RNID and a Business Meeting

Guest Speaker at his week’s meeting was Hugh Donaghy, Development Manager at Royal National Institute for Deaf (RNID).

Hugh explained how the Post Covid recovery plan enabled deaf people to be kept out of hospital by bringing services closer to community.

The Facts

4m in UK unaddressed hearing loss.
45% acquire a hearing loss. 70% of those over 70, 90@ of over 80s.
Hearing loss is the second most common disability in UK
500,000 people can’t hear well enough 
120,000 British Sign Language users. 
1 in 4.7 have a hearing loss
12m Tinnitus - (aroma therapy can help)

Hearing loss can make you require more sleep because your brain has worked harder because it affects concentration spans. 

Causes of Hearing Loss

Age related
Long regular exposure to noise, normally industrial sector.
Ex servicemen returning from combat zones
Mumps, rubella
Untreated meningitis
Genetic
Certain cancer treatments

Hearing aids not a replacement for hearing, they only boost and have no background filter.

Communication behaviour Do’s 

Get a persons attention
Face 
Keep background noise to minimum
Don’t shout 
Make sure your face is not hidden
Give person time to respond
Repeat using different words, ultimately write it down

Communication behaviour don’ts

Don’t say it doesn’t matter

Hugh gave advice on devices like tv headphones that send signals to personal headphones. (Can be important to avoid anti social behaviour orders.) and vibrating pillows.

Managing Hearing Loss

There are practical things you can consider - 

Communication tips
Hearing aids
Lip reading

The ‘Near you’ Aspiration

To be the easiest and most trusted way for people with hearing loss or tinnitus to get support with their hearing aids, access to information and hearing checks locally. 

RNID, is bringing its Near You service to Fife with drop-in sessions run in association with OnFife, which runs the region’s theatres, museum and art galleries. They started on Wednesday July 10 from 1:00pm-3:00pm at Jennie Lee Library, in the Lochgelly Centre. 

At the sessions, trained RNID volunteers, will provide free hearing aid maintenance. This includes new batteries and tubing, hearing checks, plus information and support on living with hearing loss. No appointments are needed.

Currently there are 3 drop-in venues (Lochgelly, Newburgh), 15 by Christmas, 22 by March 2025.

Benefit of volunteering with RNID

Meet new people and make a difference
Gain new skills and experience 
Stay active and be part of a team

Hugh invited members who might be interested in volunteering.  

For more visit www.rnid.org.uk/volunteering or contact Hugh Donaghy, development manager for RNID in Scotland at hugh.donaghy@rnid.org.uk or 07713622462.