Useful links

Hearing loss

• RNID (opens in a new tab) the national charity for hearing loss. Offers lots of information and support on a whole range of subjects relating to hearing loss and tinnitus. They also provide some information about lip-reading and campaign for better access.
• British Deaf Association (opens in a new tab) - Aims to achieve equality for deaf people. This is through community empowerment, membership and campaigning.
• Hearing Link (opens in a new tab) are a charity who support people with hearing loss to live well. Their website also includes a guide to lip-reading, links to online resources and a quiz to test your lip-reading skills.
• Deafblind UK (opens in a new tab) support people with combined sight and hearing loss.

Lip reading

• The Association of Teachers of Lip-reading to Adults (ATLA) (opens in a new tab)provides information about lip-reading classes (including the ability to search for a class close to where you live). It also has some useful tips on managing hearing loss. Books/DVDs can also be purchased.
• The Lip-reading Practice (opens in a new tab) website was set up by a lip-reading teacher and offers free lip‑reading practice resources. The exercises include video clips to practice the look and shape of sounds as well as stories to practice lip-reading in context. There are also exercise sheets to download for additional practice as well as plenty of guidance, advice and useful strategies.

Hearing aids

• C2hear online (opens in a new tab) - online videos on how to use and maintain your hearing aids.
• Music and hearing aids (opens in a new tab) - Information about music listening for people with hearing loss and hearing aids.
• Also see additional resources from hearing aid manufacturers.

Tinnitus

• British Tinnitus Association (opens in a new tab) - full of useful advice on things related to tinnitus.
• Take on Tinnitus (opens in a new tab) - tinnitus training, advice and general information regarding management, relief and remedies.
• The Cambridge Tinnitus Support group (opens in a new tab) - encourages a positive outlook and coping strategies for those living with tinnitus.
• If you do not reside in Cambridge and would like to find out if there is a Tinnitus support group local to you, please contact The British Tinnitus Association (opens in a new tab).

Dizziness and balance

• Menieres.org (opens in a new tab) - UK charity dedicated to supporting people affected by dizziness and balance problems caused by vestibular disorders.
• Migraine Trust (opens in a new tab) - For information about vestibular migraine.

Acoustic neuroma

• The Acoustic Neuroma and Meningioma Network (opens in a new tab).
• British Acoustic Neuroma Association (opens in a new tab).

Local hearing loss organisations

Please note, some of the services may have temporarily changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures in place. It is best you contact the service directly so that you can obtain up-to-date service information.

• Cambridge City Council (opens in a new tab) page for hearing loss, vision loss and sensory loss.
• Cambridgeshire Hearing Help (opens in a new tab) - Offers free advice about hearing loss. There are weekly drop-in sessions where NHS hearing aid users can get free batteries and hearing aid care. They also have equipment that can help you to hear the television or telephone.
• Cambridgeshire Hear for You community (opens in a new tab) can be found on Facebook. A social group for people with hearing loss and their families to come together.
• Cambridgeshire hearing help's (opens in a new tab) living well with hearing loss workshops- online Hearing matters course now available.
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s charity for people who are deaf (opens in a new tab), providing a number of services including care and support, advocacy, and British Sign Language training and communication professionals. They also run a number of clubs, coffee mornings, and pub meets across Cambridgeshire for those who are Deaf. Please also look at Cambridgeshire Deaf Association (opens in a new tab).
• Hearing Advisory Service for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Suffolk (opens in a new tab) - NHS hearing aid users can also obtain hearing aid batteries and have minor hearing aid repairs done here.
• Hearing Advisory Service for Essex (opens in a new tab)
• Hear Together (opens in a new tab) - a registered charity dedicated to supporting people with hearing loss in Nottingham, Derby and across the UK. We work with children and adults through community events, network support and workplace training.

