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News, Views... Hearalways.cochlear.com a new blog for the hearing loss community.
Whether you are a parent navigating your child's hearing loss or are considering a hearing solution for yourself, this blog is a place for you to find support, information, news and inspiration....
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Boy can hear again after cochlear implant
A seven year old boy survived meningitis 5 times and lost his hearing after the first bout of the disease....
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Deaf woman hears her own voice for the first time!
An overwhelming feeling of joy was felt when Sarah Churman, a 29 year old woman who was born deaf, activated her hearing implant....
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Deaf film makers wanted!
An initiative run by The British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust is providing up to £4,500 to make your very own short film....
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Hearing Dogs Awards 2011 – the finalists
The finalists are announced for the awards, by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which will take place in Central London on October 25....
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Partially deaf girl enters the regional finals of national singing competition!
Alice King went through a rough ordeal suffering from a rare and painful condition and three surgeries in three months which left her partially deaf. Her hopes of making a career of singing faded as she lost her confidence when...
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Rula Lenska at the Sound Barrier Star Awards 2011
The actress attended the event on Wednesday, September 14, to announce the winner of the awards set up by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Specsavers Hearing Centres. Alan Roberts from Bromley was presented with the award by Rula –...
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Voluntary recall notification for Nucleus® CI500 Cochlear Implant range
Cochlear Limited is undertaking a voluntary recall of the unimplanted Cochlear™ Nucleus® CI500 Cochlear Implant range. While less than 1% of Nucleus CI512 Implants have failed since launch in 2009, Cochlear has identified a recent increase in the number of...
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Charity triumphs over council
The charity National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has won its battle again Stoke City Council to cancel the planned cuts to leave 3 teachers supporting 200 deaf children in the city....
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New site for academy agreed for Royal Academy for Deaf Education in Devon
The new academy will be built on a 4 acre site and will aim to be inspiring surroundings for deaf students. Although the 4 acre site in Exeter was the former home of St Luke’s secondary school, new buildings...
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Update: Stoke City Council's planned cuts to educational support for deaf children
Stoke City Council have agreed to review its decision after it was ordered by the High Court to halt its spending cuts towards the educational support for deaf children....
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Liberty 2011 - London's Disability Arts festival
The Liberty 2011 festival celebrates deaf and disabled artists and is being held at the South Bank for the first time this weekend - 3rd September, at the Southbank centre and the National Theatre. The free event will host a...
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National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) legal challenge against council’s decision for planned cuts
The NDCS has begun a legal challenge against Stoke-On-Trent City Council for their plans to cut educational support for deaf children in a bit to save money, putting the future of the city’s deaf children at risk....
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Deaf and blind charity in Yorkshire to lose £100m funding
The deaf and blind charity, coHearentVision, is looking to the future after funding cuts by Leeds City Council, which has awarded contracts for the delivery of support services to a Birmingham-based contractor and a national charity. The council’s decision has...
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Explore the human ear in 3D!
We have been sent details about a free interactive Human Ear in 3D tool, which has just been launched, and it makes for interesting viewing. The site offers a video tour of the human body, through which you can...
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International summer camp for deaf children
A delegation of 19 deaf teenagers with cochlear implants from five different countries took part in The First International Teens Week for young cochlear implant users, organised by The Ear Foundation. As the young people arrived at St John’s...
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More training needed for deaf coaches, says NDCS
National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) is calling for more football organisations to run FA-accredited coaching courses that are accessible to deaf people, as the charity currently runs the only one in the UK....
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New hearing aid recycling scheme launched
Suffolk hearing care specialist, The Hearing Care Centre, has this month launched its brand new appeal to help thousands of hard-of-hearing individuals who have limited financial resources across the world. The Suffolk Hearing Aid Recycling Scheme, which has been...
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New Mr Tumble interview on Gurgle
It's not very often that we come across interviews with the fantastic Mr Tumble, but gurgle.com, 'the web's friendliest community for first time parents', was lucky enough to meet the man himself last month! In the interview, which you...
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How Rachel Shenton's dad inspired her to learn sign language
Rachel Shenton was just 12 years old when her father Geoff lost his hearing. The Hollyoaks actress, who plays aspiring WAG Ann ‘Mitzeee’ Minniver (a character insiders claim is based on Cheryl Cole) in the series, says: "Dad went...
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Deaf-blind grandfather scales highest mountain in the UK
A grandfather has become the first deaf and blind man to scale the UK's highest mountain. Brave Michael Anderson, 70, cannot venture to the supermarket alone, but the pioneering pensioner managed to "feel" his way to the top of...
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Miley Cyrus announces return trip to Haiti
Miley Cyrus announced she will be joining the Starkey Hearing Foundation for a return visit, to bring the gift of hearing to Haiti, after making a generous donation that helped tip the scales at this year's So The World...
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Strum along to the craziest festival event this summer
Forget Will and Kate's wedding... on Sunday 31 July at WOMAD festival, the charity Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) will be attempting to break the world record for the greatest number of people playing air guitar at the...
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Passive smoking ‘can make teenagers deaf’
Teenagers could suffer hearing loss because of passive smoking, according to new research. Inhaling other people’s tobacco smoke almost doubled the risk of impaired hearing among adolescents, it was claimed. The levels of damage were mild but could be...
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Sara Cox offends deaf people with Twitter comments about subtitles
Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox has outraged deaf people this week, after tweeting that subtitles on a film were “daft”....
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Computer toolkit will help cochlear implant recipients get the most out of music
Deaf people who have received a cochlear implant, may soon be able to enjoy music better, with a toolkit being developed at Southampton University. Music professor David Nicholls and Dr Rachel van Besouw from the University's Institute of Sound...
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Cyrus helped deaf children in Haiti
Teen star Miley Cyrus was humbled during a charity trip to Haiti after visiting children suffering from hearing disabilities. The singer/actress travelled to the city of Port-Au-Prince earlier this year, with her mother, Tish, to see the relief efforts...
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Jane Lynch is deaf in one ear
Jane Lynch has revealed that she is actually deaf in one ear. The 50-year-old Glee star said that she first realised when she was playing with her brother as a seven year-old. She told the National Enquirer, "My brother...
Yorkshire's Sensory Star Awards - last chance to vote!
Ten inspirational children with hearing and/or sight loss, have been shortlisted for an award at Yorkshire’s Sensory Star Awards 2011, to celebrate their remarkable success and accomplishments to date, despite their disability. The winner will be chosen through public vote,...
Spelling challenge launched in aid of deaf children
School children are being urged to take part in a special challenge to improve their spelling and learn about sign language....
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Mayor of Rushcliffe presents cheque to The Ear Foundation
As Cllr Mrs Marie Males comes to the end of her term of office, she presented a cheque for £10,000.00 to The Ear Foundation, which has been her chosen ‘Charity of the Year’ during her year in office as...
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Eva Longoria learns sign language for deaf fans
The Desperate Housewives star, who recently launched her own cook book Eva's Kitchen, decided to learn how to sign so that she can communicate with her deaf fans. Speaking at the 9th Annual GLAD Benefit Extravaganza, which was recently...
Ann Widdecombe supports hearing checks
Former politician and Strictly Come Dancing star Ann Widdecombe has launched a campaign from the charity Action on Hearing Loss, supported by BT, to encourage people to get their hearing checked. Ten million people in the UK are deaf...
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Hugh Hefner is hard of hearing
Legendary playboy Hugh Hefner is apparently a bit hard of hearing. He is going deaf and now wears hearing aids to hear what's going on in his famous LA mansion. But two of 85-year-old Hugh's blonde beauties have blamed...
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Award for teacher
Deaf teacher Yvonne Cobb has won a prestigious regional award after becoming a respected sign language teacher....
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Study suggests hearing aids may delay dementia
The head of Suffolk’s biggest hearing care company has welcomed the news that researchers in the United States are investigating a theory that there may be a connection between untreated hearing loss and dementia....
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Lady GaGa learning sign language
Lady Gaga plans to learn sign language so she can communicate with her deaf fans. The wacky singer, whose Born This Way album is number one across the globe, plans to take lessons with a private tutor. Gaga, 25,...
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P2i wins best of show at AudiologyNOW!
P2i, the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has received a prestigious “Best of Show” award from the American Academy of Audiology for its show-stopping booth at AudiologyNOW! 2011....
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Take a jump on with language this summer
Interested in helping your school-aged child reach their spoken language potential? This summer an intensive auditory verbal therapy programme is being offered at the Auditory Verbal Lounge in Nottingham for children with hearing loss and their families....
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Deaf student overcomes barriers to become a vet and wins national scholarship
On his first public engagement (25 May), The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Michael Wildgust presented profoundly deaf student Bethan Hindson with the national Cochlear™ UK Graeme Clark Scholarship Award – an award that will help to fund her...
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Can taking Viagra make you go deaf?
The little blue pills taken by hundreds of thousands of British men may cause deafness, doctors have warned....
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Climbing for deaf children
Destiny of a Child, a charity which supports cochlear implantation for profoundly deaf children in the UK and France, has made a substantial donation to The Ear Foundation....
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Grandfather’s memory and good cause inspire charity run
In memory of her late Grandfather and the work he carried out during his life, 29 year old Rachel Hendrick from London has decided to raise money for Deafness Research UK, taking on the challenge of running 13 miles...
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Sneak preview of Wikio's top 20 UK health blogs
Wikio has given us a sneak preview of its top 20 UK health blogs which will be published on the portal next year. We are pleased to see that the DeafBlog has come in 18th place and is the number...
