Medical Background

Some people are born deaf, or with little hearing, whilst others lose their hearing as they get older. Hearing loss can sometimes be due to an accident, or may be due to employment in noisy surroundings.

Most people experience tinnitus at some point in their lives: this is when you can hear extra noises in the ear - often ringing or buzzing sounds. For some people, this tinnitus is continuous, and interferes with their everyday life.

However your hearing is affected, we may be able to provide some helpful information for you, so read on… (There is a list of useful addresses at the end.)

First port of call / Medical treatment

If you are worried about your hearing speak to your GP. They will be able to direct you towards the assessment and treatment that you need. As there are many different reasons for hearing problems there are many different treatments. The important thing is to follow the advice given, and use all hearing aids and medication as instructed.

Registration

Some local authorities hold registers of disabled people in their area. This means that they can keep you informed about relevant services, help groups etc in your area. Contact your local Social Services Department for details.

Useful organisations

British Deaf Association: Promoting the rights of Deaf people as a linguistic minority group, encouraging the use of British Sign language, providing services and advocacy.

Deaf-Blind UK: information for those with both conditions.

Hearing Concern: A voluntary body, providing advice and support, and campaigning for the rights of deaf people.

Hearing Aid Council: regulates hearing aid dispensers

The Link Centre for Deafened People: Advice and rehabilitation

Meniere's Society: Advice and support for sufferers of Meniere's Disease; also has local branches.

Royal National Institute for the Deaf: provide a wide range of information and services, for those who are hard of hearing, deaf or deaf-blind, and also for employers and families.

SENSE: advice and information for those who are deaf and blind.

Benefits and Allowances

There are many benefits and price reductions for those who have hearing problems. Some benefits require you to be registered; others are only available to people on low incomes, or to people of certain ages. You may be eligible for some of the following:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Care and Mobility Components (if under 66 years old)
• Attendance Allowance (if over 65)
• Invalid Care Allowance (for carers)
• Incapacity Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Disability Working Allowance
• Additional Income Support

Contact your local benefits agency or local neighbourhood office for details.

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit

Contact your local neighbourhood office for details.

The Disability Alliance produces The Disability Rights Handbook - a comprehensive guide to benefits for disabled people. Cost: £12 (£8 to those on benefits).

The Family Fund is administered by the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust on behalf of the Government. It makes financial grants to families caring for children up to 16 years of age, who have special needs or severe handicap. The grants are intended to provide equipment or services related to day-to-day care e.g. washing machines and holidays.
The fund looks at each family situation individually and is pleased to consider a wide variety of requests for items or services, if these can be seen to assist family circumstances. If in doubt, it is always worth applying.

Employment and Training

If you are disabled or employing a disabled person, contact the Disability Employment Adviser at your local Job Centre for advice on employment issues, including equipment and training. Alternatively, phone the RNID.

Advice and a job-matching scheme are also available from "Employment Opportunities for People with disabilities" who have a network of offices throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Students with disabilities should contact Skill (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) for information and support. Hereward College in Coventry welcomes disabled students from all over the world and offers a wide range of courses, with good facilities.

Children and Education

Your child may qualify for the Disability Living Allowance, the Invalid Care Allowance, the Disabled Child Premium, the Carers Premium or Income Support. These are tax-free and may be awarded even for children who can lip-read or sign.

Your local Social Services may provide siblings' groups, nurseries and day care.

The RNID also provide advice, help and support for families.

For concerns about schooling, contact your local Education Department or the special needs co-ordinator at the school (SENCO).

Equipment

Hearing aids: There are many varieties, some available on the NHS, and some privately. All amplify sound, but some are frequency-specific, so may be more useful in certain situations. Some are worn behind the ear, others inside the ear, and still others on a cord around the neck. You will need to try them out to find the one which is most useful for you. Loop systems are fitted in many public places and public phones: these will improve your hearing where background noises could otherwise be distracting. Check whether your hearing aid is compatible with the loop system; all NHS aids are, but some private ones are not.

Start by talking to your GP, who can refer you for an NHS assessment and hearing aid fitting if appropriate. If you wish to purchase a commercial hearing aid, use a dispenser who is registered with the Hearing Aid Council, and always use the aid for a trial period, before you buy it.

Flashing light or vibrating alarm clocks may be helpful. Similar devices are available for fire alarms, door bells etc.

Contact your local Social Services Area Office or the RNID for details.

LEXEQUIP buys and sells second-hand specialist equipment.

REMAP is a small charity which helps design or adjust aids specifically for your needs.

Help for carers

Working parents of disabled children can contact Parents at Work for support

Your carer may qualify for Invalid Care Allowance.

Contact your local social services for information on respite care, or speak to the Carers National Association who can also help with other issues.

If you have access to the internet, look at the Department of Health's carers' website.

Getting about

For advice on how your hearing problems affect your driving licence, contact the DVLA Drivers Medical Branch. For information on Car Parking Badges, contact your local Social Services Department. Please note that in the past the badges were orange. These have now been replaced by Blue Badges and time clocks, which can be used throughout Europe.

Railcards, and information on their use can be obtained from any mainline station or phone the Disabled Persons Railcard Office.

Your local social services department can advise you about concessionary bus passes for your area.

Communication

Choose the right phone, for example one with a flashing light instead of a ring, or one which is hearing aid - compatible. Local telephone stockists may have something suitable, or contact the RNID for details. For the profoundly deaf, a minicom or textphone will use a phone line, but you type in your conversation, and read the replies on a screen. You may find it easier to use a fax machine than a telephone, and, if you have internet access, email is also very useful.

