Independent living if you are deaf or hearing impaired

A great deal of equipment and other support services are available to help deaf or hearing impaired people live independently and safely in their own homes and to enjoy improved quality of life. The devices available include TV amplifiers, specially adapted telephones, textphones, special listening and alerting devices such as specially adapted doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke alarms. Such equipment can help many hearing impaired people manage a range of everyday situations.

Many people also benefit from the use of induction loops, which work with the 'T' (telecoil) setting which can be found on most hearing aids. Most public places such as banks, post officers and churches have induction loops and there should be a sign to indicate where the induction loop has been fitted.

You can seek advice about such devices from you local council's social services department, National Health Service audiology departments and a wide range of voluntary organisations.

If you become deaf or hearing impaired, you are entitled to request a health and social care assessment by your local social services department (usually carried out by an occupational therapist). This assessment will examine your individual needs so that the right support or equipment can be provided. You can also arrange to receive 'direct payments' which will enable you to choose and buy equipment for yourself.

Communication aids and support if you are profoundly or totally deaf

Access to communication support is available through a number of routes and is often dependent on your current situation. If you have communication difficulties due to the severity of your hearing loss, you can ask for and expect to be provided with communication support in situations such as a job interview, attending court or a public meeting.

Communication support typically includes British Sign Language (BSL) and there are a number of professional groups such as BSL interpreters, deafblind interpreters, lipspeakers, notetakers and speech-to-text reporters (palantypists).

In most cases, you will need to book your communication support in advance (often as much as six weeks ahead). Therefore, you should make any service providers or potential employers, for example, aware of your needs as far in advance as possible. If you tell them as much as you can about your personal requirements, they will then be able to ensure that the most appropriate form of support is arranged. This is especially important if you are going into a medical or legal environment, as some interpreters have extra experience in these kinds of situations.

The Equality Act (2010) requires all employers and the providers of goods and services to the public to make reasonable adjustments to assist disabled people. For hearing impaired people, reasonable adjustments might include providing communication aids or services, such as an interpreter.

Text Relay is a national telephone relay service which allows very severely hearing impaired people to communicate with a hearing person over the telephone network using a Text Relay operator. The service is available 24 hours a day and is free to use, although you do of course pay for the calls you make.

Hearing therapists

If you are over 16, you may be able to access the support of an NHS Hearing Therapist to help you adapt to your hearing loss (this service differs across the country, so you should contact your local Clinical Commissioning Group for more information). Hearing therapists can provide individual support and communication training and counselling for you and members of your family. They can also give you advice about the equipment and services that you can access.

Emplyment Information and Legal Rights

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against disabled people. The disability parts of the act cover:

• Application forms.
• Job offers.
• Interview arrangements.
• Aptitude or proficiency tests.
• Terms of employment includingpay.
• Promotion, transfer and trainingopportunities.
• Discipline and grievances.
• Dismissal or redundancy.
• Work-related benefits such as access to recreation or refreshment facilities.

An employer must make reasonable adjustments to applications, interviews and work so that you are not disadvantaged in comparison to non-disabled people. Reasonable adjustments should be made to apply to the working arrangements in the workplace or any physical aspects. These can include things such as adjusting working hours or providing you with an adequate piece of equipment to help you do the job.

Benefit Entitlements

If you are deaf or hard of hearing (or you care for someone who is hearing impaired), you may be able to claim some of the following benefits:

• Personal Independence Allowance (if you are over 16 years old and under state pension age)
• Attendance Allowance (if you are over state pension age)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (if you have been made deaf by your work or service in the armed forces)
• War Pension scheme
• War Disablement Pension / The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Universal Credit
• Access to Work Support

Your entitlements to any of the above will depend on your individual circumstances. The RNID is an excellent source of further information (see Useful Contacts/Organisations section for contact details).

Hearing Aids

There is an enormous range of hearing aids available today for almost all types and degrees of hearing loss, and in a wide variety of sizes and styles, such as behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC). The choice of the most appropriate and beneficial style and technology requires the expert advice and guidance of a qualified audiology professional.

The NHS provides hearing aids on free loan, as well as maintaining these aids free of charge. Everyone has the right to have their hearing assessed through the NHS which must be arranged through your doctor. Private hearing centres normally provide all the personalised advice necessary for suitable hearing aids completely free of charge.

It is not possible to obtain financial help from the NHS to buy hearing aids privately but, if you choose to buy a hearing aid from a private source, you will still be entitled to claim a free NHS hearing aid.

There is now a ‘public private partnership’ in existence, which means that a number of contracted dispensers will distribute hearing aids on behalf of the NHS. The purpose of this partnership is to cut waiting times and give patients access to the correct hearing aid as soon as possible after their need for an aid is identified.

The majority of adults and children with hearing loss are affected in both ears. This usually means that both ears should be aided for maximum benefit and to ensure balanced hearing. This particularly applies when problems are experienced with background noise.

This is called a binaural or bilateral fitting. A monaural or unilateral fitting will usually limit the amount of benefit and will not normally be advised by a hearing care professional.>/p>

There are considerable differences between what is available free on loan from the NHS and what can be purchased privately. The following is a guide to the main types of mainly digital hearing aids and to what can be provided by the NHS or private hearing care services.

Hearing Aid Dispensers

Hearing aid dispensers are fully qualified clinicians who assess hearing and provide aftercare for hearing aids.

To check if a dispenser you wish to use is approved, please contact the Health and Care Professions Council (see Useful Contacts/Organisations section).