Hearing dog Sian transforms Eileen's life
Eileen Hosie, from Bolton, Lancashire first met her hearing dog, Sian, in 2008 when she visited the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s northern training centre in Bielby, Yorkshire. Eileen, 66, who has recently retired as a Deaf Instructor at...
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What is auditory verbal therapy?
By Lyndsey Allen, LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist Auditory Verbal Therapy (“AVT”) is a family centred approach that maximises the use of modern hearing technology to support children and babies in developing spoken language through listening. It can only...
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Praise for GPs referring patients with hearing loss
One of Suffolk's leading hearing care specialists has today praised family doctors for their help in the first stage in treating people with hearing loss. A new study shows that more than 60% of patients who go to their...
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Baby becomes youngest cochlear implant recipient in Ireland
A baby who contracted a potentially deadly strain of meningitis has become the youngest person in Ireland to be fitted with cochlear implants. The Irish Sun and Irish Daily Mirror report that nine-month-old Liam Coughlan from Cork lost his...
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Searching for Yorkshire’s Sensory Stars
The search is on for Yorkshire’s shining stars as coHearentVision launches the region’s first awards that will recognise the achievements of children and young people with a hearing and/or sight loss....
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Interested in sharing your story?
If you are a cochlear implant or baha recipient, we'd love to hear from you! If you are interested in sharing your story, please email us at hello@thedeafblog.co.uk....
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Rula Lenska breaks 10 year silence about hearing loss and launches Sound Barrier Star Awards
Glamorous television star Rula Lenska has spoken out about her battle with hearing loss, and has opened a nationwide search for hard of hearing high achievers. (Read our exclusive interview here)....
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Global response for award winning short film
A group of young deaf filmmakers has collectively produced an award‐winning short film that has subsequently prompted a significant response from the deaf community on a global scale....
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Megan's a pioneer after having the UK's first new cochlear implant fitted
Little Megan McCourt has become the first person in the country to have a new type of cochlear implant fitted. Because the two-year-old’s cochlea is not pre-curled (like a snail’s shell) as normal, it meant the conventional device due to...
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New internet dating site at Deaf-Match
We've previously discussed a range of new dating sites which have been developed specifically to help deaf and hearing impaired men and women meet other singles. These have included deafs.com, Enabled Already, Deaf Date and Disabled World. Now a...
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Dental hearing aid gets approved in Europe
A new hearing aid that transmits sound through a person's teeth has been approved for use in Europe....
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Cochlear implants change Ryan's life forever
When Leah's son Ryan failed his newborn hearing test, she was told it was probably nothing to worry about. But when he was three weeks old, it was confirmed that he was profoundly deaf....
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Award winning children's book transformed into iPad app for deaf children
Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy has been transformed into the first-ever iPad app for deaf children. The highly anticipated app has been released following its success as a children's DVD with sign language, and author Tina Turbin is proud to...
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Join us on Facebook!
We have created a new Facebook page for the DeafBlog in place of its original profile on the site. Please join us there where you will be updated on our news stories. Find us on Facebook here. We're also...
Metro shoppers can check out handy tips on hearing loss at Communication Roadshow
RNID is inviting shoppers to visit the charity's Communication Roadshow at the Metro Centre and pick-up free essential information about looking after their hearing. At the charity's stand, which is running on the first floor (opposite Oasis) between 9am...
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First midwives trained in sign language to support deaf women in labour
A university has become the first to train midwives in sign language so they can better support deaf women in labour. Students at De Montfort University, Leicester, are being taught basic sign language so they can communicate with deaf...
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Deaf Parenting UK Awards now open for nominations
Deaf Parenting UK is celebrating its 10 year anniversary, and to make it extra special, it is organising the first-ever Deaf Parenting UK Awards. There are seven awards, aimed at individual deaf parents or professionals working with deaf parents and...
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Date set for UK’s biggest deaf friendly football competition
A tournament celebrating deaf-accessible football will arrive in Derby next month as the city plays host to the UK’s biggest competition for deaf friendly youth teams on Sunday 27th March....
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Galashiels man wins £10,000 in charity draw
Matt Hall, from Galashiels, Scotland, is enjoying a fantastic start to the year after being contacted by national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to tell him that he had won the top prize of £10,000 in its annual...
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New Ofcom research highlights the needs of deaf people for modernised telephone services
TAG, a consortium of deaf organisations, calls for the immediate setting up of captioned relay and video relay services for deaf people following the latest independent consumer research undertaken for Ofcom. The research highlights more evidence of the barriers...
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Diabetes UK reaches out to deaf people who use BSL
Diabetes UK has produced crucial information in British Sign Language (BSL) for people with diabetes in the Deaf community. Studies suggest that people with diabetes may be more likely to develop hearing problems. There are concerns that deaf people...
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Hollyoaks star takes first skydive for deaf children
Hollyoaks star, Rachel Shenton, will take part in her first skydive event in aid of deaf children, organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), on Saturday 26 March in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The 23-year-old actress, who plays Mitzeee Minniver,...
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WIN an optical smoke alarm pack!
FireAngel is giving away a FREE £84.99 alarm pack each month to support fire safety within the deaf community. This sensational giveaway means a deluxe Wi-Safe Strobe and Vibrating alarm and optical smoke alarm are available to win! These...
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Rapid education reforms threaten to leave deaf children without support
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has expressed serious concerns that gaps in the government’s education reforms, announced today, threaten to leave deaf children without the vital support they need to achieve at school. NDCS is raising the alarm...
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Mitchell is February’s Hearing Dog of the month
A hearing dog from Sutton in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire played an extremely important role at a family wedding recently. Mitchell a five year old fox-terrier x border collie was the ‘ring bearer’ at his deaf owner’s daughter Emily’s wedding...
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Time to hear it for UK's hearing specialists
People of all ages around the UK are being invited to join the search for the country’s top hearing expert. The hard of hearing are encouraged to nominate hearing specialists for the 2011 Rayovac Audiologist of the Year award....
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Schools “Sign up” for NDCS!
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) is looking for schools to take part in an exciting and interactive fundraising event in 2011. Fingerspellathon is a sponsored event aimed at schools and gives pupils the opportunity to fundraise whilst learning a...
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Dani Filth's tinnitus torment
Dani Filth, front man of metal band Cradle of Filth, has admitted to suffering from tinnitus and is backing a campaign to raise awareness about the impact of exposure to loud music and how this can cause tinnitus and...
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First Football Coaching Camp is taking place for deaf girls
The first Football Coaching Camp for deaf girls is taking place in the UK in February, offering expert coaching from deaf female players who have represented England and GB Deaf Ladies. This three day event for deaf girls aged...
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7 million people in the UK are affected by ringing in ears
Imagine wearing a pair of headphones that are playing the sound of a whistling kettle. Imagine wearing those headphones all day, and all night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Horrific it might sound, but that’s the...
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Hogmanay Heroes from Fife
Spike, a six year old Cockerpoo from Cupar, Fife, and his deaf owner Ken Scott were honoured in an awards ceremony recently at the Scottish Parliament. The pair were recognised for their work in raising awareness for Hearing Dogs...
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Survey finds shop hearing loops 'not usable'
A quarter of shops and businesses in Scotland are falsely claiming to have hearing loops, according to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. A survey by the charity suggested some shops were displaying hearing loop signs but did not...
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RNID welcomes move to consider lipreading as an 'essential skill'
RNID has welcomed a pledge by UK Skills Minister, John Hayes, to consider reclassifying lipreading as an 'essential skill' in place of its current Skills Funding Agency status as a leisure activity. Mr Hayes made the announcement in response...
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One weekend... I found out I was completely deaf
One of my earliest memories is sitting on a floor playing with a toy and a woman asking if I could hear her clapping as she walked around the room....
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99 year-old patient is implanted with cochlear implant
Hedwig Christoph, aged 99, won't miss a single sound this Christmas. Following her surgery last week, she will be able to hear better than she has for many years - bells ringing, children singing and the gift of hearing will...
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Overcoming the challenges of hearing loss
Alison McHayle, a 40 year-old mother of three from Wandsworth in London, started to lose her hearing at the age of 30. She had trouble hearing what people were saying to her and particularly struggled in conversation with anyone...
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TV producer to turn spotlight on deaf stories
An article in The Stage today highlights a new drama production company which has been formed to produce television content specifically dealing with deaf themes....
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Where's my Butterfly?
A new book, by Alicia Romero, from a publisher in Spain, tells the tale of a girl who loses her cochlear implant external magnet. In 'Where's my butterfly', Chris searches the whole school for her magnet, which she calls...
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Hearing loss linked to passive smoking
Research has shown that people who are exposed to the second-hand smoke from others' cigarettes are at increased risk of hearing loss....
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A Christmas present that changed a deaf man’s life
Last Christmas the life of Ken James from Brighton was transformed when he received a very special Christmas gift; hearing dog Zoe, a two year old flat coat retriever x Labrador. One year on, the dynamic duo are the...
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THE SILENCE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Company Pictures has won the Ability Media International Television Drama Award run by Leonard Cheshire Disability for the drama The Silence. The AMI Awards identify creativity that encourages a more inclusive world for disabled and marginalised groups of people....
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Leeds Learner Wins National Signature Award
Leading charity coHearentVision has supported a Yorkshire nurse in her efforts to make significant changes to deaf awareness in the NHS, which have been honoured with a national award. Volunteer and Occupational Therapy Support Worker Kelly Palmer has been...
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Deaf access to telecoms revolution
The Deaf community has come together to launch VRS Today! a new campaign calling for telecoms equality for the UK’s British Sign Language (BSL) community. BSL users do not have equal access to telecommunications in the UK. Existing text-based...
