May 6th -12th marks Deaf Awareness Week.
This year’s Deaf Awareness Week, spearheaded by the UK Council on Deafness (UKCoD), will explore the theme of “Love and Trust.” This theme highlights the importance of building positive relationships in raising awareness about the communication and information needs of deaf people.
Find out more about the campaign here.
In the UK, there are over 10 million people living with some form of hearing loss. Deaf Awareness Week aims to promote the positive aspects of living with deafness, as well as raising awareness of the isolation that some deaf people can experience. The event also promotes the use of British Sign Language (BSL), which was passed as a government Bill to become a legally recognised language in England, Scotland and Wales.
Because deafness is a hidden disability, it’s common for people to make incorrect assumptions about those who are living with hearing loss. People who are deaf or have hearing loss usually have personal communication needs so it’s recommended that you ask them about the best ways to speak with them. Here are a few tips to consider:
• Make sure that you’re facing the person you are talking to and speak clearly
• Avoid shouting, speaking too fast or too slow
• If they are unable to understand, repeat it or rephrase it using plain language
• If you’re in a noisy environment, move to a quieter space
• Use simple hand gestures to attracts someone’s attention
• Write things down on paper or a device so that they can follow your conversation
While some people are born with hearing loss, others may develop it later in life. This can be due to underlying health issues, exposure to loud noises or simply getting older. Here are some symptoms to look out for:
• Difficulty hearing other people clearly or misunderstanding what they say
• Avoiding noisy places because it’s difficult to hear conversations
• Feeling depressed or isolated due to avoiding some social situations
• Listening to music or watching TV at an unusually high volume
• Having to work hard to hear what people are saying, leaving you feeling tired
If you feel that any of these circumstances apply to you, we would recommend booking a hearing test so that your level of hearing loss can be assessed and a suitable solution can be offered to assistant with your health and well-being.
Find out more about our hearing assessments and treatments at here or call us on 01223 661399.
