This week is Deaf Awareness Week, which ends on Sunday 13th May. To mark the week, a number of deaf awareness charities have got together to highlight the issue of how difficult it can be for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to get a satisfactory level of healthcare.

Going to your GP or visiting the Hospital is a stressful experience for most, but becomes even more difficult for people with less than perfect hearing. The lack of training for Doctors and other staff in how to communicate with people who are deaf or have hearing problems can make it hard for these patients to understand the explanation of their medical condition.

New research also found that 68% of people who used BSL (British Sign Language) and have asked for an interpreter to be present at an appointment did not get one. And 41% of people who did have one present felt the interpretation was not of a good standard, leaving them confused about the information they received.

While it is a legal requirement that people who are deaf or have difficulty hearing receive the same level of service as all other patients, the finding of this research demonstrates that it is not always provided.

A petition has been raised demanding that local health services only use BSL interpreters who are registered with the NRCPD (National Register of Communications Professionals). You can sign the petition here.

You can read more about the research into the experiences of BSL users when accessing healthcare, carried out by Action on Hearing Loss, here. And, if you want to find out more about what is happening during Deaf Awareness Week, visit the website.

The Walking with the Wounded Everest challenge for 2012 has unfortunately had to be postponed for this season, it was revealed this week.

The announcement was made by charity patron HRH Prince Harry, who said:

“Last year, I struggled to keep up with the four British soldiers whom I joined for part of their expedition to walk to the North Pole. Each of these men had recently been gravely wounded on the battlefields of Afghanistan. Theirs was the fastest team to reach the Pole that season.

At this very moment, another team of our wounded are returning from Mount Everest. Sadly, I have to be the first to say they have been frustrated from reaching the summit by the unusually warm weather, which brings particularly dangerous conditions. However, the mere fact that they are up there on that fearsome peak, I find totally amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, these people – ours and yours – are extraordinary.”

The decision was made after the warmest temperatures ever were recorded on Mount Everest. The warm weather makes the climb even more dangerous, as the lack of snow on the mountain leads to more rock falls than usual.

The team, which includes serviceman Chris Gwilt, who was left deaf after a rocket propelled grenade exploded behind him while on active duty in Afghanistan, are disappointed but hoping to make another attempt in the future.

A scheduled whisky tasting, organised by challenge sponsor Glenfiddich, which will be the highest ever recorded, will take place as planned on Thursday 10^th May. You can watch it on the Walking with the Wounded website, and follow the event live on twitter using the hashtag #WWTWLive.

A group of five servicemen who have been injured during tours of duty have left theUK on their mission to conquer Mount Everest. Over the next few months they will be facing not only a gruelling and dangerous climb that would tax even the healthy and able-bodied, but also spending time apart from their friends and loved ones.

The sacrifice will be worth it, however, as the charity organising the climb, Walking with the Wounded, raises money to retrain servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty.

Martin Hewitt, the Expedition Manager and an injured former soldier with the Parachute Regiment, is enthusiastic about the work of the charity and the challenge the team are embarking on: ‘I hope that through this expedition we can demonstrate to our public how determined our injured soldiers are to overcome their horrific injuries and move on with life post-service.’

Another of the servicemen, Chris Gwilt from Dorchester, taking part in the expedition, was injured by shrapnel and left permanently deaf in both ears when a rocket propelled grenade exploded behind him. He joined the Territorial Army in 2007, and was deployed in 2008. He was hurt in Afghanistanin 2009 while serving with the Two Rifles.

Chris, in a recent interview with the Birmingham Mail, told them that initially he wasn’t too worried about his hearing.

‘At first I didn’t realise my hearing loss was permanent. I thought it would come back. But [my consultant] told me after about a week that I was permanently deaf. I was worried for the future, that I wouldn’t be able to hear music again.’

Richard Irving, the consultant who treated Chris, suggested he try a cochlear implant, funded by the military, to help him regain his hearing.

‘I wasn’t convinced it would help me that much at first,’ Chris told the paper, ‘that was until I met someone who had one. They communicated with me like a person with normal hearing.’

