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Deaf Awareness Week – Monday 6 May-Sunday 12 May 2024

This week is Deaf Awareness Week which aims to encourage a collaborative environment - this means individuals, organisations and governments work together to create an inclusive society.

There are 12 million adults in the UK who are deaf or have hearing loss. We can all play our part to be more deaf aware, both at work and in daily life.

Identifying hearing loss:

  • Asking to repeat
  • Misunderstanding
  • Feel people are mumbling
  • Lip reading

Ways to help:

  • Get their attention
  • Speak clearly
  • Reduce background noise
  • Look directly at the person
  • Rephrase sentence

During January - December 2023 our audiology team:

  • Performed 10,362 diagnostic hearing tests on adults/children
  • Fitted 2,655 adults with behind the ear hearing aids
  • Fitted 44 children with hearing aids
  • Saw 452 patients for tinnitus therapy

Let's all take steps to make everyday life more deaf-friendly.

Lucy's story

Lucy Taylor Recruitment and Retention Lead for midwifery became profoundly deaf in 2020 and with support from her line manager, colleagues and specialist equipment she continues to have a rewarding career in midwifery.

Watch Lucy's story below.

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'I cannot commend the clinic enough. It is marvellous we have this service at all and well done to you all.'

Patient, Coronary Heart Disease / Heart Failure Service, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital