Hearing loss and deafness

If you are deaf, you have little to no functioning hearing. People may be born deaf or develop hearing loss at some point.

Being deaf significantly impacts a person’s life because they are less able to communicate through talking and listening. In the past, people have learned to lip-read or use sign language to communicate. While many still choose to communicate in this manner, we now have medical interventions like cochlear implants, which may allow a deaf person to obtain some level of hearing. Hearing loss and deafness might result in feelings of isolation and a loss of independence. Still, you should not accept a lower quality of life because you are deaf.

RNID has a free online hearing check if you aren’t sure if your hearing is declining; Royal Association for Deaf People and British Deaf Association support deaf people to integrate into the wider hearing society, and National Deaf Children’s Society provides support, guidance, and information for families with deaf children. Deafness can also occur alongside blindness.

• British Deaf Association
• Royal Association for Deaf People
• RNID
• National Deaf Children’s Society
• Sense
• Deafblind UK
• Sense: Deaf blindness
• Hearing Loss NHS
• Audiology Services at Epsom and St Helier