After the operation, Mr Irving was very pleased with Chris’ progress, and said ‘[it] has been quite remarkable because his hearing had gone so suddenly and he had the implant quite quickly meaning he hadn’t forgotten the memory of sound. This produced some of the best results we have ever had with this implant.’

Now Chris can hear again, he is relishing the challenge of scaling the highest mountain in the world, and is keen to help a military charity after the great care and support he has received.

To find out more and support the walk visit the website.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People have launched a new campaign, ‘My Best Friend’, which aims to provide deaf children with a highly trained dog that will help them in their everyday life.

The campaign highlights the life changing impact on the lives of the children involved. 11-year-old James Cheung was given a dog, Kurt, a Labrador, and it has transformed his life. His mother, Louise, told the BBC:

 “I’m amazed what an animal can do for a human being. James has problems with his speech – he’s become more confident as a person. Those feelings of isolation, I’m sure, are getting less and less. It’s wonderful to have the dog in the house, in fact it’s hard to think back to how life was without Kurt.”

You can see a video of Kurt and James here.

Following this and other successes, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are looking for support from the public to help them place dogs with other deaf children. Their statistics show that every year, 60 babies are born with a hearing loss that is either severe or profound.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Ambassador Esther Rantzen is fronting the campaign, and has first hand experience of hearing loss:

“As a campaigner for children and disability, and having suffered deafness myself as a child, I know that deafness can be devastating for both the child and their family. Without the right support it can affect the child’s early development and limit their potential. It’s clear that a hearing dog can really boost a deaf child’s confidence, encouraging them to communicate outside their immediate family and even instigate conversation – often for the first time.”

To find out more and make a donation to the appeal, visit the appeal page on the website.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, then Action on Hearing Loss, formally RNID, want your help.

They are looking for people with a hearing loss to join a new research panel they are developing. Panel members will help shape the charity’s policies, services and influence which campaigns they focus on.

In addition to a survey they regularly conduct with their members, Action on Hearing Loss carry out research projects that aim to look at the experiences and issues facing people who are deaf or have a hearing loss. This work allows them to better serve their members and all people affected with hearing problems throughout theUK.

The new research panel Action on Hearing Loss are setting up will allow them to better focus their work and focus their aims accordingly.

Panel members will take part in research activities on a regular basis, which may include completing surveys, one to one interviews and taking part in focus groups.

If you’re deaf or hard of hearing and keen to get your views across, Action on Hearing Loss want to hear from you. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the panel, just fill out this short questionnaire.

The last blog in our series of Top Tips for getting the most out of your hearing aids covers some of the common problems you might experience, and how you can solve them.

“My hearing aids aren’t working.”

• Check that the battery is fitted correctly

• Check whether you need a new battery

• Check that the hearing aid is clean and clear of wax deposits

“Everything sounds muffled.”

• Clean your hearing aid thoroughly using the equipment provided

• Check for build up of wax on any part of the hearing aid, especially where the sound comes out

• Your hearing levels may have changed since your last check-up

“The hearing aid keeps whistling.”

• It is quite common for your hearing aids to whistle if they are turned on, but not fitted into your ear. Whistling from a hearing aid during insertion or removal from the ear is quite normal if the hearing aid is switched on

• Check that your hearing aid is correctly inserted into your ear – it may be poorly fitted

• Clean your hearing aid thoroughly using the equipment provided

• “Feedback” is sometimes caused when the volume control is adjusted and your hand reflects the sound back into the instrument’s microphone. This should stop when you move your hand

If you have any other hearing aid problems, or want any more tips as to how to get the best out of your hearing aids, why not get in touch with us using the comments section.

Batteries are integral to making sure your hearing aids function correctly, and even they will need some care to make sure they last as long as possible.