Local authority / sensory services

• Cambridgeshire Council Sensory Services (opens in a new tab)
  Sensory Services works with adults, and some children, who are deaf-blind, deaf, and hard of hearing, to help them stay as independent as possible. The information and support that they provide may include: equipment (e.g. equipment to alert you to the fire alarm or doorbell, or equipment that can boost you hearing/ability to hear the TV), support for carers, access to benefits and entitlements, advocacy, access to work, and training opportunities. Please also see Cambridge county council's 'Deafness, hearing loss, vision loss and dual sensory loss' page (opens in a new tab).
• Norfolk - Carer Connect (opens in a new tab)
• Suffolk – Sensing Change (opens in a new tab)
• Essex Council Sensory Team - ECL (opens in a new tab)
• Hertfordshire County Council Sensory Services (opens in a new tab)
• Bedfordshire Borough Council (opens in a new tab)

Paediatric

• National Deaf Children’s Society (opens in a new tab) - Provides support and information to families, children and young people and professionals.
• The Hear glue ear App (opens in a new tab) is available on iOS and Android (free). Very informative, advises on glue ear and communication tactics that can be used with fluctuating hearing loss

Learning disabilities

• Cambridgeshire website for Learning Disability Partnership (opens in a new tab) - good resource to find out what is available or what can be accessed.

Cochlear implants / other implants

• National Cochlear Implant Users Association (opens in a new tab) - The sole national association in the UK that represents all Cochlear Implant users. See the NCIUA local support groups page (opens in a new tab) to find out about local cochlear implant support groups near you.
• Cambridge Cochlear Implant Social Support CACISS (opens in a new tab) - You can also email.
• Cochlear Implant International Community of Action (opens in a new tab)
• Adult Cochlear Implant Action Group (opens in a new tab)
• Insights into life with a cochlear implant (Southampton Cochlear Implant Centre). (opens in a new tab)

Assistive Listening Devices / Hearing aid accessories

• Please also see the section under ‘Local authority / Sensory services’ who may be able to supply some equipment.
• Connevans (opens in a new tab) sell a multitude of assistive listening devices and accessories for hearing aid maintenance and hygiene.
• The Hearing Link Shop (opens in a new tab) and Hearing Dogs offer assistive listening devices, hearing aid maintenance kits and other useful products.
• Sarabec (opens in a new tab) - Assistive listening devices.
• FM Hearing Systems (opens in a new tab) - For personal listeners and streamers.
• Information about using the Relay UK service (opens in a new tab) (either by app or Textphone). Type what you say into the app / Textphone and an assistant will relay the conversation in real time. Very useful service for those who cannot hear on the phone.
• Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (opens in a new tab) offer the hearing impaired smoke alarms that use a vibrating pad and / or flashing light, and they fit these for free. If you live outside Cambridgeshire, please visit the fire service website (opens in a new tab) for more information.
• The Cambridgeshire Bobby Scheme (opens in a new tab) will fit security equipment in the homes of victims of crime ages 60 and over, and people who feel at risk who are aged 65 and over or disabled.

Hearing loss in care settings

• ECL.org (opens in a new tab) - A very useful resource to help care homes / carers support residents who have sight and hearing loss.
• RNID - Guidance for supporting older people with hearing loss in care settings. (opens in a new tab) - Lots of advice and downloadable tools which can be very useful in care/nursing homes and other care settings.
• RNID - Guidance for residential care homes on supporting residents with a hearing loss. (opens in a new tab)

Other

Your local cinema (opens in a new tab) - Has extensive listings of subtitled cinema shows across the country, enabling film fans with hearing loss to enjoy rather than endure cinema.

Stagetext (opens in a new tab) - Has information about events such as theatre, talks and online talks that are captioned, making it easier for people who are hard of hearing / deaf to enjoy.

Disabled persons railcard (opens in a new tab) - Hearing aid users are entitled a Disabled Person’s Railcard. With this card you and a travelling partner can get 1/3 off adult rail fares for travel on the National Rail network.

Access to work (Gov.uk) (opens in a new tab) - Access to Work provides grants to help people to overcome barriers they may be facing when looking for a job, or when working. This means helping you to overcome any difficulties you are facing because of not hearing at work.

Hearing dogs (opens in a new tab) - Charity that trains dogs to alert people with hearing loss to important and life-saving sounds they would otherwise miss.