21/06/2010

In Gloucestershire there are more than 36,000 hearing aid users, and many of them find communicating with family and friends difficult or frustrating.

During Deaf Awareness Week (28th June – 4th July), Hearing services at the Trust are organising information stands to raise awareness about the many different methods of communication used by deaf and hard of hearing people, including sign language and lipreading. Information stands will be set up in the main entrances at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on 28th and 29th June and Cheltenham Hospital on 30th June and 1st July (morning only).

This is the perfect opportunity to find out more about what is going on in the county to improve the lives of the hard of hearing, deaf and deafblind. As well as the information and leaflets on display, visitors will be able to see a range of equipment that can help hearing aid wearers with everyday activities such as watching the TV and using the phone.

Nell Lovegrove, a Hearing Therapist from the Trust said “One person in seven in the UK has a hearing loss, but in Deaf Awareness Week we are hoping to reach everyone: hospital staff, patients and their relatives and friends, whatever their level of hearing. We want to challenge common assumptions about deafness and get people thinking about good, clear communication. Two thirds of us will be hard of hearing by the time we’re 60…”

During the week, there’s also an emphasis on training and awareness for Trust Staff, with seminars and training sessions taking place on both sites. These sessions are designed to help staff gain a better understanding of the impact of hearing loss as well as helping with communication and offering assistance to the hearing impaired.