Hearing Connect launched

The Jewish Deaf Association has launched Hearing Connect, a division of the organisation, which will offer a wide range of services to people with a hearing loss.

Hearing Connect will encompass a number of services already provided to clients as well as several new services, including a book club, a discussion group for new hearing aid users and one-to-one Tinnitus management.

“We realise that people with a hearing loss all too often feel disconnected from the people around them and feelings of isolation and a loss of confidence can set in,” says Sue Cipin, JDA’s Executive Director.

“Hearing Connect offers a range of services to enable people with a hearing loss become more informed, more socially active, more confident and, ultimately, more connected to the people around them.

“There have been serious cuts made to an already limited range of support services for deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the country – cuts that were being implemented even before the economic downturn really started to bite.

“Local councils generally have never been able to give adequate support to people with a hearing loss so we decided it was time to step up our own range of support services.

“Of course, our financial situation has been very much affected by the recession and we receive no local authority funding, so we are relying more heavily on our highly skilled volunteers and redeploying staff members to launch these new initiatives at no extra cost.”

Gabrielle Radnor, who is a qualified hearing therapist and lipreading teacher and runs the JDA’s Technology and Information Centre, has been responsible for setting up Hearing Connect and its new services.

She says: “People with a hearing loss would normally shy away from joining social clubs or groups for fear of not being able to follow the speaker or take part in conversation.  Our research showed that there is little provision for such people so we have set up a range of tailor-made discussion groups that specifically cater for people with a hearing loss.

“Groups are deliberately small so that everyone is fully involved and able to contribute to the discussion.

“So far we have established a current affairs discussion group, a book club and a specialist group focusing on issues affecting people getting used to wearing hearing aids.

“People receiving their first hearing aid generally have little idea what to expect and end up leaving their hospital appointment without really knowing the ins-and-outs of long-term hearing aid use.

“They often don’t realise that sound will be different or that they will need to persevere and be patient.

“In many cases, they put the hearing aid on, become confused and disappointed that sounds are not what they were before their hearing loss and put the hearing aid in the drawer where, unfortunately, it stays.”

This group is being chaired by a retired GP with many years’ experience in ENT and who is himself a hearing aid user.

“He will be able to look at things from a clinical and personal perspective,” says Gabrielle.

“He will be able to discuss the various different aspects of wearing a hearing aid, suggest which questions to ask when you go to a hearing aid appointment and how to use the loop system in banks, synagogues and other public places.

“The group is open to people of all faiths – as are all Hearing Connect’s services.”

Gabrielle expects the book club to become a ‘best seller’. “It’s great for avid readers,” she adds. “They can rest assured they can take part without worrying about missing what others are saying and really enjoy chatting about the books the group has read.

“Similarly, the current affairs discussion group is a forum for people to talk about topical matters knowing they will be able to follow other contributors.

“The great plus point about these groups is that people don’t have to fear them as they do other social gatherings and isolation doesn’t have to be such an overriding concern.”

Gabrielle Radnor’s ‘day job’ is at the JDA’s Technology Information Centre, which enables people with a hearing loss to communicate better and lead more independent lives.

“There is a wide range of specialist equipment available, including door bell and telephone amplifiers, baby alarms, smoke alarms and TV and radio amplifiers,” she says.

“There is also equipment for people with no hearing including textphones.

“We  have an independent hearing aid consultant who comes in every six weeks to provide free impartial advice and information on audiology in the NHS and the private sector.”
The JDA also offers lipreading classes, a library and Deaf Awareness training.

For further information on any of these services contact Gabrielle Radnor on 020 8446 0214 (voice or textphone), email TICentre@jda.dircon.co.uk or call the JDA on 020 8446 0502.  wwwjewishdeaf.org.uk.

Back to Press Releases