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Hearing impairments
There are approximately nine million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. More than half of people over the age of 60 years old have a hearing loss, which is usually related to the ageing process.
If you have a hearing impairment it can be very difficult to communicate and you can start to feel quite isolated.
Reasons for hearing loss can include wax blocking the ear canal, age related changes, or brain damage. Over time the ear gradually deteriorates and this affects the majority of older people and affects everyone to varying degrees.
Signs of hearing loss
There are several signs that might indicate that you are losing your hearing, some of which are as follows:
- You misunderstand people or need to ask them to repeat things.
- You think people are mumbling.
- You don’t hear the doorbell or the telephone ringing.
- You need to turn the volume up on the television or radio.
- You find it difficult to hear at social gatherings or when there is some background noise, even though other people manage to have conversations.
- You miss your name being called, for example at your GP's surgery.
Action on Hearing Loss have a telephone hearing test that anyone can take to establish whether they are losing their hearing. Call telephone number 0844 800 3838 (local rate) to take the test. This will give you an indication of whether you have a hearing loss. If you have, you will be advised to visit your GP. There is also a test you can do online.
What to do if you think you have a hearing loss
If you think that you have a hearing loss, the first thing to do is to visit your GP and explain your concerns about your hearing. It is helpful to give examples of situations when you have difficulty.
If your GP can find no obvious cause for your hearing loss, they will refer you to the audiology clinic or ear, nose and throat department of your local hospital to have hearing tests.
After the hearing tests, the audiologist will explain your test results and will discuss whether hearing aids are likely to help you, or whether you could have some other form of treatment.
Coping with hearing loss
When you are experiencing problems with your hearing you are faced with other problems too. Social isolation can be a major problem and you may find that you withdraw from activities that you were involved in as they become too difficult.
There are a number of practical aids to help you with daily living including:
- Equipment to make the sound from your television or radio louder.
- Talking amplified telephones (read RNID's factsheet Telephones and voice communications for more information on this).
- Hearing loops
- Alerting devices, for example a flashing light to alert you when someone rings your doorbell.
- Home safety aids
- Text phones
Some specific hearing problems
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is often described as ringing, whistling, humming or buzzing in the ears or head. It is experienced by over seven million people in the UK and can cause severe distress and suffering.
Simple techniques and equipment, ranging from relaxation tips to sound therapies, can provide distraction from the noises of tinnitus and can be used to manage the condition.
For more information, call the free Action on Hearing Loss Helpline on telephone number 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000, or visit the Action on Hearing Loss tinnitus page.
Acoustic shock
Acoustic shock happens when unannounced sounds travel though a telephone line to your handset or headset. These sounds are materially different to normal speech and often resemble a bang or a clang. The resulting symptons can include pain, tinnitus, hypersensitivity to noise, imbalance or anxiety/depression. These symptons start shortly after the incident and may fade within a few hours. However, they can last for a considerable amount of time, leading to significant disability.
If you have had an acoustic shock injury at work, for example in a call centre, you can find out more information and details of the support available on the Acoustic safety programme website.
British Sign Language (BSL)
Sign language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions and body language. Sign language is used mainly by deaf people and people with hearing difficulties.
Within Britain the most common form of sign language is British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has its own grammatical structure and syntax. It is currently the preferred language of approximately 50,000 to 70,000 people within the UK.
The following information and organisations may help you to find a local BSL interpreter, or a course where you can learn BSL.
- There is a regional website which gives contact details for freelance interpreters in the north east who are trained bilinguals and can interpret quickly and effectively between spoken English and BSL. They work in a variety of situations (for example medical, legal, workplace and conferences). They may also have trained in a specialist area.
- Signature is a registered charity that is raising standards of communication between deaf and hearing people. It is the UK recognised awarding body for qualifications in British Sign Language (BSL) and other methods of communication used by deaf people. To find a registered BSL interpreter or a BSL course near you, contact Signature using the details given below, or visit their website.
- Becoming Visible Communication offers a deaf-led interpreter booking service and training agency. As an agency it can book BSL/English interpreters, lip speakers and note-takers. It runs courses in deaf awareness and BSL including: Introduction to BSL, Foundation Level BSL, Intermediate Level BSL and Advanced Level BSL. If you are interested in any of these courses, contact Becoming Visible Communication using the details given below.
