Services update from Nicholas
Welcome to the August update, bank holiday weekend is over and we’re getting ready to head into a fresh month of September.
Helpdesk
For the dates last reported on, to the third week of August, we have seen an increase to 33 cases already completed.
The wide variety of subjects included tinnitus, technology, hearing aids, financial and emotional challenges.
Very often there are multiple layers of issues for people to tackle, as in the example below:
“I have had tinnitus for approx. 12 years, but this year has been particularly bad I have trouble sleeping and to be honest there has been times I wish I would not wake up. it is affecting my social life i do not want to go out as I have problems hearing people and I can tell by their attitude they do not understand … My wife is soft spoken, and I have to keep asking her to repeat her words and speak louder, I have hearing aids, but they do not help very much. If there is noise behind me I do not hear what people are saying I feel isolated. Also, they have to speak clearer and slower or I just as well might not be there. Seeing a doctor seems almost impossible I have emailed my doctor a few times asking for them to call me on the surgery number and have had no reply, because I do not answer strange numbers as there are so many scams.”
Huge thanks are given to this month’s 20 peer support volunteers who have responded with care and sensitivity to each and every enquiry.
Social media helps promote hearing loss, our hearing loss services and the aims of our charity, so please follow and re-post our posts as often as you can so we can reach as many people as possible with our useful advice, support and information.
If you haven’t followed us yet, here’s how you can:
Facebook – facebook.com/hearinglink
Facebook – facebook.com/hearing.dogs
Instagram – instagram.com/hearingdogs
Community Days
We had two community days in August – Cambridge and Chelmsford (Essex) – and we’ve had some great feedback.
These days are excellent opportunities for a blend of social contact and exploring issues connected with managing a hearing dog and your hearing.
Partnership Instructor, Dave, said “A fantastic Community Day in Bar Hill. Great to see current HD recipients, and HD applicants on their journey. Lots of great conversations… and dogs making friends for life!”
In addition, the days continue to attract professionals in the field, and we are delighted to continue welcoming independent audiologists and staff from Association of Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP), as well as community champions from Advanced Bionics.
Many thanks to all the volunteers, please continue to post your comments and photos in the Teams Community Day channel!
As a reminder. Here are the Community Day dates for September. Drop Alison a line if you are interested and look out for the dates to the end of year coming soon too!
- Sunday 1 September – Darlington
- Wednesday 11 September – Guildford
- Wednesday 18 September – Cupar, Fife.
Peer support groups
August’s LinkUp took place at our northern centre near York recently. Huge thanks to our peer support volunteers May, Charles, Julia and Denis for your time and wisdom.
The group of 12 attendees enrolled for a weekend of support and making connections.
The agenda included an audiology session from the local independent audiologist. Another great edition of this amazing service.
Feedback received has included:
“It has been a fabulous weekend and great to learn so much especially on technology and what is available. Also to find out what an Audiology appointment should look like. The staff and volunteers were amazing thank you so much for giving up your time.”
“I really enjoyed being with a group of strangers who quickly became friends and never feeling different or “out of it”
“I attended as the hearing partner of a deaf person and was really impressed with the set-up. Thank you Charles for your Technology talk it was really helpful and great to be able to get hands on with some of the equipment there.”
Helpful Hours
Many thanks to Helen for presenting her first Helpful Hour in July! Also, big thanks to Julia for co-presenting and setting the tone for a well-received session.
The Q+A at the end included some direct support, leading to further support opportunities.
Here’s some feedback:
“I’ve recently experienced sudden sensorial hearing loss while undergoing treatment. My understanding is that I will ‘get what I’m given’ in terms of hearing aid on the NHS at the end of the treatment period. It seems that it won’t have the sort of functions you described in the presentation. Should I push on to get these functions on the NHS, or will I realistically need to go privately?”
Community Outreach
Another very successful month across the country with all four drop-ins – two in Edinburgh, one in London and one in Oxfordshire – being held in August. Huge thanks to all 10 peer support volunteers involved!
Many thanks to Jean who attended the session in Oxfordshire, with a view to assisting and deputising in the future. It’s great knowing we have that depth of offer.
Plans for the new Hertfordshire drop-in took a step forward when peer support volunteers Sylvia, Angela, Jeff and hearing dog Shyla dropped into the Harpenden venue. They met with staff from the Herts Hearing Support Service who provide hearing aid maintenance ahead of next month’s start.
One person who spoke to the volunteers said, “I am going to go home and book an earwax check. I know I have an issue, but I had lost my motivation a bit. I will come back with some friends in September who also need some advice. Thank you so much!”