• The length of time a battery lasts varies according to the type of hearing aid, how often it is used, the volume selected and the quality of battery fitted

• To preserve the life of your batteries, open the battery door when the hearing aid is not in use

• Be sure to always use the correct size battery. The colour of the battery pack relates to the size of the battery

• Never force the battery compartment door open or shut – this could damage the hearing aid. If the door will not close, check that the battery is placed correctly in the compartment

• Only remove the protective tab immediately prior to fitting a new battery

• Always keep spare batteries handy – modern batteries do not gradually fade but retain full power until they stop working. A warning beep will sound when they need replacing

• Keep batteries out of the reach of children and pets

Disposing of Batteries

All hearing aid zinc air batteries should be disposed of at your local disposal point and not accumulated. If you are unsure of the best way to dispose of your used hearing aid batteries, contact your local council who will be able to give you details of the battery disposal scheme in your area.

The following tips will help you to keep your hearing aids in top condition:

• Clean your hearing aids on a daily basis

• Handle your hearing aids with the utmost care

• Perform all cleaning and battery changes over a cloth to prevent accidental damage or loss of the battery

• Protect your hearing aids from creams, perfumes and hairspray

• Remove your hearing aids before showering, bathing or swimming

• Avoid exposing your hearing aids to excessive heat or cold

• Be careful when placing your hearing aids on hard surfaces

• Never use a sharp instrument to remove wax from your hearing aids

When Your Hearing Aid is Not in Use

Even if you are only removing your hearing aids for a short time, the following advice applies:

• Switch your hearing aids off when they are not in use

• Open the battery compartment door when you are not using your hearing aids; this prevents the battery from running down

• Store your hearing aids safely in the protective box provided

• Your hearing aids should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight

• Keep your hearing aids out of the reach of small children and pets

• If you are not using your hearing aids for extended periods of time, remove the batteries completely

Different situations can present different challenges when it comes to hearing and using your hearing aids. In the third part of our series of Top Tips, we have put together some ways you can cope with a variety of different situations.

1. Hearing in a crowd

Parties, restaurants, sporting events and meetings are challenging environments even for those with good hearing. Here are a few basic principles to help make hearing easier in these situations:

• Choose your position wisely – away from unnecessary background noise, and close to where you will be able to properly see and hear those speaking

• Focus on one speaker at a time, so that theirs is the dominant voice you hear. This will make the background noise less noticeable

• Adjust the volume to a comfortable setting (louder is not always better)

• Don’t be afraid to ask people to repeat themselves – remember, even people with good hearing need to do this from time to time

2. Telephones

• The best technique for using the telephone or mobile phone varies according to the type of hearing aids you have

• Experimenting with the different options if the best way to find out what suits you. Your Hearing Aid Dispenser will also be able to offer help and advice

3. Using a Telecoil

• If you have a Telecoil and are happy using your hearing aids outdoors, try a visit to a cinema or theatre that has an induction loop facility

• To activate the Telecoil facility, select the correct programme (some hearing aids do this automatically). The Telecoil will then transmit sound directly to your hearing aids, helping to cut out background noise

When you first start wearing your hearing aids, you might find a gradual programme of wear is the best way to get used to the way you are hearing. The second blog in our series of Top Tips for hearing aid wearers provides a basis for just this.

Stage One – One-to-One Conversations

• Start with a quiet, familiar environment and select a low, comfortable volume setting as you adapt to the new sound quality. If your hearing aids do not have a volume control make sure they are in the ‘quiet room’ setting (usually Program 1).

• Listen carefully to the sounds in your own home. The tap running, plates clattering, clocks ticking – you will need to get used to hearing these everyday sounds that you may not have heard for quite a while.

• Practise having a conversation. Focus on the sound of your own voice as well as the other person’s – both may sound unfamiliar at first, but will soon become recognisable again.

• Practise a little every day and be patient. Take a break if you need to – a gradual period of adjustment is normal for everyone using new hearing aids

Stage Two – Group Conversations

• Start wearing your hearing aids when you are in small groups.

• Practise by focusing on specific sounds or voices. Following gestures and facial expressions is also helpful.

• When you first use your hearing aids in a group, sit close to those speaking.

Stage Three – Outdoors

• Gradually increase the time you spend using your hearing aids, wearing them outside, in the car and while shopping – your brain will learn to tune out the background noises that you may initially be irritating.

• Listening to the television is more demanding than normal speech. However, practising watching television will make all listening situations easier for you to handle.