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Professor Graeme Clark, father of the multi-channel implant visits London and receives the Lister Medal
Whilst in the UK to receive the most distinguished award in surgery – the prestigious Lister Medal – Professor Graeme Clark also visited St George’s Hospital London where he addressed a Cochlear™ meeting of surgeons. With an extraordinary gentleness...
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Adults deaf since birth see better than hearing people
Adults born deaf react more quickly to objects at the edge of their visual field than hearing people, according to ground-breaking new RNID-funded research. For the first time ever, scientists tested how peripheral vision develops in deaf people from childhood...
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New Disability Rating Scheme to Bring Equality to Hospitality Industry
It's a somewhat surprising fact of life that 10% of the British population now suffers from some kind of disability, ranging from problems with sight and sound to ease of movement. And for the disabled traveller, one of the...
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Deaf dog passes toughest obedience test in Britain after mastering sign language
It's not unheard of for a dog to turn a deaf ear to his owner – usually when the pet in question is chewing up a fascinating new item of furniture. Zippy the Boston terrier, on the other hand, really...
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Hearing dog Nina opens up a whole new world for Sheila
Nina, a five year old Lhasa Apso from Wigan, Lancashire, opened up a whole new world for her owner Sheila Ashton who had become deaf due to a dreadful accident. It was 1966 and Sheila, now 70, was in...
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Website launch creates a ‘buzz’ for deaf young people
A website dedicated to all deaf young people is being launched today by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), after a survey showed that 90 per cent want more opportunities to meet other deaf people. www.buzz.org.uk, has been developed...
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Hearing aid helps Annette Crosbie overcome 'moodiness'
Having become a household name as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering wife, Annette Crosbie is accustomed to people assuming she's somewhat grumpy. Indeed, the Bafta-winning actress admits she has irritated her fair share of people by bluntly ignoring their attempts to spark...
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Jamie gets used to normal life after cochlear implant operation
Just 18 months ago, Jamie could only use his own form of sign language to communicate. Profoundly deaf, he was living in a silent world. But Jamie, who is now three, had a cochlear implant fitted and has progressed...
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Deaf teenagers work with professional actor
A group of young deaf teenagers, who all wear cochlear implants, were lucky enough to take part in a film making day, hosted by the Ear Foundation and run by professional actor Colin Wells, best known for his role...
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Deaf people 'can rewire brains'
People deaf from birth may be able to reassign the area of their brain used for hearing to boost their sight, suggests a study. Improved peripheral vision, often reported by deaf people, could be generated by the brain area...
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Devoted hearing dog King pays tribute at funeral
King, an eight year old Cocker Spaniel x Havanese, does not only assist his profoundly deaf recipient Carole Tweedy, from Wokingham by alerting her to household sounds and danger signals but also proved to be a great comfort to...
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Next Cochlear information evening announced
Cochlear UK is pleased to announce a date for its next Information Evening. These events are designed for candidates who may be just starting on their implant journey or those who have recently been implanted. On 2 December, you...
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Teenage girl is star musician who plays five instruments... despite being profoundly deaf
A teenage girl who plays five instruments has won top marks in her latest music exam - despite being unable to hear a single note. Aimee-Louise Paddock, who is totally deaf, was inspired to take up the saxophone after...
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Deaf Education: Changed by cochlear implantation?
Sue Archbold, Chief Executive of The Ear Foundation, has been awarded a PdD ‘cum laude’ by the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Nijmegen in The Netherlands. She received the accolade after defending her thesis entitled ‘Deaf...
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Summer Playscheme Huge Success for Sensory Loss Children
It’s back to school for sensory loss children in Leeds following coHearentVision’s most successful summer Playscheme yet. Over 50 children with a hearing or visual impairment took part in what was a hugely successful summer programme of events and...
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UK's first Cochlear Implant operation to give sound in both ears
The UK's first operation to fit a single cochlear implant capable of giving sound in both ears has taken place, thanks to the work of the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre, based at the University of Southampton....
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Struggle to hear at the theatre?
The New Wolsey Theatre and Hearing Care Centre launches partnership promoting captioned performances For many people a visit to the theatre can prove to be a difficult experience, as they may not be able to hear or follow what’s...
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Deaf teenager composes Olympic music
A deaf teenager has been asked to compose a piece of Olympic-themed music to be played by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2012. Lloyd Coleman, 18, who is also visually impaired, recently won a place at London's...
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Coronation Street's William Roach: 'I've enjoyed the silent world'
Coronation Street actor William Roach revealed recently that for his whole career, he has suffered from profound hearing loss. He has rarely spoken about it before, and says he did not see it as a big deal. It was...
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Deaf teenagers visit Number 10
Teenagers with cochlear implants received a unique invitation to visit Downing Street as part of a two-day residential summer programme, organised by The Ear Foundation. The 15 teenagers, aged between 11 to 15 years-old, had two days of jam...
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'Hear to Meet' people with hearing loss
Residents in and around Peterborough are invited to pop along to a new befriending club launched by RNID to help reduce isolation for people who have hearing loss. RNID’s new 'Hear to Meet' club is meeting at the Ivy...
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Hearing restored by cochlear implant after 51 years of silence
A man born profoundly deaf can hear for the first time – thanks to a new cochlear implant. Richard Bizley, 51, from Lyme Regis, said his life has been changed by the implant, which has enabled him to hear...
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After 27 years of silence, Semhar can finally hear her own voice
Semhar Beyene’s childhood dream was to become a performer, and with her dancer’s physique, love of music and model features, she had all the attributes to make it to the top. Semhar was born profoundly deaf, but she never allowed...
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Deaf in London - time to sit up and listen?
CommunityID, a partnership of deaf and hearing professionals, has received almost £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to provide free deaf and interpreting awareness training to 250 voluntary organisations and communities in London....
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Breakthrough towards drug for hearing loss
Research funded by hearing loss charity RNID has discovered a drug which repairs hearing after damage caused by loud noise. Researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, showed that exposure to loud noise led to hearing loss which...
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Hearing loss in teenagers has risen 30% in 20 years
Listening to personal music players such as iPods has contributed to hearing loss among teenagers rising by nearly a third in 20 years, a study shows. Between 2005 and 2006, one in five teens suffered some form of hearing...
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Get paid to take part in new research
Have your say by taking part in research about the future of text relay and other services for people who are deaf, partially deaf with or without speech. A major research project is about to start on the subject of...
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Top Gun for coHearentVision
Bilingual Holly Jones is celebrating sign language success after reaching top tier status as a Member of the Register of Sign Language Interpreters (MRSLI) with leading deaf-blind charity, coHearentVision. Holly’s success is the latest example of the charity’s commitment...
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Die Hard made Bruce Willis deaf
Actor Bruce Willis suffered hearing loss after an accident filming Die Hard. The action superstar still carries the injury and admits he hates having to make people repeat themselves....
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The mobile for the hard of hearing
Amplicom M6000 is ideal for anyone with hearing loss as it comes equipped with a ring-tone that can blare out 100 decibels. It won't make you popular with the neighbours, but if you are hard of hearing and do...
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Our survey winner celebrates with champagne
Thank you to everyone who completed our questionnaire, it was great to find out more about our readers. Melanie Jewett from Southampton was the lucky winner of our champagne prize draw. Mel has just been implanted with a Nucleus...
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Henry Cooper's hearing survived Muhammad Ali - but ageing nerves landed the knock-out blow
No sporting icon is more affable than Sir Henry Cooper - so it was a surprise to fans when he began shunning them in the street. And it was even more of a surprise to the former heavyweight boxing...
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Is Justin Bieber going deaf?
Here's a good reason for Justin Bieber's fans to stop screaming so loudly. Justin thinks he's starting to go deaf at age 16! "I think I've lost 80 percent of my hearing," Justin told Vibe. "I definitely have very...
The price of making that call... Mobile phone link to tinnitus
Talking on a mobile phone could dramatically increase the risk of tinnitus, research suggests. Having one for at least four years doubles the odds of the condition in which buzzing, humming and ringing disturbs sleep, intrudes on work and...
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Congenital deafness research request
The DeafBlog has been contacted by a medical student who has chosen congenital deafness as the topic for her dissertation. She's looking for any individual who may be interested in completing a short (30 min) questionnaire via e mail, in...
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Cochlear wins major design award
Cochlear has won a ‘red dot award:design’ for its Nucleus 5 System, a solution for people with severe to profound hearing loss....
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The Silence: a deaf writer's view of the BBC thriller
By Cathy Heffernan "I'm a big fan of crime series that deliver juicy slices of TV viewing in one-hour chunks. And The Silence, with its intriguing if rather convenient storyline that leaves the viewer wanting more, does just that. But...
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Genevieve Barr's Silence challenge
If you watched The Silence last night, you may agree that Genevive Barr was mesmerising as a deaf girl who witnesses a murder. Her character, 18 year-old Amelia wears a cochlear implant, but Genevive, 24, has revealed that she...
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Don't miss... The Silence, BBC1, 9pm
A deaf girl, who has recently been fitted with a cochlear implant, witnesses the murder of a policewoman. That’s the bare bones of the plot for this four-part drama. Amelia, who is played by Genevieve Barr, is herself profoundly...
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RNID urges businesses to be more deaf aware
RNID is urging businesses, shops and services to seize the opportunity to expand their customer base by ensuring they are fully accessible to the 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. RNID, the...
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Ear injections could reverse 'permanent' hearing loss caused by loud noise
A new drug could reverse hearing loss caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise, scientists have revealed. Hearing loss caused by loud noise is one of the leading occupational hazards in industrialised countries, especially for those working in the...
