Helping to fill the silence

One in two older people experience hearing loss to some extent and will come across a range of problems from not following conversations, or being unable to use the telephone, to couples arguing because one person wants the television up loud while another wants the volume turned down.

A communication group is run by the East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre to tackle set-backs and difficulties experienced by the deaf and hard of hearing, and offer practical advice and support.

The group meets on the third Monday of every month in the garden room at Parkhurst Hall, 2.30-4pm, and is open to anyone with hearing problems and their families.

Teresa Davis of ESHRC said: "We learn coping strategies here. If you are hard of hearing you can get isolated and withdrawn from people because you can't join in.

"In a group situation, for instance, it is really hard to hear what anyone is saying because of the background noise. There is just loud noise and you cannot pick out the speech.

"So we teach strategies to people, and advise them on various equipment you can get to help.

"If people can't hear on the telephone, we can advise them on the right type of telephone to buy. If there is a problem with television, there are gadgets to help them hear the television more clearly. Then there are smoke alarms - deaf people are quite vulnerable when it comes to smoke alarms. A hearing person can buy one for around 5, but a special one for a deaf person will cost around 100.

"Then in the group we do various activities to encourage communication - we might teach a little bit of sign language or finger spelling.

"We also do things like bingo - I will finger spell the words and they will see if they recognise them and cross them off,

"It is good for people to get together if they have got problems to do with deafness. Because they can become so isolated, it is nice to have someone to talk about it with."

Part of the work of the group is to teach tactics for hearing people- for instance, when speaking to deaf or heard of hearing people it is important to get their attention first, so they know they are being spoken to, and make sure your face is in a good light so it becomes easier to lipread. Speak clearly and a little slower than usual, and if you are not understood first time, repeat the meaning using different words - rephrase words that have been misunderstood and are harder to lipread than others, eg, the word 'tinnitus' could be changed to 'ringing in the ears'.

"Try to think of different ways to say something," said Teresa.

"If people need help they can come to our main centre based in Eastbourne where we have a display of equipment - people can come along and try them out. We don't sell anything but we can tell them where they can buy it. Or sometimes they can get help through social services and we can give advice about that."A problem with deafness is because you can't see it, a lot of people get very impatient with hard of hearing people, and think they are being stupid or not trying."

Attending the meeting this week were volunteer Ursula Dungforth, who makes tea for visitors and changes batteries in hearing aids if necessary, Julia Lax, Elizabeth Low, and Sara Muytjens.

Sara commented that she always wears her badge which reads - I am hard of hearing, please speak slowly and clearly.

"But people don't take notice - even the doctors don't," she said.

Julia said the group was "brilliant".

"I came here because I didn't know anything about deafness. I do enjoy it here- it is very nice."

For more information call 01323 722505, or visis www.eshrc.org.uk.