontline services including hearing”.

Labor’s Doug Cameron and Nick Champion opposed the move, saying the agency provided world-class services.

Miss Kyte said having a child with hearing loss put an enormous strain on a family, involving sacrifices to help accommodate her needs.

Katya’s family raised its concerns in an email to Farrer MP Sussan Ley, whose reply referred to the scoping study.

“It said even if (Australian Hearing) gets privatised its work is going to still be based on research,” Miss Kyte said.

“The fear is the devices won’t be subsidised, but there’s the quality of the service as well.”

Australia was the leader in oral rehabilitation and hearing, “so that’s something I’m afraid is going to be lost as well”.

Miss Kyte said Katya was doing well, but hearing could change in time.

“She’s completely age appropriate in spoken language and comprehension,” she said.

“We’re actually considering having an electro-acoustic device put in, which is a combination of a hearing aid and a cochlear implant.

“Also, when she starts school next year we understand there can be some interference between devices of other hearing-impaired children.”

Katya had that issue during her recent orientation at Albury Public School, but it was quickly resolved by Australian Hearing

“If it wasn’t there, one of the children would miss out,” she said.

The implants — replaced every three years — are fully subsidised by Australian Hearing.

Miss Kyte said that was significant for ordinary families, with one coil in an implant costing up to $800 and the implant itself $11,000 to $12,000.