A doorbell which is louder or at a different pitch may help to ensure that you don't miss visitors. Portable doorbells, which you can carry around the house with you are also useful. Again, try your local shops or contact the RNID.

When in conversation, tell people if you can't hear what they are saying. Try to make sure that you are in a quiet area, to cut down on background noise, and choose a well-lit area if you are going to lip-read. Your local library or Hearing Concern will be able to give you details of any lip-reading courses in your area.

Socialising and Entertainment

Don't let your hearing problems stop you from enjoying your social life! Remember to use the loop system on your hearing aid whenever you see the loop sign - for example in concert halls and churches.

Contact the RNID for information on devices to amplify your television and radio at home, or on fitting your own loop system. Turn to page 888 on teletext for subtitles for your favourite TV programmes. Separate teletext adapters are available, if your TV comes without it. Teletext video recorders are also available, and closed caption decoders allow you to watch commercially-produced videos complete with subtitles.

Other information

Campaigning - The Disabled Rights Commission has recently been set up, with the aims of eliminating discrimination against disabled people, and securing equal opportunities for them. They provide a helpline and legal advice, and also welcome your opinion on the work they are doing.

Housing - Contact your local Social Services department for help.

Voting - If you would find it difficult to go to your local polling station, remember that you are entitled to a postal vote. Recent legislation means that you can ask for Voter Assistance at the Polling Station if you require it, but you will need to contact your Polling Station in advance (details should be on your Polling Card, or contact your political party's local branch).

USEFUL ADDRESSES ETC.

Benefit Enquiry Line (for people with disabilities)
Tel: 0800 44 11 44 / 0800 88 22 00
Textphone: 0800 243 355

British Deaf Association
38 Victoria Place
Carlisle CA1 1HU
Tel: 0228 488 44

Carers National Association
20-25 Glasshouse Yard
London EC1A 4JS
Tel: 0808 808 7777

Children's Legal Centre
20 Compton Terrace
London N1 2UN
Tel: 0207 359 6251

Council for Disabled Children
8 Wakley Street
London EC1V 7QE
Tel: 0207 843 6061

Deaf-Blind UK
Tel: 01733 358 100

Disability Alliance
Universal House
88-94 Wentworth Street
London E1 7SA
Tel: 0207 247 8763

Disability Discrimination Act Information Line
Tel: 0345 622 633 or 0345 622 644
Fax: 0345 622 644

Disabled Living Foundation
380-384 Harrow Road
London W9 2HU
Tel: 0207 289 6111

Disabled Persons Railcard Office
Tel: 0191 269 0303

Disabled Persons Tax Credit Information Line
Tel: 0845 605 5858
Textphone: 0845 608 88 44

Disability Rights Commission
222 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8HL
Tel: 08457 622 633
Textphone: 08457 622 644
Fax: 08457 77 88 78

Disablement Information and Advice Line (DIAL UK)
Tel: 01302 310 123

DVLA Drivers Medical Branch
Swansea SA99 1TU

Employers' Forum on Disability
Nutmeg House
60 Gainsford Street
London SE1 2NY
Tel / Minicom: 0207 403 3020
Fax: 0207 403 0404

Employment Opportunities for people with disabilities
Tel / Fax: 0207 726 4961
Minicom: 0207 726 4963

Family Fund (Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust)
PO Box 50
York YO1 2ZX
Tel: 01904 621 115

Health Information Service
Tel: 0800 66 55 44

Hearing Aid Council
Witan Court
305 Upper Fourth Street
Milton Keynes MK9 1EH
Tel: 01908 235 700
Fax: 01908 233 770

Hearing Concern
7/11 Armstrong Road
London W3 7JL
Tel: 0208 743 1110
Text: 0208 742 9151

Hereward College
Bramston Crescent
Tile Hill Lane
Coventry CV4 9SW
Tel / Minicom: 024 7646 1231
Fax: 024 7669 4305

Invalid Care Allowance Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston PR1 1NS
Tel: 01253 856 123

Meniere's Society
98 Maybury Road
Woking
Surrey GU21 5HX
Tel: 01483 740 597
Minicom: 01483 771 207
Fax: 01483 755 441

LEXEQUIP
Harnhill Cottage
Waterton Lane
Amprey Crucis
Cirencester GL7 5RX
Tel / Fax: 01285 850 816

National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries
68 Churchway
London NW1 1LT

National Disability Council
Department of Social Security
6th floor, Adelphi
1-11 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6HT
Tel: 0207 712 2099

Parents at Work
45 Beech Street
London EC2Y 8AD
Tel: 0207 588 0802

REMAP
Hazeldene
Ightham
Sevenoaks
Kent TN15 9AD
Tel: 01732 883818

Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V 8AF
Tel: 0207 250 3222

Royal National Institute for the Deaf
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Tel: 0870 60 50 123
Textphone: 0870 60 33 007
Fax: 0207 296 8199

For employment issues: Tel / Textphone: 0207 296 8053, Fax: 0207 296 8128

Tinnitus Helpline
Tel: 0808 808 6666
Textphone: 0808 808 0007

SENSE (The National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association)
11-12 Clifton Terrace
London N4 3SR
Tel: 0207 272 7774

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
336 Brixton Road
London SW9 7AA

Tel: 0207 274 0565 / 0207 978 9890
Fax: 0207 737 7477
Minicom: 0207 738 7722

Tax Credit Helpline
Tel: 0845 608 8844

War Pension Helpline
Tel: 01253 858 858