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How a bout of flu left Peter Stringfellow virtually deaf
Peter Stringfellow is not the kind of man who likes to offend. Having spent half a century gladhanding guests in his hugely successful nightclubs, image is everything to him and upsetting people is anathema. Sometimes, however, he simply cannot...
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The incredible moment a deaf baby hears his mother's voice for the very first time
Doctors and parents will tell you that every baby knows his mother's voice the first time he/she hears it. There's proof of that as this eight-month-old baby boy Jonathan has his new cochlear implant switched on....
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Next Cochlear information evenings announced
Cochlear Europe Ltd has announced its next information evenings, where you can find out more about its exciting portfolio of products and how they can open up a world of sound for you or your child. These events may...
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Gavin and Stacey star Larry Lamb reveals he's going deaf...
When Larry Lamb volunteered to go to Senegal to publicise the plight of some of the world's poorest children, he steeled himself for heartbreaking scenes of deprivation. The EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey star knew, too, that he would...
Taking Viagra could DOUBLE your risk of hearing loss
Men who take Viagra may double their risk of hearing loss. High doses of the drug have been shown to damage hearing in mice, but until now only a few anecdotal cases had been described in humans. Now a...
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HOPE notes Music workshop - Sunday 11 July
Music is a gift in this noisy world, playing an important role in the lives of many hearing impaired people. Cochlear Europe Ltd is delighted to announce an exciting one day music workshop for professionals and recipients. Cochlear welcomes...
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Over the Rainbow star fears hearing loss
Over the Rainbow star Lauren Samuels fears that hearing loss could one day end her singing career. The 22-year-old, who finished in third place in the BBC programme to find the next Dorothy in the West End's Wizard of...
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£50,000 competition launched to find disabled entrepreneur
From today, the search for disabled entrepreneur of the year begins - with a first prize of £50,000 offered. This major award, run by Leonard Cheshire Disability and sponsored by easyGroup Chairman Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou (pictured), was presented in...
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Rebecca French wins 2009 Graeme Clark Scholarship Award
At an awards ceremony in Nottingham on Thursday, the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Brian Grocock presented university student Rebecca French with the €6,000 educational scholarship from the Cochlear™ UK Graeme Clark Scholarship Award. Rebecca, who is now 19...
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The Ear Foundation turns 21!
The Ear Foundation celebrated its 21st birthday in May with a party. In 1989 the first cochlear implant for a child in the UK was funded by The Ear Foundation and carried out at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham...
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Moving on up...
You might be interested in this YouTube clip from the Family Information Direct programme. 'My Favourite Day: Moving On Up' follows two Deaf families who find that after school clubs have allowed them to find new jobs and make the...
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Gene that causes deafness discovered
A gene has been discovered that causes children to be born deaf and could lead to new medicines to treat the condition, it has been announced. The discovery could lead to new tests to identify if deafness in their...
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Coronation Street star William Roache reveals he's partially deaf
Soap legend William Roache has revealed he is partially deaf and has to have special treatment on the Coronation Street set. The veteran actor, 77, who plays Weatherfield stalwart Ken Barlow, is 50% deaf in both ears and must...
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Three year-old Ava is now a chatterbox thanks to cochlear implant
Ava Pearson was nine months old when she became one of the youngest people in Britain to have cochlear implants. Now aged three, she has language skills months ahead of other children her age and is doing well at...
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Deaf comedy hit on YouTube
Check out this new YouTube-based deaf comedy, "The Fingerspellers."...
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Marlee Matlin launches reality series on YouTube
Marlee Matlin had an idea for a reality show that she hoped would bring some insight into the lives and struggles of deaf people and how they cope. But while reality TV has brought us wife swappers, party girls,...
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RNID launches iPhone app to check the state of the nation's hearing
A new innovative iPhone application that allows people to check their hearing anywhere in the world has been launched today by RNID. The app is the latest version of RNID's popular Hearing Check that has seen over half a...
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Robert Pattinson’s hearing worries
Robert Pattinson is surrounded by thousands of screaming fans wherever he goes, but he's revealed that it doesn’t bother him as he is ‘almost completely deaf’. At the London premiere of his latest movie Remember Me, the noise from...
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Bionic eye to get long-term trial in Oxford
Scientists at Oxford University have announced the first long-term trial of a new eye implant - as major a breakthrough as cochlear implants were for deaf people....
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Complete your hearing experience with Cochlear Hybrid
Your struggle with high frequency hearing loss may soon be over! Hybrid, the exciting and innovative new solution from Cochlear is designed to restore the full richness and clarity of sound, in a totally new dimension. It does this...
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Hearing Dog of the Month!
Five year-old mongrel Beth was named by her sponsors after their mother, who was known as Beth to her closest friends and family and had a hearing dog of her own. Carolyn Jones says she sponsored Beth as “a...
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Music class may benefit kids with cochlear implants
Music class may help improve certain types of sound perception in deaf children who have cochlear implants, a new study hints....
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New research shows that hearing aids could help tinnitus sufferers
New research which shows that hearing aids could help thousands of people across the country who suffer from the debilitating condition, tinnitus, has been welcomed today by Suffolk’s leading hearing care specialist. According to the national charity Deafness Research...
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Nucleus 5 CI transforms Peter's life
Hearing birds chirping, rain falling on a roof or even your children playing with the dog is an everyday experience for a lot of people. But for Peter Gunness, hearing these things for the first time has been like...
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Famous Helen Keller quotes to celebrate Deaf History Month
March 13 to April 15 is Deaf History Month. Some of the world's most famous quotes belong to a remarkable women who is honoured during this time of year. Hellen Keller, while never hearing the famous quotes she shared...
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Deaf children with cochlear implants report the same quality of life as hearing kids
Profoundly deaf children with cochlear implants rate their quality of life equal to their normal-hearing peers, according to new research by auditory specialists from UT Southwestern Medical Center. In addition, the earlier a child is implanted with a cochlear device...
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SIGNstific comes to the Science Museum
Exciting new programme SIGNstific is coming to the Science Museum in London! 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...
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Deaf and Blind Youth Service Launched in Leeds
Leading deaf and blind charity coHearentVision has launched its new contemporary Youth Service for children and young people in Yorkshire. Based in Leeds, the coHearentVision Youth Service will provide a one-stop-shop where sensory loss children and young people can...
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Sabina Iqbal wins Tesco magazine Mum of the Year Award
For the fifth year, UK mums have been honoured at the Tesco magazine Mum of the Year awards. The awards recognise the achievements of exceptional mums whose love, dedication, bravery or kindness has touched the lives of the people...
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Glue ear special
What is glue ear? Glue ear is a condition where the middle ear fills with glue-like fluid instead of air. With fluid blocking the middle ear, it becomes difficult for sound to pass through to the inner ear and...
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Painkillers increase risk of going deaf
Regularly popping painkillers such as paracetamol can significantly increase the danger of going deaf, new research has revealed. Users of the three mainstream painkillers widely available over the counter from pharmacists – paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen – are all...
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Why hearing with two ears is better than one
Frequently asked questions about bilateral cochlear implants 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...
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New twilight lecture at The Ear Foundation
Ruminations of an Old Man - A Fifty Year Perspective on Clinical Practice, by David Luterman, D.Ed. Thursday 11 March 2010 @ 5.30pm - FREE The Ear Foundation has welcomed David Luterman back to present this lecture on 50 years...
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Janine Roebuck sings it loud!
Glamorous but never a diva, opera singer Janine Roebuck throws a few notes the way of Alice Lagnado in an interview for February's One in Seven magazine. She talks about forging a successful career as a singer despite being...
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New community at Deaf4Life
We were contacted by Deaf4Life this week about its free community which helps to 'bring the D/deaf community together'....
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Meet Ruby, the youngest baby to have the Nucleus 5 cochlear implant
Like any other baby, Ruby Hallows loves to hear her favourite songs 'The Wheels on the Bus' and 'Baa Baa Black Sheep.' However, it was only a couple of months ago that the one year-old heard these tunes for...
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DJ Judge Jules: Turn it down or risk going deaf
RNID researchers have discovered that more than one in five people listen to music at sound levels of 100 decibels or more – the equivalent of hearing a pneumatic drill ten feet away. DJ Judge Jules, 43, has paid...
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Looking for the charity management class of 2010
A unique professional development programme run by a consortium of leading charities is now recruiting graduates and high flyers to join in September 2010. Charity Works provides a dynamic one year mentoring and learning programme for up to 24...
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Wasabi smoke alarms in today's news
Chris Evans was talking about a smoke alarm which has been designed for deaf people, on his BBC Radio 2 show this morning. Instead of an ear-piercing wail, the device unleashes the chemical compound 'Allyl Isothiocyanate', which gives horseradish,...
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There's a buzz about National Tinnitus Week
Imagine wearing a pair of headphones that are playing the sound of a whistling kettle. Imagine wearing those headphones all day, and all night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Horrific it might sound, but that’s what...
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Stephanie Beacham evicted from CBB in fifth place
Stephanie Beacham described her Celebrity Big Brother experience as blissful, when she was evicted in fifth place on Friday. The former 'Dynasty' actress, who has 80 percent hearing in her left ear and no hearing in her right, told...
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One year anniversary of NICE guidance on cochlear implants
One year has now passed since NICE recommended that children with severe or profound deafness should be given the option of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants. The good news is that this does seem to be happening across England, and...
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Shortfall in care for deaf-blind people in Somerset
An investigation by BBC Somerset has shown the needs of thousands of deaf-blind people are not being met....
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Watch Amanprit Johal's cochlear implant story
Profoundly deaf since birth, Amanprit relied on hearing aids and lip-reading for all communication until the age of 21. In 2008 it was announced that Amanprit was the first UK winner of the Cochlear Graeme Clark Scholarship Award, an...
