This will comprise of a range of shows, workshops and storytelling led by Deaf presenters, and DeafBlog readers are invited to be special guests at their debut performances on Sunday 28th March.

Based in Leeds, the coHearentVision Youth Service will provide a one-stop-shop where sensory loss children and young people can find support, advice and activities to enable them to live full and enriching lives.

Sabina Iqbal, founder and chair of Deaf Parenting UK, has been presented with the Charitable Mum of the Year award by Natasha Kaplinsky and Fiona Phillilps, for her dedication and commitment to helping others.

With fluid blocking the middle ear, it becomes difficult for sound to pass through to the inner ear and can make quieter sounds difficult to hear.

Glue ear is common. More than 7 in 10 children have at least one episode of glue ear before they are four years old. In most cases it only lasts a short while. Boys are more commonly affected than girls.

Users of the three mainstream painkillers widely available over the counter from pharmacists – paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen – are all at risk of damaging their hearing.

Should I get two cochlear implants at the same time?
Some bilateral cochlear implant recipients have both devices implanted during the same surgery. Other bilateral recipients receive their second device later during different surgery. There are a variety of reasons that can influence a recipient's decision. You should discuss your options with your audiologist and cochlear implant surgeon to find out which approach is right for you.

The Ear Foundation has welcomed David Luterman back to present this lecture on 50 years of working with deaf children and their families.

How did you hear about the role in the first place?
Beaumont Hospital in Dublin was sent an email asking if they had a deaf teenage girl who would be interested in acting a main part in Dublin and to email them if anyone was interested. I replied, but was told that they had decided on a girl for the main part, (Genevieve Barr) so I didn't expect anything after that. A few days later I got a phone call from the hospital saying that the director (Dearbhla Walsh) and a few other people wanted to meet three deaf teenagers to talk about what it's like to be deaf and would I go? Naturally, I said yes! Just before we finished talking, they asked us what we'd like to be when we are older. I said, "I would love to be an actress". I didn't expect anything to come of it, but a few days later I received an email asking if I would like the part of Izzy, and here I am now!

By Karen Finch FSHAA FRSA, Managing Director of The Hearing Care Centre (Suffolk)

With Valentine's Day just past, and love in the air, I was very interested to read about a survey, which suggests that the use of hearing aids improves relationships.

However, it was only a couple of months ago that the one year-old heard these tunes for the first time, thanks to her bilateral Nucleus 5 cochlear implant.

DJ Judge Jules, 43, has paid the price of years of loud tunes. He now suffers tinnitus, permanent ringing in both ears.

Charity Works provides a dynamic one year mentoring and learning programme for up to 24 participants all seeking career progression in the charity sector. Offering a salary of 15k to graduate trainees and the chance to gain experience across a range of leading national charities, Charity Works is a unique example of a talent solution that has been created through collaboration across the sector.

Instead of an ear-piercing wail, the device unleashes the chemical compound 'Allyl Isothiocyanate', which gives horseradish, mustard, and wasabi their bite. A red LED on the alarm also starts flashing when smoke is detected.