Lip reading
Depending on your hearing loss, a hearing aid may or may not be appropriate. Lip reading and the extent to which it is useful depends on how clearly someone speaks. When a hearing aid and lip reading are used together, it can have a positive impact on your ability to communicate with people. Lip reading classes can also offer people you opportunity to meet other people in the same situation. Find out about local classes through your library, Action on Hearing Loss or Hearing Link using the contact details given below.
Local advice and information
Hearing LINK campaigns to raise public awareness of the needs and rights of hard of hearing and deaf people; provides information to individuals, professionals and other organisations; and offers advice and support to people experiencing problems relating to hearing loss. Contact them using the details given below.
Newcastle City Council has a Communication Support Service for deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people. To find out more, contact them using the details given below.
Newcastle Deaflink campaigns for equal rights; campaigns for equal access to services and information; provides individual or group advocacy support; facilitates consultation events; provides training/advice; and holds information forums for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing people. To find out more, contact them using the details given below.
The North Regional Association For Sensory Support (NRASS) provides a free advocacy scheme for people with hearing and sight loss. Their advocates are people who can support or represent you when dealing with everyday problems or in times of crisis. They can offer you support with information on how you can stand up for your rights, and they can be your 'voice' if you don't have the confidence to stand up for yourself in formal situations. For more information, contact their Gateshead office using the details given below.
The Sensory Support Team is a specialist team who are part of Adult and Culture Services, Newcastle City Council. They are based at the Shielfield Centre on Stoddard Street. They work with any adult over the age of 18 who has a sensory impairment. This could be someone who is blind, partially sighted, deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.
The team usually visit people at home to assess their difficulties. This is what they call a needs-based assessment. Staff always aim to work with a person and to agree with them a plan of action.
Following the assessment, they may provide equipment such as personal loops to help hear the TV, portable doorbells, liquid level indicators, or talking clocks. They may offer training from a Rehabilitation Worker to enable a visually-impaired person to cook or get out and about safely. They may carry out minor adaptations to property, to improve lighting, for example. They may arrange an ongoing care service in the home, day care or a short break to relieve a carer.
To give people more choice and control, staff offer a direct payment as an alternative, so that they can make their own arrangements if they wish. Any training, equipment or advice is always provided free to Newcastle residents; but for services such as home care or an ongoing Direct Payment, there is a financial assessment.
To find out more, contact them using the details given below, or visit their website.
Other useful organisations and information
Action on Hearing Lossthe new name for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID).
Please note - The content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you are feeling unwell, make an appointment to see your GP or contact NHS Direct. In an emergency, dial 999.
Contact Information
Action on Hearing Loss
Aeroworks, 5 Adair Street, Manchester, M1 2NQ.
Telephone : 0161 276 2301, Telephone Helpline : 0808 808 0123, Fax : 0161 274 3606, Minicom : 0808 808 9000.
Email : information.north@hearingloss.org.uk
Becoming Visible Communication
Newcastle Deaf Centre, 2 Summerhill Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6EE.
Telephone : 0191 233 0999, Fax : 0191 233 1334, Minicom : 0191 233 1335.
Email : director@becomingvisible.org.uk
CACDP
Durham University Science Park, Block 4, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3UZ.
Telephone : 0191 383 1155, Fax : 0191 383 7914, Minicom : 0191 383 7915.
Email : durham@cacdp.org.uk
Communication Support Service - Newcastle City Council
Telephone : 0191 211 5094, Fax : 0191 211 4888, Minicom : 0191 211 5197.
Email : communication.support.service@newcastle.gov.uk
Hearing LINK
27-28 The Waterfront, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 5UZ.
Telephone : 0300 111 1113, Fax : 01323 471 260.
Email : enquiries@hearinglink.org
Newcastle Deaflink
c/o Newcastle Healthy City, 14 Great North Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PS.
Telephone : 0191 211 3594, Fax : 0191 232 3917, Minicom : 0191 230 5698.
Email : rhona.deaflink@healthycity.org.uk
North Regional Association for Sensory Support (NRASS)
Greenesfield Business Centre, Mulgrave Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 1PQ.
Telephone : 0191 490 9166, Fax : 0191 490 9167, Minicom : 0191 490 9165.
Email : office@northregions.org.uk
Sensory Support Team - Newcastle Adult Services Directorate
Shieldfield Centre, 4-8 Clarence Walk, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AL.
Telephone : 0191 278 8100, Fax : 0191 278 8188, Minicom : 0191 278 8266.
Email : sensory.support@newcastle.gov.uk
Article last updated December 15, 2011 1:38 pm
