Action on Hearing Loss

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Action on Hearing Loss"

Raymond Gregory
5 years ago
Views:

1 Action on Hearing Loss Daniel Webster Regional Information Officer, London and South East Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

2 Who are we? We are Action on Hearing Loss. We help people confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. We enable them to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way. Formerly the RNID, and still a Royal national charity.

3 Statistics and demographics Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

4 Statistics and Demographics 4

5 What causes hearing loss and deafness? Age-related damage to the cochlea, known as presbycusis, is the single biggest cause of hearing loss. It is the result of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Other causes and triggers include: regular and prolonged exposure to loud sounds ototoxic drugs that harm the cochlea and/or hearing nerve some infectious diseases including rubella complications at birth injury to the head benign tumours on the hearing nerve. 5

6 Hearing loss in the UK There are 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK, 1 in 6 of the population There are approximately 4 million people in the UK living with unaddressed hearing loss Approximately 120,000 people use British sign language Around 500,000 people can t hear well enough to use a phone On average, it takes people 10 years to address their hearing loss It is a hidden disability 6

7 How the ear works 7

8 What does communication mean for those with hearing loss? Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

9 Lip reading challenge Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

10 You have 60 seconds to read this I am a -earing aid wearer wi-- mild to moderate, -igh -re-uen-y -earing lo-. A- a middle -chool tea--er in charge of the -E de-artment but tea--ing - al- my timetable in -la--room -ubje-t- I -tru--led -on-tantly. -earing what -- ildren were -aying in the gym or on --e -ield wa- a -er-etual -roblem and I wa- re-eatedly com-laining about --ildren mumbling and --ea-ing indi-tintly in the -la--room. -ta-- meeting- were a nightmare. My brain -ad to wor- overtime to try to - ee- tra-- of di--u----ns --at I wa- too o-ten relu-tant to join in a- I -ould not be -ure what -ad been -aid. Al--ough I did not reali-e it at --e time it -abecome a--arent --at --e --eer e--ort of ma-ing -en-e of -onver-a---n -- roughout --e day wa- what -au-ed me to -lum- into a -oma-li-e -lee- every evening. On o--a-ion- when I -tarted wat--ing a televi---n -ro-ramme I o- ten had to a-- family member- what had been -aid only to be told --at I -- ould -ay -ull atten--on. I rarely -aw --e end- of -ro-ramme-. 10

11 Now answer four questions 1. How far did you get? 2. If you gave up part way through, could you explain why? 3. Were you able to read at your normal pace? 4. How would you feel if all your reading matter were like this? making-sense-of-speech.html 11

12 Here is what was said I am a hearing aid wearer with mild to moderate, high frequency hearing loss. As a middle school teacher in charge of the PE department but teaching half my timetable in classroom subjects I struggled constantly. Hearing what children were saying in the gym or on the field was a perpetual problem and I was repeatedly complaining about children mumbling and speaking indistinctly in the classroom. Staff meetings were a nightmare. My brain had to work overtime to try to keep track of discussions that I was too often reluctant to join in as I could not be sure what had been said. Although I did not realise it at the time it has become apparent that the sheer effort of making sense of conversation throughout the day was what caused me to slump into a coma-like sleep every evening. On occasions when I started watching a television programme I often had to ask family members what had been said only to be told that I should pay full attention. I rarely saw the end of programmes. 12

13 Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund Tinnitus

14 What is Tinnitus? Medical term for any noise that people have in one ear, both ears or in their head that has no external source There is no cure for tinnitus, but there is lots people can do to manage it Tinnitus sounds can take a variety of forms such as buzzing, ringing, whistling or a range of other sounds 1 in 10 people in the UK have tinnitus and it affects people of all ages 14

15 How can Tinnitus be managed? Relaxation techniques Diet and Exercise Tinnitus clinics or support groups Counselling and CBT Equipment Hearing Aids Telephone Textphone SMS

16 Always be alert and look out for the signs: ACTION Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

- and patience I: Initiative do something about hearing

17 Take ACTION: 6 simple skills A: Alertness - for signs of hearing loss C: Communication in your surroundings T: Time - and patience I: Initiative do something about hearing loss O:Openness don t ignore or joke N: Never shout speak clearly 17

18 18

19 British Sign Language (BSL) Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

20 How many people use sign language as their main language? Many people who are born deaf or are deafened early in life use sign language to communicate. In the 2011 census, there are 24,326 people aged 3 and over who use BSL as their everyday language. British Deaf Association (BDA) estimate there to be between 80, ,000 BSL users. 20

21 21

22 22

23 23

24 Resources: Apps/sites you could access on your smartphones for BSL: Information: Deaf Awareness week occurs in May each year. BSL is a recognised language since 2003, but not legally enforced 5 schools in the UK are currently piloting BSL for GCSE (2018) 24

25 Take our telephone hearing check or ask me afterwards:

26 Any Questions Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

27 Thank you for listening Please complete the training evaluation feedback sheet. You can hand this in, or post it in the box provided. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund

Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund Patron: His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG Action on Hearing Loss is the trading name of The Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

28 Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund Patron: His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG Action on Hearing Loss is the trading name of The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. A registered charity in England and Wales (207720) and Scotland (SC038926). Registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No Registered office: 1-3 Highbury Station Rd, London N1 1SE

Andy Taylor Community Service Manager

Andy Taylor Community Service Manager Local Engagement England - London and South East Funded by the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery fund Who are we? We are Action on Hearing Loss. We help people