Hearing loss and deafness

• Find out about help available with ‘House, garden and pet care’ (page 41).

• Read this Guide’s information on ‘Buying care at home’ (page 45).

• See how specialist ‘Equipment around the house’ (page 30) or ‘Care technology’ (page 30) and ‘Mobility equipment’ (page 36) can help you.

• Find out about occupational therapy (page 33) and ‘Adaptations to your home’ (page 37).

• Find out about help you can get with ‘Getting out and about’ (page 21).

• Read the section on ‘Money matters’ (page 108) to find out about benefits and paying for care.

Useful contacts

Disability Rights UK

A campaigning organisation providing information, services and products for disabled people. It also runs the RADAR National Key Scheme for disabled toilets, see page 14. Tel: 0203 687 0790 (Shop). Web:

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help

GOV.UK

Disability information about employment, health, education and benefits and more. Web: www.gov.uk (search ‘disability’).

NHS website, The

Information about living with disability. Web: www.nhs.uk (search ‘disability’).

SPECTRUM Centre for Independent Living

Run and controlled by disabled people in Hampshire, it provides services and support to make use of current provisions to enable you to live independently. Tel: 023 8033 0982 Minicom: 023 8020 2649 Web: www.spectrumcil.co.uk

Hearing loss may be caused by several factors. This includes genetics, old age, exposure to noise, some infections, birth complications, trauma to the ear and certain medications or toxins. Deafness is usually used to refer to those with only little or no hearing.

Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent and can affect all age groups.

You can find out more about causes of hearing loss on the NHS website. Visit www.nhs.uk (search ‘hearing loss’).

Hearing loss may be gradual, for example in agerelated hearing loss. You may start to notice that you need to turn up the volume on the television. You may find it difficult to hear and understand people when you’re in a noisy place. Hearing loss can also be sudden, for example if it’s caused by a viral infection of the inner ear. Some people find that their hearing loss is associated with a continual ringing in their ears (tinnitus). If you have an infection, you may have some other symptoms, such as earache and discharge from your ears.

If you think that your hearing is getting worse, you should see your GP.

If you have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, seek immediate advice. You may need urgent treatment.

Hearing tests at home

If you are housebound, or have difficulty getting to the audiology department, discuss this with your GP. They can write to the NHS audiology department and request for an audiologist to come to your home if needed.

If you get your hearing aid privately you can find a hearing aid dispenser who will do a home visit. You can search the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists website (www.bshaa.com/find-anaudiologist ). Some offer free home testing, so ask

RNID offers an automated telephone hearing check. Visit www.rnid.org.uk (search ‘hearing test’). This is designed to help identify if you have hearing loss and encourage you to act. Call 0844 800 3838.

Equipment to help you

There is a wide range of aids and equipment that can make everyday activities and tasks easier.

The RNID has information about assistive devices and technology to help you. Call 0808 808 0123 or visit www.rnid.org.uk (search ‘technology and assistive devices’).

The Living Made Easy website has practical advice on equipment and adaptations if you have hearing loss. Call 0300 999 0004 or visit https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk and select ‘Communicating’ from the menu at the top.

Information and support

Visit Connect to Support Hampshire’s Community Directory for details of local and national support. Visit www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/ directories and select ‘Choose your category’ then ‘Specific needs’ and ‘Sight or hearing loss’.

Useful contacts

Deafblind UK

Offers information and support for people who are deafblind and their families. Tel: 0800 132 320 Web: www.deafblind.org.uk/get-support

DeafPlus

Offers an online information and advice hub (information in BSL and text). Tel: 020 7790 8478 Email: adviceline@deafplus.org Web: www.deafplus.info

Hampshire County Council

Provides teams to help with sensory loss, can carry out assessments and provide training to help you find practical solutions to problems arising from hearing loss. Tel: 0300 555 1386 Textphone: 0300 555 1390 Web: www.hants.gov.uk (search ‘sight or hearing loss’).

Hearing Link

Provides information, advice and community support for people with hearing loss, their families and friends. Tel: 01844 348111 Web: www.hearinglink.org

Portsmouth City Council

Provides teams to help with sensory loss, can carry out assessments and provide training to help you find practical solutions to problems arising from hearing loss. Tel: 023 9268 0810 Text: 07931 806986 Web: www.portsmouth.gov.uk (search ‘hearing or sight loss’).

RAD (Royal Association for Deaf People)

Provides a wide range of services for deaf people. All services are delivered in British Sign Language (BSL). Tel: 0300 688 2525 Email: info@royaldeaf.org.uk Web: www.royaldeaf.org.uk

RNID

Provides support, advice and training for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. Tel: 0808 808 0123 Web: www.rnid.org.uk

RNID Regional Information Co-ordinator

Provides support to people with hearing loss and to BSL users across South Hampshire. Text: 07769 976266 Email: Kim.Harbut@rnid.org.uk

Sense

Offers information and support for people who are deafblind and their families. Tel: 0300 330 9256 Email: info@sense.org.uk Web: www.sense.org.uk