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Born-deaf racer inspires kids
His words were inspirational for children, who like him, would hear nothing if not for their cochlear implants. Kris Martin was born profoundly deaf, but thanks to the cochlear implant and his own determination he became a race car...
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After Cochlear Implant, music therapy may help speech
Music therapy can aid speech development in hearing-impaired toddlers after they receive cochlear implants, researchers have found....
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Sting to support global hearing loss campaign
Grammy award winning singer songwriter Sting will lend his support to the Hear the World initiative, a global hearing loss campaign that helps raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Sting joins a...
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Get on your bike for the RNID
RNID is urging fundraisers to shrug off their festive hangovers and get in shape for an exhilarating cycle challenge raising vital funds for the charity's work with hearing loss and hearing health. The charity would like to hear from...
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The drug that could end tinnitus
The Daily Mail has revealed today that a drug pump which is implanted in the ear is the latest approach for tackling tinnitus. It works by releasing a powerful new medicine that calms the overactive nerves thought to cause...
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Ignite the Flame: A creative writing competition
Budding young, disabled writers living in Wales are invited to enter a poem or short story into a competition which has been organised by Disability Arts Cymru....
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Laura Jakubowski's cochlear implant experience
The DeafBlog featured Laura's story in a five part diary series, and has since been following her experience on her own blog. Laura's most recent post is a helpful list of the pros and cons of her cochlear implant....
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Life-saving Jumble is Hearing Dog of the Month
A dog who alerted his deaf owner to a potentially devastating fire in her Gourock home has been awarded the title Hearing Dog of the Month....
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Stephanie Beacham enters the Big Brother house!
Stephanie Beacham was the fourth celebrity to enter the Big Brother house last night. Stephanie, who has featured on the DeafBlog a couple of times recently, has 80 percent hearing in her left ear and no hearing in her...
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New research shows hope for tinnitus sufferers
Pioneering new research funded by RNID has revealed hope for the early treatment of tinnitus. The study, led by researchers at the University of Western Australia, has identified a six week period where future treatments may be able to...
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Scientific breakthrough could bring repair of hearing loss closer
A new study into hearing has uncovered the secret of our extraordinary ability to perceive a range of sounds - from a pin dropping to the roar of a jet engine - and could lead to a better understanding...
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Big Brother needs you!
The team behind next year’s 'Big Brother' are looking for new housemates, and are keen to represent all sections of society – including deaf/HoH people. A spokesperson for production company Endemol told Able Magazine: “We’re looking for vibrant contributors...
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Rebecca French awarded Graeme Clark Scholarship Award
Student Rebecca French has been awarded a €6,000 scholarship from the Cochlear UK Graeme Clark Scholarship Award, which will help to support her through university. Rebecca, 19, from Durham, is profoundly deaf, but was given the sensation of hearing...
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Breakthrough on cinema access as first subtitled 3D film shows
NDCS has welcomed news that, for the first time, deaf children and young people will be able to enjoy a 3D film, Disney's A Christmas Carol, with subtitles at the cinema. In a statement, NDCS said, 'The National Deaf...
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Award for deaf Everton FC footballer
A deaf girl who plays for Everton FC has received a top award at a Deaf Friendly Football Conference in Anfield. Danielle Evans, 16, won the Young Person of the Project award, which was presented to Danielle by Portsmouth...
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Deaf entrepreneur is role model to others
A deaf businessman who has been hailed as a North West enterprise ambassador has been honoured by his home town of Bolton....
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Do you want to be a model?
If so, look no further! We've been informed that Sinclair Management is holding an open casting day on the 14th December in London. The company, which promotes 'models of diversity' rather than 'models of uniformity' is looking for models...
Health survey for deaf people
A charity helping deaf people in Birmingham has received a grant to carry out a survey into the health of people with hearing difficulties....
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Petition to save the BSC Audiology programme
We've been informed about a petition which is part of the British Academy of Audiology strategy to save the BSc Audiology programmes. These are threatened by a Department of Health-imposed generic Physiological Sciences programme and withdrawal of funding for...
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Researchers create mobile phones for sign language
For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, mobile phone use has largely been limited to text messaging. But technology is catching up: Cornell researchers have created mobiles that allow deaf people to communicate in sign language -...
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TV presenters urge people in rural areas to get their hearing checked
Do you love the calming countryside sounds of birds singing, lambs mewing, cockerels crowing or lapping lakes? As part of its Hearing Matters campaign, RNID is calling on people in rural areas to think about your favourite 'Sound of...
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Drum goes online!
Drum, the Cochlear Club annual magazine has gone online! Hearing implant recipients can now get top tips, shared experiences, Cochlear UK company and product updates, from the new site as well as from the magazine. The site, at drum-online.com...
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Baha opens new world for Alex
Alex Patel has been given a new world of opportunity thanks to a new Baha....
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Stephanie Beacham claims, "I used to get called 'Deaf Steph' at school"
"I used to get called 'Deaf Steph' at school," claims Stephanie Beacham, "and the hurt will live with me forever." "As a child, being deaf was dreadfully isolating, but I'm lucky to have any hearing at all. My mother,...
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Vatican officials say church must improve service to deaf community
While the Catholic Church no longer considers deafness an impediment to ordination, there are only 13 priests in the world who were ordained deaf, said officials of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. Msgr. Jean-Marie Mpendawatu, undersecretary of...
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I'm nearly blind and deaf, I can't walk but I can play guitar...
Busking is a tough way of making money at the best of times. The young musicians, who usually entertain passers-by outside shops and railway stations, have a hard enough time enduring the wind and rain which is an occupational...
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Baby is 1,000th cochlear implant patient
The Nottingham Cochlear Implant Programme is celebrating its 1,000th patient - an eight-month-old baby. Nottingham University Hospitals Trust runs the programme at the Queen' s Medical Centre and the Ropewalk in Nottingham. The first cochlear implant operation was carried out...
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YouTube introduces automatic captions to videos
In a move that will make thousands more videos accessible to the deaf and hearing impaired, Google announced that videos on its YouTube site would sport machine-generated automatic captions. Google has offered user-generated captioned videos for three years. What...
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BBC casts deaf actress in lead role
A deaf actress has been handed the lead role in a primetime BBC thriller. Genevieve Barr will play deaf teenager Amelia Edwards in a new BBC1 four part series called The Silence. She won the role while on the...
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ITV under fire for deaf services cutbacks
ITV bosses are coming under fire after making cutbacks to their sign-language department, Signpost. The department is shedding seven of its 24 sign language experts who appear on programmes for the deaf and hard of hearing. The British Deaf...
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Deaf dancer wins South Africa’s Got Talent
A deaf 19 year-old South African Indian hip-hop dancer Darren Rajbal has won South Africa’s Got Talent. The show, which follows the exact format of Britain’s Got Talent, has been going on for the past three months and featured...
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Hope for drug that prevents hearing loss in old age
Scientists in America claim to have pinpointed the gene that causes hearing loss in old age. The research revealed that a gene called ‘bak’ is the main cause of developing the condition. This could lead to various medical breakthroughs...
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Hard-of-hearing businessman shortlisted for Stelios Entrepreneur Award
Mohammad Al Ubaydli from Cambridge hasn’t let his hearing impairment stop him from running a successful IT business in the health sector and being nominated for the Stelios Award for Disabled Entreprenuers. Mohammad, 33 became hard-of-hearing following a genetic...
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Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity to meet deaf youngsters
A group of deaf youngsters will have the chance to meet the winners of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, Diversity. The event, which is supported by the Bromley Deaf Children’s Society, will take place at the Glades shopping centre...
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Buckinghamshire Labrador is top dog for November
Ludo, a hearing dog in Buckinghamshire has been named Hearing Dog of the Month by the charity that trained him. Ludo was six months old when he was donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by a member of...
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Alan Knight campaigns to change attitudes to deafness
Pompey football legend Alan Knight spent years struggling to hear conversations. But now hearing aids have transformed his life and he is campaigning to change attitudes to deafness. 'That John Westwood has got a lot to answer for,' smiles...
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Motocross rider Josh to be featured on See Hear
Coleford Motocross rider Josh Waterman is to be featured on the BBC2 programme for the deaf, See Hear, on November 11. Josh, 17, recently clinched the British MXY2 and BYMX Championships. He represented England and is an AutoCycle Union...
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Survey calls for IT to help hearing impaired patients
More than half of deaf and hearing impaired patients regularly face difficulties communicating with their GP surgery and would like practices to make greater use of IT solutions, according to a new survey. Patient information website Patient.co.uk and charity...
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Little Miss Sunshine meets The Miracle Worker
Helen Keller is to be revived on Broadway next year, in a stage version of The Miracle Worker. Keller will be played by 12yr old Abigail Breslin, who is best known for her role in independent sleeper hit Little...
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Lottery brings helping hand for deaf community in Leicester
New opportunities are set to blossom for hard-to-reach deaf people and their families in Leicester, following a cash injection of £243,900 from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). The HearNow project is celebrating news of a grant from BIG’s Reaching...
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Mr Motivator backs RNID campaign
Legendary fitness instructor, Mr Motivator, is calling on fundraisers to get fit, get energised and sign-up now for RNID’s London to Paris cycle challenge and raise vital funds for the charity’s work with hearing loss and hearing health. The...
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Jacqui Smith challenges Parliament to improve access for deaf constituents
Jacqui Smith MP has raised the issue of access to Parliament for disabled people on the floor of Parliament. Jacqui was concerned that when she tried to arrange for Redditch Deaf Club to visit Parliament she was told that...
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Top computer honour for deaf student
A deaf computer whiz has been named the most enterprising student in Scotland....
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Documentary about 27 year-old man who hears for first time premieres
Brooklyn Girl Productions presents the premiere of the award-winning documentary film 'From Silence to Sound' at the New York International Film Festival this Friday. The film tells the story of Justin Garrett, a man who has been profoundly deaf...
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New hope for blind based on cochlear implants
An artificial retina could restore sight to the blind, according to new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The device can be plugged directly into the optic nerve and is based on cochlear implants. "We are skipping the...
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MP backs campaign to help deaf children achieve their potential
Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury, met with Louis Kissaun - the deaf 17 year-old TV star, at the Conservative Party conference, to find out about the barriers deaf young people face at school. Louis, who attends the Mary Hare...
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Deaf teenagers given starring roles in new era of TV drama
A new drama starring deaf teenagers from South London has aired on the community channel and online....
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The new Baha BP100 - the gem you have to hear
Cochlear's newest innovation is the world's first programmable sound processor, built exclusively for bone conduction. With 30 years of experience developing bone conduction solutions, along with input from Baha users, parents, and professionals, Cochlear has delivered a gem! Clarity...
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Dancing duo prove they’ve got rhythm
Two talented young dancers have been crowned world champions. Mikey Riddington-Smith, 13, and his dance partner Edward Jones, 14, both from Bedford, won the under 16s World Electro Boogie Street Dancing Championship in Poland. Mikey was born profoundly deaf...
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BBC searches for CI recipient to play lead role in new drama
The BBC is looking to cast an aspiring deaf (or hearing impaired) actress in the lead female role of new drama, The Silence. The girl should be aged around 16 to 19 and does not have to have had...
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Helen Keller statue is unveiled in Washington
A bronze statue of Helen Keller was unveiled in Washington yesterday as lawmakers praised her as a trailblazer and an inspiration for those with disabilities. The statue shows Keller, who lost her sight and hearing to illness when she...
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Cochlear celebrates with special celebrity guests
Hard of hearing adults and children* and their families enjoyed a day of education, fun and laughter at Cochlear’s Celebrations on Saturday (3 October). The event, which was held at The Heart of England Centre in Warwickshire, saw the...
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The DeafBlog is up for prestigious award
The DeafBlog has been shortlisted for a prestigious award! The Blog has reached the shortlist in the ‘Best Website or Microsite’ category of the 2009 CIPR awards. The winners will be announced at a presentation dinner in November....
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iPods to be fitted with noise limiters under new EU rules
Mobile phones and iPods that blast out music at ear-shattering levels are having their volumes turned down. The news that personal music players will be fitted with noise limiting controls will delight the parents of teenagers and anyone who...
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RNID finds that despite 'recession' more young people are going out and risking hearing damage
The number of young people going out to loud clubs, gigs and festivals has increased by 20% in 2009, RNID's Don't Lose the Music campaign has found as part of its annual poll of music lovers. The campaign, which...
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Your invitation to Cochlear's Celebrations
Cochlear's 2009 Celebrations' Day is now just a week away and the DeafBlog is pleased to be able to update you on the programme of events and the special celebrity guest appearances that you can expect. Celebrations 2009 will...
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Deaf World 2009 - in celebration of Hampshire Deaf Association’s 130th anniversary
Deaf World 2009, the largest exhibition of its kind in the south will be held this year at The Rose Bowl, Botley Road, West End, Southampton on Thursday 1st October, 10am – 4pm. Entry is free and everyone is...
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Deaf Holly is a ‘miracle’ piano star
A ten year-old girl who became deaf after getting meningitis as a baby has defied doctors by becoming a talented pianist. Holly Loach suffered brain damage as a tot and her parents - both musicians - were told she...
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Deaflympics official hails success of Taiwan event
The organiser of the 21st Summer Deaflympics has praised Taiwan for hosting the 'best ever' Deaflympics as the 10-day games drew to a close in Taipei. The closing ceremony, marked by fireworks, a traditional dragon dance and other local...
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Donation helps Hearing Dogs for Deaf People spread the word
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has welcomed a donation of more than £40 000 from Qualcomm Incorporated, which will pay for the training and care of a working hearing dog and expand the network of speakers who give talks...
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Deaf artist sings a song of colour
Deaf Wrexham artist Emily May Peters has dedicated her new exhibition ‘Sing A Song Of Colour’ to her beloved hearing dog Cassy, who passed away earlier this year. Emily, 63, studied Stained Glass and Mosaics where she developed a...
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Deaf dog rescued from cave
Rescue workers in Australia have saved a deaf dog after he got stuck in a cave for five days. A cavalier King Charles Spaniel, called Scooby, could not hear the calls from his anxious owners....
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BREAKING NEWS! New Cochlear Nucleus 5 System launched
Global leader in hearing solutions, Cochlear has launched a new cochlear implant system that is designed to give patients best hearing performance, with the world’s thinnest cochlear implant. Like everyone, people with impaired hearing want to lead an active...
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Northants Mongrel Tiffin is top hearing dog for September
A Brackley hearing dog has been awarded the Hearing Dog of the Month award by the charity that trained her. Four year old mongrel, Tiffin, started life as a stray in the Republic of Ireland, and was seven months...
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Edinburgh Fringe Festival leaves hard of hearing visitors out of the loop
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is not accessible for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, charity RNID has revealed, after undercover ‘mystery shopper’ research. The largest charity working in the UK with hearing loss and hearing health found...
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Nine year-old learns sign language to communicate with deaf mother
Nine year-old Tayla Reynolds has become one of the youngest in Britain to gain a sign language qualification so she could communicate better with her hearing impaired mother. Tayla successfully learnt more than 600 gestures in British Sign Language because...
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Calvin Harris plays V Festival despite 'being deaf in one ear'
Calvin Harris played a triumphant show at V Festival in Chelmsford on Saturday despite telling the crowd he was "deaf in one ear". The singer/producer played despite his ailment, with hits including 'Ready for the Weekend' and 'Acceptable in...
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Andrew Thomson meets the Prime Minister
Andrew Thomson, Winner of the Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur and Director of Sign Now met Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Peter Mandleson at a Building Britain’s Future event held at 10 Downing Street. The meeting was held as a way of...
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Local support for national hearing screening programme
A call for a national hearing screening programme has today been welcomed by Suffolk’s leading hearing health care specialist. Karen Finch, of The Hearing Care Centre, echoed the views of the RNID that tackling hearing loss would reduce isolation...
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Hearing Dog of the Year Awards
Date: 6 October 2009 Time: 6.30pm - 10.30pm Venue: The Vintners’ Hall, Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3BG The annual Hearing Dog of the Year Awards this year will be held at the beautiful and historic Vintners Hall in...
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Deaf soldier wins £330K damages from MoD
A soldier has won £330,000 from the Ministry of Defence for hearing loss, after being told not to wear earplugs during a training exercise to make it more "battle realistic". Charles Bradlaugh was left with hearing loss and tinnitus....
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At last, there's an end to the torment of Ménière's
Taken from Mail Online A constant ringing in her ears was the first sign that something was wrong. A few weeks later Benie Jewels also started experiencing dizzy spells. 'It felt as if I was spinning, but mostly as...
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Steam enthusiasts stoked up for charity challenge
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, the national UK charity, is benefiting from an historic charity drive in an unusual steam car all the way from the very far north to the most southern tip of the United Kingdom. Dean...
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Deaf-blind communication goes portable
A new portable device for deaf-blind people allows them to have face-to-face conversations, make phone calls using a text relay service and communicate by SMS. The DeafBlind Communicator consists of a Braille note-taker linked by Bluetooth to a mobile...
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New Chat and Share group starts in Malvern
A new group for deaf people has formed in Malvern, Worcestershire, and will start next month. If you live locally, have a hearing loss or tinnitus and would like to meet people and learn new skills, you're invited to join...
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Cochlear Europe's 2009 celebrations
Don't forget that Cochlear's celebrations day is fast approaching, so make it a date for your diary! Taking place on Saturday 3rd October, at the Heart of England Centre in Birmingham, the event will be the largest gathering of...
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Piggle is top hearing dog for August
Brighton hearing dog Piggle, who tells his severely deaf owner about household sounds including the doorbell, telephone and smoke alarm has just been named Hearing Dog of the Month by the charity that trained him. Piggle is quite an...
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People still pumping up the volume
A new survey has found that most people would turn their music down if they were told to by a doctor or other health-care professional. The survey, which was carried out by Vanderbilt University, in conjunction with MTV, revealed...
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Loud music made me deaf, says Dire Staits star John Illsley
John Illsley, bass guitarist for the Dire Straits has admitted that loud rock music has ruined his hearing. Having toured constantly from 1976 to 1992 and exposed his ears to damaging levels of decibels, he has sustained considerable hearing...
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RNID awarded gift from legendary actor's foundation
The RNID has received a major gift to a UK charity from the late Hollywood actor Paul Newman's Foundation, which will be used to support the charity's pioneering Hear to Help project in North Wales....
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Airports must listen to disabled travellers
Leonard Cheshire Disability says many airports do not meet the needs of disabled passengers one year on, despite EU law....
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Suffolk business has the ear of the stars
The global Hear the World Ambassadors photography exhibition opened its doors in the UK last week, supported by Suffolk’s local hearing care specialists, The Hearing Care Centre. The exhibition – previously featured in New York, Berlin and Zurich –...
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New videos in BSL to help and inspire deaf parents
Being a parent can be the adventure of a lifetime, but for some people it can also present many challenges. A new series of films have been created in British Sign Language (BSL) to highlight some of the issues...
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Signing would greatly improve deaf people's GP experiences
'Deaf people have serious difficulties accessing basic healthcare services and their needs are being ignored', the Guardian reported yesterday. According to this year's GP patient survey, thirty percent of deaf people in the UK are unemployed, permanently sick or...
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World of Sound speaks up on NICE
Following the major breakthrough in the provision of cochlear implants for profoundly deaf children and adults, the latest drive to raise awareness of the procedure has been launched on campaigning website, World of Sound, (www.worldofsound.org.uk.) World of Sound talks...
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Sign Now and The Travel Company announce partnership
Andrew Thomson, Director of Sign Now and Ken McNab, Director of The Travel Company have announced a joint venture to promote easy travel arrangements using the combined expertise of both companies....
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Jo gets invited to Palace party
A woman who is deaf and blind will enjoy a garden party at Buckingham Palace tomorrow as a reward for her work supporting others with similar handicaps. Jo Stimson, 59, is involved with national charity Sense and was invited...
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Deaf percussionist celebrates university degree
Deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie hit the news yesterday after ‘drumming up’ an honorary degree from Edinburgh Napier University. Evelyn picked up her Honorary Doctorate of Music alongside other graduates, and used the scrolls for an impromptu display of her...
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Charities seek young scientists to research age-related hearing loss
The RNID and Research into Ageing have joined forces to strengthen research into age-related hearing loss. The charities are inviting applications for a series of co-funded research projects to investigate why hearing declines with age and to advance the...
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Golf can drive you deaf
It's already been reported that golfers should consider wearing ear plus, as the sport can risk their hearing. Now a new report out today reveals that modern drivers do infact make such a noise when they hit the ball...
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The Cochlear UK Graeme Clark Scholarship opens for applications
The Cochlear UK Graeme Clark Scholarship 2009, a unique award available to Nucleus cochlear implant (CI) recipients nationwide, is now open for applications. The award, set up to support implant recipients financially when they continue further education at an...
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Fun at Southampton Deaf Football Festival
Deaf children aged 6-16 enjoyed an exciting day of football coaching and games yesterday, as part of a joint venture between NDCS and Southampton FC. Southampton Deaf Football Festival took place at Fleming Park Leisure Centre in Eastleigh and...
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New taxi firm for deaf people
Deaf passengers are in for a smoother ride following the launch of a new taxi company in South Tyneside, a town between Newcastle Upon Tyne and Sunderland....
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Tom Malloy talks about new role as deaf swing dance champion
In the upcoming romantic dance film Love N’ Dancing, screenwriter and actor Tom Malloy cast himself as a former swing dance champion who is deaf. In a recent interview with TheStarScoop.com, Tom, who plays the character Jake, explained that...
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Stephanie Beacham's 60 second interview
Actress Stephanie Beacham - famed for her role in the 80s smash Dynasty and recent parts in Bad Girls and Coronation Street, spoke to Metro this week about her hearing impairment. Stephanie, who is supporting The Sound Barrier Stars...
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Special day for deaf children in Devon
Deaf children and their families from the Devon area are invited to a free regional fun day, organised by the NDCS. It'll be held at Animal Farm Adventure Park, Red Road, Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 2RW, this Saturday (July 11)...
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How a jab in your ear could banish tinnitus for good
An injection that's administered into the eardrum could help relieve tinnitus, the Daily Mail reports. The jab contains a drug that blocks the brain chemical glutamate, which is thought to play a key role in the development of tinnitus....
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Suffolk audiologist wins top honour
A well-known and highly respected figure within the hearing care industry has been honoured for her contributions to the industry. Karen Finch who runs a very successful hearing aid business in Suffolk has been awarded the Ruth Spencer Prize...
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Recycled phones to help deaf charity
For those with old mobile phones who do not want to throw them away, but no longer have a use for them, Regenersis and Deafness Research UK have created a new mobile recycling program that will aid deafness projects...
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Twilight Lecture by Bencie Woll, Monday 13 July
The next Twilight Lecture will be given by Bencie Woll. The free event, "Language and the Deaf Brain" will take place on Monday 13th July at 5.30pm at The Ear Foundation. Bencie Woll is professor of Sign Language and...
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New communications service for deaf people
Deaf and foreign language patients at the Royal United Hospital will be helped by a pioneering new communications service. The RUH, Bath, is working with Sign Health, a national charity for deaf people, to offer a service called Sign...
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Subtitled cinema service shortlisted for National Lottery Awards 2009
'YourLocalCinema.com', the not-for-profit cinema listings and information service for people with hearing or sight difficulties, has been shortlisted for a National Lottery Award in the 'Best Arts Project' category. Your vote is needed to make the finals....
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Hearing Times is giving back to charity!
Hearing Times, the only national newspaper for people with hearing loss in the UK, is setting up a campaign to donate money to charities on readers' behalves....
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Donaldson's proves that actions speak louder than words
Donaldson’s, Scotland’s national residential and day school for children who are deaf or have speech and language difficulties, has proven its commitment to providing pupils, staff and visitors with the best level of care and support, by achieving RNID’s...
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Sign Tube heads to Taipei for Deaflympics
Andrew and Caroline Thomson, Directors of Sign Now.com are heading out to Taipei in September this year to cover the Deaflympics. Andrew and Caroline will act as media correspondents for their time in Taipei and will be posting videos...
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19-year old Marume scoops Miss Deaf 2009
Zimbabwe has held its first ever Miss Deaf Zimbabwe Pageant, with 15 ladies taking part. The event, taking place for the first time in the country was held in preparation for the Miss Deaf World 2009 Beauty Pageant to be...
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Siemens launches ‘Decibels for Life’
New campaign aims for hearing awareness and instrument innovation ‘Decibels for Life’, the new campaign from Siemens Hearing Instruments, has been launched to maintain awareness of hearing loss. It will also champion hearing innovations that help overcome impairments leading...
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Sign Now and Central Scotland Police work in partnership on hate crime
Central Scotland Police has signalled its commitment to equality within the communities it serves by having key information on hate crime and how to report offences relayed via a innovative British Sign Language (BSL) video in partnership with a...
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Hear Hear! Photography competition winners named
Amateur and professional photographers alike, have been busy snapping their cameras around the county, for their chance to enter a unique photography competition. Launched in the East Anglian Daily Times, to coincide with Deaf Awareness Week, “Hear Suffolk” introduced...
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Girl learns to hug for first time
A seven-year-old girl with physical and learning disabilities has learned to hug her family for the first time, the BBC reports....
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Sign Language Social Club opens its doors
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is opening up its monthly ‘Sign Club’ to members of the public. Dog training co-ordinator for the charity, Sarah Allom, launched the club in its current format just over a year ago. Sarah explains:...
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Hearing care centre mingles with the stars!
What brings Annie Lennox, Mick Jagger and Amy Winehouse under one roof? Answer, the Hear the World Ambassadors photography exhibition by Phonak in cooperation with musician and photographer Bryan Adams, which is being sponsored by Suffolk’s only award winning...
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£50,000 competition launched to find disabled entrepreneur 2009
Disabled entrepreneurs from across the UK are invited to enter to win a £50,000 first prize as part of the search to find the winner of The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2009. This major annual award, run by...
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Deaf man and dog to walk 146 miles for charity
85 year-old deaf man Antony Sabin and his hearing dog Branson are getting ready to walk 146 miles on a Shakespearean trail. The pair hope to raise £35,000 for charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by walking from the Royal...
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Prominent deaf advocate dies aged 84
Marcella M. Meyer, a prominent advocate for the deaf who fought to expand civil rights in California and America, recently died aged 84. She helped found the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness in 1969, which established social services and...
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Teacher wins top award
Melanie Potts, a 36 year-old teacher, has won a top teaching award for her work with deaf people. She won the North West’s Teacher of the Year 2009 award following her commitment to teaching sign language and is now...
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Cochlear implant teenager first deaf person to get Duke of Edinburgh award
19-year-old Ross Grant has made history by becoming the first deaf person to win the Duke of Edinburgh leadership award. Prince Phillip will present the award to him at St James’ Palace in London. Ross had a cochlear implant...
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Centre for the deaf marks 15 year anniversary
Walsall College’s Deaf Base has celebrated its 15th year this week. The award-winning centre for deaf and deaf-blind learners marked this special occasion with an evening looking at the scheme’s past and present. Deaf Base was formed to help deaf...
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The man bringing music to life for the deaf
This summer Paul Whittaker will be alongside The Sixteen, a choir celebrating its 30th year. However, what’s extraordinary about him is that he’s totally deaf. If anyone hard of hearing wants to see a concert in the UK, it will...
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Isle of Wright Job Centre Plus receives charter mark for deaf awareness
A Job Centre Plus in the Isle of Wright has achieved the Royal National Institute for the Deaf’s (RNID) ‘Louder than Words’ charter mark. The Job Centre has done this through a continued commitment to providing deaf and hard-of-hearing people...
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Eastwood youngsters help deaf children
Youngsters from Eastwood Rainbows have been raising money to help deaf children. The girls chose to raise money for the Deaf Association from a choice of 19 charities, as they’d recently all learned sign language....
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Deaf girl in final of top modelling contest
Sophie Flory, a deaf girl from Sussex, has reached the final of Miss Teen Queen UK. The 17 year old is profoundly deaf and combines sign-language and speech to communicate, with organisers at the competition having a signer on hand...
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Mohamed Al-Fayed helps deaf star to Olympics
Mohamed Al-Fayed has given £10,000 to a world champion deaf footballer, who faced having his dreams shattered by a change in government sports funding. Ben Lampert played for the Great Britain deaf football team that won gold at the...
