Support for people with hearing problems

How can we help?

We can help you to carry on living independently by organising different services, like:

• Equipment which will help you hear things in the home like the television or smoke alarms.
• Emotional support, particularly if you have just lost your hearing or are just starting to have problems because we know this can be very traumatic.
• Advice on where to go to find out about other support, such as how to learn lip-reading or sign language.
• Organising short breaks away from your own home to give you, and anyone who looks after you, a rest.
• Providing care in your home - staff can come out to help you with personal care, like getting washed and dressed, and sometimes domestic care, like cleaning and preparing meals.
• Giving support to anyone who helps look after you, such as a wife or husband, son, daughter, family member or friend.

Who can we help?

Anyone over 18 living in Stoke-on-Trent, who has a hearing difficulty which is causing them problems. If you are under 18, you will need to contact our Hanley office.

We also have guidelines to help us decide who qualifies for our services, because unfortunately we can't help everyone. The Government set these guidelines to make sure that everyone across the country has fair access to care services. Click here to see the guidelines.

How do you ask for this service?

You need to ring 01782-234050 or 01782-234235 where you can speak to a Contact Centre Advisor. Often though, your GP or another health professional who has seen you will refer you onto us.

What happens when you contact us?

We will ask you some questions to get some basic information, like your name, address and age. This information will be passed onto one of our duty officers who will contact you within 48 hours to find out more about what help you need.

After this, the duty officer will pass the information onto a social worker who is specially trained to help someone in your situation. They will need to carry out what's called an 'assessment' within 28 days. This usually means they will come and visit you at home and talk to you more about what help you need. After that, the support you need should be set up within 28 days. However, having a hearing difficulty can make communication more difficult, so it can sometimes take a bit longer to sort things out.

Is there a charge?

There is no charge for the assessments decribed above but there may be a charge for some of the services we provide. We will let you know about whether there will be a charge as soon as possible.

Other organisations that can help

• Information about benefits like Disability Living Allowance- visit the Department for Work and Pensions website.
• Staffordshire Deaf Society (dDeaflinks) organise local groups, support and training.
• UK Council on Deafness
• SENSE (The National Deafblind and Rubella Association)
• Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Deaf Children's Society
• Information about other conditions or illnesses which affect people's hearing- visit NHS Direct