{"id":879,"date":"2022-10-24T15:15:11","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T14:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/?page_id=879"},"modified":"2023-06-29T15:30:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:30:18","slug":"loss-of-hearing-and-deafness","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/illness-and-disability\/loss-of-hearing-and-deafness\/","title":{"rendered":"Loss of Hearing and Deafness"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"879\" class=\"elementor elementor-879\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d8cc46b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d8cc46b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a633ebc\" data-id=\"a633ebc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50016a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"50016a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e60eba1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e60eba1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-42873fb\" data-id=\"42873fb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55a1be8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55a1be8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Loss of Hearing and Deafness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51e5a84 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"51e5a84\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d57c09\" data-id=\"4d57c09\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4e9c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3e4e9c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cba9bda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cba9bda\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6cad5ab1\" data-id=\"6cad5ab1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a5e4123\" data-id=\"2a5e4123\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-481613c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"481613c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Facts about Hearing Loss<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-556b7bb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"556b7bb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>11 million people in the UK (1 in 6) have some degree of hearing loss<\/li><li>4.4 million people with hearing loss are of working age<\/li><li>6.7 million could benefit from hearing aids but only about 2 million people use them<\/li><\/ul><div><div id=\"d_b\" class=\"half-pad-right one third box color1 bordered\"><div class=\"row\"><p id=\"d_b3\">Source: Action on Hearing Loss, Hearing Link<\/p><\/div><div class=\"row\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div id=\"d1\" class=\"half-pad-right two thirds box white bordered\"><div class=\"row\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-13ace2e5\" data-id=\"13ace2e5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b3bdd1f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b3bdd1f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-41ded50\" data-id=\"41ded50\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9272c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c9272c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7a5abca9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7a5abca9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-63696983\" data-id=\"63696983\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-787569b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"787569b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Top tips for living with hearing loss<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c7f0ca9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c7f0ca9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e6e2641\" data-id=\"7e6e2641\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64b23037 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"64b23037\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Talk to your Audiologist<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10f3e3b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10f3e3b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your audiologist will discuss with you whether your hearing loss is mild, moderate, severe or profound. Ask them if there are any devices you can use to help you, such as hearing aids, and what your options are to support you in managing your condition. These may include:<\/p><ul><li>Hearing aids<\/li><li>Cochlear implants<\/li><li>Auditory brainstem implants<\/li><li>Hearing therapy<\/li><li>Lipreading classes<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45a7505 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45a7505\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a id=\"d1_1_h\" href=\"https:\/\/www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk\/hearing-health\/hearing-loss-and-deafness\/hearing-aids-and-other-treatments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Action on Hearing Loss: Hearing Aids and Other Treatments<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5deb59da\" data-id=\"5deb59da\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a2b7ab8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a2b7ab8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Let People Know How to Communicate with You<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53049419 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53049419\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before starting a conversation, let people know that you lipread. It can be confronting to be that open straight away, but there is nothing to be embarrased about, you have the right to take part in the conversation. It can be difficult to follow the conversation if you are stressed or anxious, being calmer means we can take more in<\/p><p>Stand close enough to the person you are speaking to so you can see their face and lips. Facial expressions and gestures can help you to follow what is being said.<\/p><p>Ask people to get your attention before they start talking, and let them know how you prefer them to do it. This might mean asking them to approach you in your eyeline, or tap you on the shoulder if you are OK with that.<\/p><p>If your hearing is better in one ear than the other, position yourself so that the speaker is closest to your good ear. Ask people to swap places with you if you need.<\/p><p>Don&#8217;t be shy to ask for what you need. If you miss what has been said, ask the speaker to repeat it or to phrase it differently. If you are struggling to follow the speaker, ask them to slow down or speak more clearly.<\/p><p>Everyone mishears things, so don&#8217;t be too self conscious.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-951f5e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"951f5e9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-27e6d775\" data-id=\"27e6d775\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d116a44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d116a44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Assemble Your A-Team<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7524ff60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7524ff60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Find the professionals that will support you on a regular basis. This could include your audiologist or hearing therapist, counsellor and emotional\/practical support from an individual, charity or peer support group.<\/p><p>These people will become Team You. It is important to build a support network to help you navigate the transition and ensure you that you don&#8217;t have to go through hearing loss\/deafness alone.<\/p><p>Hearing loss can involve making a lot of changes to your life, which can be overwhelming and stressful. See our pages on Stress, Mental Health and Wellbeing for tips on how to relax, and strageties for improving your mental and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3342cbf\" data-id=\"3342cbf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb76ba9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb76ba9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Get Appy<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77bb655 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77bb655\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are loads of apps on the market that can help people with hearing loss. Ask your audiologist or peer support group if they can reccomend any. For starters:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Instant Messaging<\/strong> SMS text messaging, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are great ways to communicate quickly and most people will be used to using them all the time (Apple and Google Play)<\/li><li><strong>Video Communication<\/strong> such as Skype, FaceTime (Apple) can be utilised so you can lipread. Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp also have these capabilities.<br \/>BioAid Hearing scientists have developed an experimental hearing aid app which takes in sound through the microphone on your smart phone, makes the sound better and plays it in real time through your headphones<\/li><li><strong>Voice Recognition<\/strong> These apps can recognise the words you or someone else is saying and transcribes them into text. Try Dragon Dictation (Apple)<\/li><li><strong>TapTap<\/strong> This app will tell you when a loud noise has been made near by (Apple)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9f2d64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9f2d64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a id=\"d1_1_h\" href=\"https:\/\/www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk\/hearing-health\/hearing-loss-and-deafness\/hearing-aids-and-other-treatments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Action on Hearing Loss: Hearing Aids and Other Treatments<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6473c62 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6473c62\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-49ac17a\" data-id=\"49ac17a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40f8a6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"40f8a6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-589d97f7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"589d97f7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26bbe376\" data-id=\"26bbe376\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12f07285 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12f07285\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hearing Loss and Work<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7734c0da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7734c0da\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-extended\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e551d96\" data-id=\"2e551d96\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-535de65b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"535de65b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"><p>If you are finding your hearing loss makes it more difficult to work, there may be reasonable adujstments that can be made. Work with your employer to see if there are any adjustments you or they can make that will make your working life easier or more comfortable. You can also ask your employer to refer you to Occupational Health for a worplace assessment, where we will produce a report of reccomendations taking your workplace and job role into account.<\/p><p>Reasonable adjustments could include:<\/p><ul><li>Ensuring you can lipread in meetings by adjusting the layout of the room so you can see everyone clearly and using good lighting<\/li><li>Making adjustments to the jobrole to take your hearing into account, eg ensuring you can communicate by email rather than phone<\/li><li>Ensuring your office has good accoustics where sound travels well<\/li><li>Providing communication support such as speech-to-text reporters<\/li><li>Specialised equipment, which may include amplified telephones or flashing-light fire alarms<\/li><li>Providing a portable hearing loop for training days away from the office<\/li><\/ul><p>It is important that your colleagues know how they can support you, ask for deaf awareness training if you feel that your workplace may benefit from one.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-29765194\" data-id=\"29765194\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55eb29c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55eb29c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What to know if your colleague is d\/Deaf<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cb1d641 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cb1d641\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"mh_c_l\"><li>Ask your colleague if they need to lipread<\/li><li>Make sure they can see your face &#8211; have face to face contact and don&#8217;t cover your mouth<\/li><li>Attract your colleague&#8217;s attention before speaking, maybe by waving or tapping them on the arm. Check with them as to how they would prefer you to do this.<\/li><li>Speak clearly and at regular speed. Speaking too slowly or over exaggerating words can make lip reading more difficult. Speaking loudly comes across as aggressive and can be uncomfortable for hearing aid users<\/li><li>Use your normal facial expressions and gestures, don&#8217;t try to adapt them as this can make conversation harder to follow<\/li><li>When talking in a group, include everyone in the conversation, not just hearing people<\/li><li>If you are using communication support, talk to your colleague not the interpreter<\/li><li>If your colleague hasn&#8217;t understood you, don&#8217;t keep repeating it. Find a way to rephrase what you&#8217;ve said.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-14cabd07 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"14cabd07\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23f8de4\" data-id=\"23f8de4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f5639b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4f5639b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Useful links<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d0ccbb7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d0ccbb7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-49becc35\" data-id=\"49becc35\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4408bd49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4408bd49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i1\" href=\"https:\/\/bda.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">British Deaf Association<\/a><\/div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk\/live-well\/products-and-technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Action on Hearing Loss has lots of information on how to live with hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus, including products and technology that can help.<\/a><\/div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk\/live-well\/everyday-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Action on Hearing Loss also has lots of information about everyday life, such as watching TV, going to the cinema, visiting museums and galleries, visiting cafes, pubs and restaurants, and using health services<\/a><\/div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.royaldeaf.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Association for Deaf People<\/a><\/div><div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scope.org.uk\/support\/families\/diagnosis\/hearing-impairment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scope<\/a><\/div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hearinglink.org\/living\/adjusting-to-hearing-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hearing Link<\/a><\/div><div id=\"\" class=\"row half-gap-bottom\"><a id=\"d_i7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarion-uk.com\/access-work-advice-for-deaf-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clarion<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d2859b1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d2859b1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9218295\" data-id=\"9218295\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d627bab elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-back-to-top\" data-id=\"d627bab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-back-to-top.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-back-to-top-container ekit-btt icon_only\" data-settings=\"{&quot;offset_top&quot;:0,&quot;show_after&quot;:null,&quot;show_scroll&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;style&quot;:&quot;icon_only&quot;,&quot;foreground&quot;:null,&quot;background&quot;:null}\"> \n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit-btt__button \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-up\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Loss of Hearing and Deafness Facts about Hearing Loss 11 million people in the UK (1 in 6) have some degree of hearing loss 4.4 million people with hearing loss are of working age 6.7 million could benefit from hearing aids but only about 2 million people use them Source: Action on Hearing Loss, Hearing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":776,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"iawp_total_views":13,"footnotes":""},"folder":[19],"class_list":["post-879","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=879"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1792,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/879\/revisions\/1792"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hwb.heales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}