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Chloe wins a place at Deaf Olympics
A police inspector who spent 24 hours in a prison cell to raise cash for his 18-year-old footballing daughter is celebrating after she finally won a place in the team. Graham Lockey and his daughter Chloe were disappointed when...
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Gift of hearing for toddler who beat death four times
Meningitis survivor Arthur Russell is finally enjoying a normal life after being on the brink of death four times. Arthur became the youngest person in Scotland to be given cochlear implants when he was ten months-old. Now 23 months-old, Arthur...
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Doncaster Deaf School's insight into construction work
Students at Doncaster Deaf School have had an insight into the world of construction work from deaf employees at a housing organisation. St Leger Homes' staff visited the school to discuss careers in the construction industry and used sign...
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New booklet for professionals working with deaf children with eye problems
Forty percent of children who are born deaf also have eye problems, so a new set of guidelines has been produced to help professionals who work in vision and hearing, to ensure that deaf children receive good vision care....
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Deaf racer defies odds
Kris Martin, 22, a cochlear implant recipient, has fulfilled his dream of driving a racing car. "If I can't hear, I can't race," Martin had said, as safety is number one at the track and that only comes through...
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Coronation Street deaf star Ali Briggs set for return
Deaf actress Ali Briggs is returning to Corrie, the Mirror has reported. The ITV1 soap won a top disability award for portraying her character in 2005, and producers are hoping for more plaudits when she returns. Ali first starred...
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Nucleus Freedom information evening
Cochlear held a Nucleus Freedom information evening last night at the Birmingham NEC's Crowne Plaza. Cochlear implant candidates, those about to start their implant journey and their parents came to learn more about the system and how it can...
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Is the NHS listening to deaf people?
Dealing with hearing loss is hard enough for Coll Metcalfe, but the one place she thought she would be treated fairly was in hospital. But the special needs school clerk tells in the Daily Mail today, that she found...
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School for auditory impaired boosted by new technology
Jordanstown School for the Auditory and Visually Impaired in Belfast has been able to purchase a new FM radio system to be used by all of the school’s pupils who are deaf. This latest technology cost £14,000 and was...
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Have you heard 'the hum'?
Hundreds of people worldwide say they have been plagued by a buzzing noise known as 'the hum' which featured in an episode of The X-Files, sparking a string of conspiracy theories. Some believe the noise comes from gas pipes,...
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Sign Now and ScotRail join forces to assist deaf community
ScotRail has commissioned Sign Now to create video clips in British Sign Language (BSL) for its website. The clips are designed to inform the deaf community about ScotRail’s policies on disability and its approach to promoting equality of access...
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Better communication for deaf people at London hospitals
People who are hearing impaired will now find communicating with staff at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals easier. The Disability Information Centre Epsom (DICE), a service based at Epsom Hospital, has bought three portable hearing loops for patients to...
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Noise Action Week
Next week is Noise Action Week (18 - 22 May), an annual initiative coordinated by Environmental Protection UK (formerly NSCA), that aims to raise awareness of the noises you are exposed to at work, at home and when out...
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Top award for deaf teenager
A profoundly deaf teenager has received an award at the House of Commons for her ideas about hearing research. Helen Thomas, from Plymouth, scooped a top prize in the 'It's My Future' competition organised by Deafness Research UK....
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Waterstone's heralds My Brother John deaf awareness event great success
YESTERDAY's Waterstone’s event at the Trafford Centre in Manchester was a landmark event for My Brother John and coincided with the end of Deaf Awareness Week. The hour-long event was a great success, with author Joanne Zellweger reading the...
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Marlee Matlin receives Walk of Fame Star
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, who has been deaf since she was 18 months old, wiped away tears as her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled. Marlee Matlin received the 2,383rd star on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine...
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Suffolk businesses neglect people with hearing loss
Businesses in Suffolk are being asked to improve their communication with people who are hearing impaired, as part of this week's Deaf Awareness Week. The Hearing Care Centre in Ipswich is urging high street shops and service providers to...
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Deaf dog gets new leash of life
Lonely, deaf dog Snowball is being taught sign language to encourage someone to give her a home. The white Jack Russell-Collie cross was trapped in a world of her own when she was born at an animal shelter, but staff...
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Nucleus Freedom information evening, 21 May
Cochlear is holding its next Nucleus Freedom information evening on Thursday 21 May at Crowne Plaza, Birmingham NEC. Cochlear is inviting CI candidates and those about to start their implant journey and/or their parents to the evening, to learn...
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Maddison's world of sound
A little girl who was born profoundly deaf has been given the gift of hearing courtesy of a cochlear implant. Four-year-old Maddison Magee's world was transformed from a wall of silence into an explosion of sound after she underwent cochlear...
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Swine Flu advice in BSL
Sign Now has created a British Sign Language video clip to help inform the Deaf community of the current status of the potential pandemic. See the video at Sign Tube....
It's Deaf Awareness Week!
This week is Deaf Awareness Week, when organisations working with deaf people across the country are inviting everyone to 'Look At Me'! The theme aims to improve understanding of the different types of deafness by highlighting the many different...
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Gerard Featherstone to read My Brother John at Waterstone's in Manchester
Joanne Zellweger and Gerard Featherstone will be reading and signing copies of their fantastic book ‘My Brother John’ on Sunday May 10th, from 2-3pm at Waterstone’s, The Trafford Centre, Manchester. 'My Brother John' tells the story of a little...
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BBC TV presenter announced as competition judge
The 'Hear Suffolk' competition was launched last week in the East Anglian Daily Times and has today revealed its full judging panel line-up. The competition, created by The Hearing Care Centre is designed to have keen photographers capture the...
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15 year-old boy to meet MPs after winning prestigious deaf competition
A deaf teenager from Derbyshire is to give a presentation to MPs after he wrote a piece on how more could be done to help deaf and hard of hearing people....
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DIARY DATE: Cochlear Europe's 2009 celebrations
Cochlear Europe is delighted to announce its second celebrations event, to be held on Saturday 3rd October, at the Heart of England Centre, Birmingham. The event will be the largest gathering of Cochlear Europe Implant recipients in the UK....
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Street star kicks off for the deaf
Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey has told the Manchester Evening News how his singing career cost him his hearing. Now Bill, 68, who made his living as a nightclub crooner before switching to acting, is never without his hearing...
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Tour de France jersey is sold for £1,240
The 2008 Tour de France yellow jersey, worn and singed by the winner, Carlos Sastre, was sold on Saturday for £1,240. The auction, held through Ebay, attracted 43 bidders. All proceeds will fund a multi-sports day for deaf children...
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Bionic eye success in sight
Bionic Vision Australia, based in Melbourne, has brought together the biomedical engineers and researchers who were involved in the development of the cochlear implant, to trial the ‘bionic eye’. The eye could be just two years away after a...
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Toddler will be given the gift of hearing
A profoundly deaf toddler will be given the gift of hearing when she undergoes a cochlear implant operation, the Andover Advertiser reported yesterday. One year-old Rosannah Harris, of Basingstoke will undergo the operation after NHS bosses gave the green...
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Sign Now re-launches website in time for Deaf Awareness Week
Sign Now’s continued expansion sees the company move to larger offices within the Grangemouth Enterprise Centre. The move also coincides with the launch of the On-Line BSL Interpreting Agency....
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Runner’s deaf aid
A teacher is running the London marathon to raise awareness of the issues faced by deaf children. Sarah Gallagher, from Shortlands, has been training hard for the 26.2 mile race on Sunday, April 26. The 27-year-old tutor at City...
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Petplan donates £10,000 to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
To support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People's invaluable work, The Petplan Charitable Trust (PPCT), is donating £10,000 to help those with hearing impairments lead a more independent and confident life. The donation will enable two dogs to be rescued,...
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New hearing loss awareness photography competition launched
A major new photographic competition has been launched by one of Suffolk’s best-known small businesses to raise awareness of the effects of hearing loss. Award-winning hearing care company, The Hearing Care Centre, based in Ipswich, is inviting amateur photographers...
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Sign Now director makes IoS Happy List
Fed up with lists that celebrate the rich? The Independent on Sunday published a ‘Happy List’ this weekend - encompassing the top 100 people who who make Britain a better and happier place to live....
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Families battle to save Bradford Family Centre
Parents fighting the closure of a family centre in Bradford which gives deaf children a chance of making it in mainstream schools have told of the impact the charity has had on their children. The Elizabeth Foundation will shut...
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Deaf teenager encourages others to follow their dreams
A teenager is indulging her love of animals and wants to inspire other deaf youngsters to follow their dreams. Elinor Scott, 17, of Newport, Wales, is the only deaf student at Coleg Gwent College's Usk campus. She helped organise...
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Tour de France jersey auction in aid of deaf children is now live!
The auction of the 2008 Tour de France yellow jersey, worn and singed by the winner, Carlos Sastre, went live at midday today. All proceeds from the auction will fund a multi-sports day for deaf children and young deaf...
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Tiny Tiger is a real hero
A tiny Chihuahua that acts as a hearing dog for his severely deaf owner in Merthyr Tydfil has been named Hearing Dog of the Month for April by the Charity that trained him. The little hero, ironically called Tiger,...
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Deaf boy hears greeting
A boy born profoundly deaf heard his name called out by more than 45,000 fans at Sunderland football club’s Stadium of Light as part of a birthday treat on Saturday. Thomas Ferry, eight, was born deaf and with cerebral...
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Deaf boy's musical success
Learning to read music and play the piano by the age of five would be quite an achievement for most people – but Kieran Ross was born deaf. The 18-year-old, from Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, now writes music, performs with his...
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