HEARING IMPAIRMENT     

DEAFNESS, hearing impairment or hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear. Hearing loss is categorised by type, severity and age of onset.

Deafness is defined as a person being unable to hear sufficiently to understand speech even in the presence of amplification.

Tinnitus is a ringing sound in the ear which can affect the clarity of what we hear and can be distracting.

All of these can have many causes:- illness; injury; age; genetics; neurological disorders; chemical; medication; trauma; malformation.

FIRST – visit your GP and tell them about the difficulties you are having.  If appropriate your GP may then refer you to Audiology for further testing; treatment or diagnosis.

Audiologists will investigate your levels of hearing and will advise you what to do next.  This may be to provide hearing aids.

Request and Assessment for Provision of Equipment – If you have long term hearing impairment Morley Street Resource Centre may be able to help.  There will be a waiting time. The phone number is 435001.

As an alternative and if you have already had some guidance about the kind of equipment you need e.g. a flashing doorbell; amplified telephone;  DeB may be able to help by demonstrating a range of items which you will be able to purchase.

Stay Positive – why not try learning new ways to support your hearing loss such as:-  lip reading classes; learning British Sign Languge; learning Makaton; social clubs for those with hearing difficulties.

If you have your TV too loud we can demonstrate individual listeners giving you personal volume control.  Learning how to show sub-titles on your TV screen can improve your viewing.

Fire Service – special smoke alarms are available.  Either contact the Fire Service 385450 or ask our sensory needs worker to refer you.  They will visit your home by appointment only, and fit smoke alarms which will wake you up with vibrating pads or flashing lights.  They can also advise on all Fire safety issues within the home such as dangers in the kitchen; fire resistant sheets; etc.

Suppliers of Equipment to Assist with Hearing Impairment

These may be specialists or high street retailers and there are a variety of online suppliers.  DeB also keeps a small range of items in stock.

Action on Hearing

1 Haddonbrook Business Centre

Fallodan Road

Orton Southgate

Peterborough PE2 6YX

Tel: 01733 361199

Textphone: 01733 238020

Fax: 01733 361161

e-mail:

 

Sarabec

15 High Force Road

Middlesborough

TS2 1RH

Tel: 01642 247789

Fax: 01642 230827

Textphone: 01642 244148

e-mail: