Additional Services to Help with Your Hearing Loss

Audiology- Aintree only 

Some people with a hearing loss find that they still struggle to hear in certain situations despite wearing hearing aids.

The most common situations include, using the telephone, hearing the TV and hearing in work situations.

There are many organisations that can provide devices and support to help you with these problems regardless of your level of hearing loss.

In order to hear well it is important that your hearing aid is in good working order and serviced regularly.

Drop off hearing aid repair/maintenance service

If you were fitted with your hearing aids at Aintree Audiology department you may use this service to avoid waiting for an appointment or trying to get through on the phone.

Bring your hearing aid/s to the drop off service before 10.30am and they will be ready for collection after 12.00pm on the same day. This service is provided Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

This service is provided at:

Audiology Department,

1st floor Elective Care Centre (ECC) Aintree Hospital

Longmoor Lane L9 7AL

Hearing aids brought after this time will be ready for collection the following working day.

If you wish to see an Audiologist, you must make an appointment. Assistive listening devices

These are devices that can be used at home and in the workplace.

Loop systems

A loop system helps hearing aid user hear sounds more clearly by reducing background noise. At home, for example, you could use a loop to pick up sound from your television or radio.

An alerting device can be in the form of a flashing light or a vibrating pad that is normally held or worn, or placed under the pillow at bedtime.

These can include:

• Flashing light door bell
• Vibrating smoke alarm
• Hearing dog (suitable for patients with severe /profound deafness. Applications to be made via hearing dogs UK) www.hearingdogs.org.uk

Text Phone

Mainly used by severely or profoundly deaf people. They allow you communicate via typing your conversation to others who are using a text phone. The other person will receive this message via a type/talk translator.

Next Generation Text (NGT)

This provides a link between a user and a hearing person. The link is a highly trained Text Relay operator who provides a discreet and confidential service.

If you are deaf or unable to speak, you can access this service using a text phone, computer, tablet or smartphone.

http://ngts.org.uk/ Telephone amplifier

The amplifier attaches to the earpiece of the telephone. Telephone amplifiers work with your existing telephone by increasing the volume of the speaker.

Emergency services:

Patients who cannot hear/speak on the phone and/or those who use British Sign Language (BSL) can contact the emergency services (police/fire/ambulance) via an App on their mobile phones/tablet or computer.

• 999 BSL the interpreters that answer can both sign and speak. You can download the App onto any smartphone.
• Relay UK (bt.com) - You can also contact the emergency services through text using emergencySMS. You must register your phone before you can send a text message to 999 using the emergencySMS service. Texts the word ‘register’ to 999. You’ll need to register again if you change your phone number.

Social Services

Your local social services may be able help provide this equipment or help towards the cost of it.

Liverpool Environmental Aids Department

Merseyside Society for Deaf People Queens Drive Retail Park

West Derby Liverpool L13 0DJ

Email: reception@msdp.org.uk

Sefton Sensory Impairment Team

Merton house

7th Floor, Stanley Road Bootle, L20 3UU Telephone 0151 934 4909

Knowsley Access Team

7th Floor, Municipal Buildings, Archway Road, Huyton, L36 6YU Telephone: 0151 443 2600

Web Form: http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/care/get-help-from-social-services

Assistive listening devices for work

The Access to Work Program is intended to help disabled people obtain employment, keep existing employment or become self employed by meeting part, or all of the costs of the additional support that some disabled people require to continue in work.

The types of devices you may need in work include:

• Loop systems
• Text phones
• FM systems

For help with communication aids in work you can speak to your line manager, contact Access to work via your local Job Centre Plus or go online at www.gov.uk Or at www.hearinggrants.co.uk

Assistive listening devices for students

The Disability Students’ Allowance is a scheme to support individuals for help with communication aids when studying by meeting part, or all of the costs of the additional support that some disabled people require to study. Visit www.hearinggrants.co.uk

Merseyside Society for Deaf People,

Queens Drive Retail Park, West Derby,

Liverpool 13 0DJ

Telephone: 0151 228 0888

Offers the services below:

Hard of Hearing Club

This club is designed for people with hearing loss. The group can be used as a means of finding support but also to socialize.

Meets on Tuesdays 1:30 – 4pm (but not the last Tuesday of every month) for more information contact Lynn Burns

Telephone: 0300 1111 113

Mobile: 07762724361

Email: Lynnburns50@aol.co.uk

Sign language

Sign language is normally only used by those with severe hearing loss. For British Sign Language (BSL) courses contact training@msdp.or.uk

Duty sessions

Help Deaf and hard of hearing patients communicate with outside companies e.g. phone calls etc.

Duty sessions are drop in Monday/Tuesday and Thursday 9.30-12.30 and 13.30-16.30 in MSDP

Mother and Toddler groups, Sewing groups, Monday coffee afternoons.

Take place every month at MSDP. See website for details.

Tinnitus

There is a support group held locally.

Aintree Tinnitus Support Group

The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm (except January and August). They are based:

Room 207

2nd floor Clinical Science Building Aintree hospital. Search via Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust website.

A useful website for advice and information regarding tinnitus www.tinnitus.org.uk

Cochlear implants:

Cochlear implant user group

The group meets on the first Friday of every month 1 – 3pm

They are based:

Room 207

2nd floor Clinical Science Building Aintree hospital. Search via Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust website.

RNID Communication Services.

Free Deaf Awareness Resources — We are the National Charity Supporting People who are Deaf or Have Hearing Loss.

Email: information@rnid.org.uk