Download Information and service guide for people who have a hearing loss

Information and service guide for
people who have a hearing loss
Customer Services
Adult Social Care
Tel: 01708 432000
Fax 01708 433334
Email:
[email protected]

This information has been prepared for people who have a
hearing impairment and their carers. It is also available in
other languages and formats such as Audio, Email or
Braille, on request.
Please contact Customer Services, Adult Social Care on
the contact details provided on the front cover.
Contents
 Introduction
Page 3
 Medical Help
Page 4
 Social Services
Page 5
 Registration
Page 6
 Useful contacts
Page 7
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Introduction
It is estimated that one in six of the total UK population
have some form of hearing loss. That is more than 10
million people in the UK.
There are many different causes of hearing loss.
Hereditary
Maybe a family member (parent, grand parent, great
grand parent) has had a hearing loss and it may be that
you are more likely to have a hearing impairment yourself,
depending on the cause or condition.
Exposure to loud noise
This can be loud machinery at work, or those who served
in the forces many years ago were deafened by
explosions etc.
Illness – sometimes hearing loss can be caused by an
illness such as Measles, Meningitis, virus etc.
For many people however, it is part of the aging process.
Hearing loss can occur through a variety of ear conditions
or by accident / trauma, and is described as mild,
moderate, severe or profound.
Hearing loss can affect everyday life and communication.
Some people will benefit from a hearing aid, but these are
not suitable for everyone.
Some people will use lip reading / facial expressions to
support communication whereas others, usually people
with a profound hearing loss, will use sign language as
their first choice of communication.
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Getting Help
If you, or someone you know, feel that you have a problem
with your hearing you should first talk to your doctor. They
can check your ears and clear any infection or build up of
wax. Sometimes this is the cause of the hearing loss and
once the infection / wax has been cleared, “normal”
hearing will return.
However, if this is not the case, your doctor can then refer
you to the hospital audiology department or an ear
specialist. It is here where they may decide to carry out
hearing tests and audiograms or provide support, advice,
information and hearing aids.
An audiogram is a graph that shows the softest sounds a
person can hear at different pitches or frequencies. This
will measure your hearing loss and, depending on the
severity of your hearing loss, will show if you are eligible to
be registered with your local authority with a hearing
impairment.
Not everyone will benefit from hearing aids. You can be
assessed for these as explained above.
If you do have hearing aids, either NHS or privately
purchased, you will need to take good care of them.
The audiologist will advise you on this and train you to fit it
to your ear correctly. Your hearing aid should not whistle.
If it does, first check that you have fitted it in your ear
properly. Check that the ear mould is clean. Check that
there is no condensation in the tube and that it is still
flexible and properly fitted. If the aid still whistles, return to
the audiology department – usually you will need to book
an appointment.
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Social Services
The Sensory Impairment Team has a range of specialist
information and undertakes assessments for people who
have a significant sensory loss.
Following assessment, it may be that a service is
provided, subject to the Fair Access to Care Criteria and
financial criteria.
Some of the areas that may be assessed for are alerting
equipment – can you hear the doorbell, telephone ring,
smoke alarms, baby crying? Support with communication
needs – are you able to hear a telephone conversation?
Each assessment is carried out on an individual basis and
some information / services that are suitable for one
person may not be suitable for someone else.
Any equipment issued is done so on a loan basis,
meaning that the equipment is yours until you no longer
require it.
Your audiology department can refer you to the Sensory
Team for a hearing assessment or you (or someone on
your behalf) can contact Adult Customer Services and
request a hearing assessment. They will need your
details – name, address, date of birth, etc and will ask for
information on what difficulties you are experiencing, why
are you requesting a hearing assessment?
You will then be placed on a waiting list and a member of
staff will contact you to arrange an appointment to carry
out a hearing assessment. This will be done at your
home.
If you have already had an assessment and require a
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review due to a change in circumstances (i.e. hearing has
deteriorated since last assessment), you have equipment
that is faulty etc, then you will need to contact Adult
Customer Services. They are the first point of contact for
all queries if you are not currently involved with the team.
The Sensory Team also support people who have a sight
loss or a dual sensory loss – visual and hearing
impairment.
The Sensory Team has resource rooms of equipment for
demonstration purposes. It may be that you would like to
try equipment that is available for people with a sensory
impairment. Again, please contact Adult Customer
Services who will take your information and refer you to
the team. A team member will then contact you to arrange
for you to visit the resource area as this is by appointment
only.
You may be eligible for VAT exemption if you are
purchasing equipment because of a disability. Before you
purchase equipment, ask the retailer about VAT
exemption.
Registration
Some people may be eligible to be registered with a
hearing loss. Registration category is decided based on
the results of your audiogram.
The London Borough of Havering uses the following
categories:
Hard of Hearing
Profoundly Deaf with speech
Profoundly Deaf without speech
If you have moved into Havering from another area, were
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previously registered and wish to register with Havering,
please send a copy of your previous registration to Adult
Customer Services. For more information on registration
contact your audiologist of Adult Customer Services.
Useful Contacts
Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID)
19-23 Featherstone Street
London
EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
SMS: 0780 0000 360
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
Care Point
36 High Street
Romford
RM1 1HR
Telephone: 01708 752435
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.haveringcarepoint.org
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau providing information and advice
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Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am-2pm.
44 North Street
Hornchurch
RM11 1TB
Telephone 08444 111 444
Textphone 08444 111 445
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The Deaf Agency
Spectrum House
2b Suttons Lane
Hornchurch
Essex
RM12 6RJ
Telephone / SMS: 07951 820 341
Telephone / SMS: 07951 820 314
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.deafagency.co.uk/Home.aspx
Deafblind UK
Deafblind UK Head Office
National Centre for Deafblindness
John & Lucille van Geest Place
Cygnet Road
Hampton
Peterborough
PE7 8FD
Telephone / Textphone: 01733 358 100,
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Fax: 01733 358 356
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.deafblind.org.uk/
Deaf Roots
Unit 6 Stratford Advice Arcade
107-109 The Grove
Stratford
E15 1HP
Telephone or Text: 0208 534 7111
Telephone or Text: 07807348491
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.deafroots.org.uk
Disability Employment Advisor
Jobcentre Plus
30 Main Road
Romford
RM1 3HH
Telephone: 01708 774000
Telephone: 0845 6060 234
Textphone: 0845 6055 255
Gov.UK
Website: www.gov.uk
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Hard of Hearing & Deaf Group
Telephone: 01708 609283
Havering Adult Customer Services
Telephone: 01708 432000
Email: [email protected]
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
The Grange
Wycombe Road
Saunderton
Princes Risborough
Buckinghamshire
HP27 9NS
Telephone / Textphone: 01844 348100
Fax: 01844 348101
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hearingdogs.org.uk
Hearing Eyes Club
Telephone: 01708 349952
Telephone: 0208 5994620
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Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD)
RAD Head Office
Century House South
Riverside Office Centre
North Station Road
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1RE
Telephone: 0845 688 2525
Text Phone: 0845 688 2527
Fax: 0845 688 2526
SMS: 07851 423 866
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.royaldeaf.org.uk
NHS Direct
Telephone: 111
Textphone: 18001 111.
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
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