What does living well with hearing loss mean to you?

Posted on: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 by Tony Kinson

Susannah Sconce, Public Affairs Officer for Action on Hearing Loss explains how and why it is important for you to influence the party political conferences this year.

Share your experiences and let politicians know what is working – and what needs to improve. Find out how to join the conversation….

We’re urging you to take control of the conversation

At this year's party conferences, we're urging you to take control of the conversation with politicians by directly sharing your experiences of living well with hearing loss via tweets. If you’re unsure of how to tweet, Twitter have produced a handy guide.

Getting the right support

Getting the right support to live well with hearing loss is the topic of a special fringe meeting we are hosting at this year's political party conferences. We'll be showing a live Twitter feed at all three meetings so that your voice is heard by the politicians and policy makers in the room. We want as many of you as possible to join in the conversation.

Finding the right support

We know that when you have hearing loss, getting the right support at the right time can make all the difference. Whether it's finding a lipreading class in your local area, being told about a drop-in clinic for hearing aid repairs, or receiving information about Access to Work – all this can ensure that you aren't held back by your hearing loss. Use our web of care to see how we helped one person access support.

We want politicians to hear directly from you

We want politicians to hear directly from you. Have you ever felt that you didn't know where to turn for information? Or that you weren't sure what support you were entitled to at work or at home? At the moment people with hearing loss aren't always being given the right information at the right time, or accessing the services they need. We want to make sure that people with hearing loss are getting the world class on-going aftercare they deserve.

Sharing your experiences will let politicians know what's working – and what needs to change. Most importantly you can show that hearing loss is more than just a health condition, and that being supported to live well with hearing loss means different things to everyone.

To share your comments during the fringe meetings use the hashtag #livingwell2012 and let us know what needs to change.

If you can't join in on the day, we’ll do our best to broadcast as many tweets and comments at the meetings as possible.

Posted in
Government policy

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Sylvia Webb
24/09/2012 12:39

How can those of we talk to our GP on our own? Also how can we make an appointment ourselves? It takes time if the GP has to resort to writing everything (tho I guess many could actually text it faster), and makes the whole conversation lengthy. Taking a few prepared questions with you may help, but that certainly isn't the answer. Having to ask someone else to make an appointment for you and having someone else to "interpret" for means that "confidentiality" (which is the reason for surgeries not using email for appointments in the first place)is broken.
David Stanford
24/09/2012 13:09

Simple really, aged 59, having been laid off, as my hearing has deteriorated I am unable now to seek jobs that I use to do, in customer support, as I cannot use the phone comfortably. I tried to sign on, but as I did not qualify due to a small pension I draw down (I needed something to live on) was large than the JSA.
How do I find work??
Because the emphasis is on getting the young back to or into work, I feel there is nothing to assist someone like me with hearing problems and age nearing retirement.
MM
24/09/2012 15:41

For those not on social media ?
Tony Kinson
24/09/2012 15:58

Hi MM, thanks for your comment. We’re making the use of free social media tools at our fringe events this year but you can still get involved in the conversation by posting your comment within this blog and we’ll try and tweet it on your behalf at the next conference. You can also view the conversation without signing up to Twitter - by going to http://www.twitter.com/#livingwell2012.
Conference Interpreter
26/09/2012 18:34

Living well with hearing loss? That could be tough but, if someone I know or for some people who's on that stage then I'll really be amazed and touched by the thought of it. They have enough courage and strength to live normally like most people do and their hearing disorder doesn't just simply put them down.
Mr G E Tattersall
06/10/2012 13:14

left my job in care work in october2011 due to personal reasons. Unable to claim any benifits whatsoever despite having hearing and balance problems caused by my hearing being damaged ( i wear hearing aids in both ears). not entitled to any help financial or otherwise has i have not paid enough ni contributions in 2009 or my wifes £750 per month (net) wage means we have too much money coming in.. All the other years paid count for nothing.I give up
william fraser
06/10/2012 20:19

Im 76 years old and have been deaf all my life.
I started my life by joining the merchant navy
and I was lucky to serve three years and then
was medcialy discharched was under greenwich seamans hospital for 6mths then called for national service and sent to graysinroad london
and was discharged grade 6
I tryied to find work but has soon as they found out I was deaf they would sack me buy the age of 25 I bluffed my way in to local goverment as a fitters matethey found out but let me stay but as time went on new teckknolegy took over radio and telephone which was impossiabel for me so they retired me at 61 Ialso have had 4 heart atacks over this because it is very chessfull even today
it is very hard to mix with people.
Michael Messih
18/10/2012 06:36

this sounds like a great cause! It's great that an person is able to speak out about their daily lives and what they go through. Imagine how many people would avoid loud music and noises, and precent hearing loss if they knew the consequences of their actions..

Thanks for sharing!