Community: Cambridgeshire Hearing Help Reducing the impact of hearing loss In the UK, one in six people are living with hearing loss, a figure set to rise to one in five by 2035. On average, it takes 10 years for people with a clinically significant hearing loss to seek help and there is also now evidence of a link in some cases between hearing loss and dementia – possibly the result of reduced social interaction. Those living with hearing loss might experience a variety of social, psychological and physical issues. They may feel embarrassed that they can’t follow the conversation or have to keep asking people to repeat themselves or talk louder. Rather than deal with this, the person may start to avoid the situations, leading to loneliness. There is an increased risk to personal safety if they are not able to hear Eastern AHSN supported 11 practical workshops to help 78 people with hearing loss make everyday life easier in 2018-19 and assisted charity Cambridgeshire Hearing Help to develop a sustainable model for the future “I now very confidently say, ‘I have a hearing loss, you will have to say that again’ or ‘co”uld you speak up?’ service user smoke alarms, or approaching traffic, for example. And it can impact on their career, if their boss doesn’t understand why they can’t follow conversations. In November 2017, Eastern AHSN launched its self-care programme and Cambridgeshire Hearing Help requested funding for its Living Well with Hearing Loss workshops. These psychoeducational workshops are designed to give participants and their friends and family the opportunity to learn about their hearing loss and discuss issues they face on a daily basis with their peers. An online version of the course has also been produced for those who are not able or comfortable attending a group environment. Cambridgeshire Hearing Help has benefited from the connections that Eastern AHSN has helped them with and the team’s knowledge of the health service to raise awareness of the workshops, provide appropriate NHS branding and support them in developing a future delivery model. Eastern AHSN has supported Cambridgeshire Hearing Help with communications and social media advice and used their channels to raise awareness of the workshops with patients, their friends and family and healthcare professionals. The workshops hope to boost participants’ confidence to help them deal with daily challenges. These might include asking: ● For a table in a quiet corner of a restaurant – making it easier to follow conversations ● To sit in the front row at a talk/performance ● For a work training session break-out group to go into a separate, quiet room ● People to speak one at a time and indicate when they are about to speak ● For an induction loop, and for it to be switched on Eastern AHSN has supporting conversations with potential NHS, private and third sector sponsors to ensure they can continue to deliver the programme and explore appropriate integration into clinical pathways in the future. “I think I have been more confident since the workshop, to be absolutely clear. I have said it in the past but not so comfortably as I do now. I have said it in the past because I have had to, because I can’t hear what is going on. But I now, very confidently say, “I have a hearing loss, you will have to say that again” or “could you speak up?” – service user. ● To find dates of future workshops or use the free online course see cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk Reducing the impact of hearing loss Community: Cambridgeshire Hearing Help Eastern AHSN supported 11 practical workshops to help 78 people with hearing loss make everyday life easier in 2018-19 and assisted charity Cambridgeshire Hearing Help to develop a sustainable model for the future “I now very confidently say, ‘I have a hearing loss, you will have to say that again’ or ‘co”uld you smoke alarms, or approaching traffic, for example. And it can impact on their career, if their boss doesn’t understand why they can’t follow conversations. In November 2017, Eastern AHSN launched its self-care programme and Cambridgeshire Hearing Help requested funding for its Living Well with Hearing Loss workshops. These psychoeducational workshops are designed to give participants and their friends and family the opportunity to learn about their hearing loss and discuss issues they face on a daily basis with their peers. An online version of the course has also been produced for those who are not able or comfortable attending a group environment. Cambridgeshire Hearing Help has benefited from the connections that Eastern AHSN has helped them with and the team’s knowledge of the health service to raise awareness of the workshops, provide appropriate NHS branding and support them in developing a future delivery model. Eastern speak up?’ service user In the UK, one in six people are living with hearing loss, a figure set to rise to one in five by 2035. On average, it takes 10 years for people with a clinically significant hearing loss to seek help and there is also now evidence of a link in some cases between hearing loss and dementia – possibly the result of reduced social interaction. Those living with hearing loss might experience a variety of social, psychological and physical issues. They may feel embarrassed that they can’t follow the conversation or have to keep asking people to repeat themselves or talk louder. Rather than deal with this, the person may start to avoid the situations, leading to loneliness. There is an increased risk to personal safety if they are not able to hear AHSN has supported Cambridgeshire Hearing Help with communications and social media advice and used their channels to raise awareness of the workshops with patients, their friends and family and healthcare professionals. The workshops hope to boost participants’ confidence to help them deal with daily challenges. These might include asking: ● For a table in a quiet corner of a restaurant – making it easier to follow conversations ● To sit in the front row at a talk/performance ● For a work training session break-out group to go into a separate, quiet room ● People to speak one at a time and indicate when they are about to speak ● For an induction loop, and for it to be switched on Eastern AHSN has supporting conversations with potential NHS, private and third sector sponsors to ensure they can continue to deliver the programme and explore appropriate integration into clinical pathways in the future. “I think I have been more confident since the workshop, to be absolutely clear. I have said it in the past but not so comfortably as I do now. I have said it in the past because I have had to, because I can’t hear what is going on. But I now, very confidently say, “I have a hearing loss, you will have to say that again” or “could you speak up?” – service user. ● To find dates of future workshops or use the free online course see cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk