It’s Deaf Awareness week this week: 3rd to 9th May 2021.
‘One in five adults in the UK is deaf or has hearing loss. Every day, you’re likely to meet someone who is deaf or has some level of hearing loss.’
There’s some great advice, help and support on the RNID website including reviews of talk to text and text to talk apps. A great one on Android is Deaf-Mute Helper and it’s free. This app allows you to speak and translates it into text which can be enlarged and shown to the person. It also works in reverse.
Hearing loss can be incredibly isolating – reach out and ask how someone would like to communicate. There is some super assistive technology available to help stay independent.
‘Coffee Caravan team member, Becky, says “Without an amplifier on the home phone my relative would just say yes to any question as she didn’t want to admit she couldn’t hear. With the amplifier, attached to the corded phone it was louder than being in the same room and allowed her to enjoy conversations again.”
RNID can help find out how to get your hearing tested, advise on what can help you hear better and overcome communication challenges, as well as put you in touch with local support and befriending.
For more info: rnid.org.uk
Telephone 0808 808 0133
Text message 0780 000 0123
Relay UK 18001 then 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
A signed call with a BSL information service is also available.
