Developing a new Helpful Hours topic
We have begun working with our Helpful Hours volunteer team to develop the next topic in our webinar series.
Initial discussions between the group have identified the next topic which focuses on living well at home.
Thinking around the new webinar was helped also by statistics and anecdotal lived experience of how people with hearing loss felt about managing hearing loss at home. The statistics showed:
- 67% of deaf people and those with hearing loss reported experiencing negative attitudes or behaviours in the past year.
- 48% said they experienced this from their own family members.
- 54% reported being regularly excluded from conversations, often hearing phrases like “It doesn’t matter” when they ask for clarification.
- 33% said these experiences made them feel lonely or isolated.
- 47% said they feel excluded, and 39% reported a negative impact on their confidence.
As always, the new webinar will engagingly cover these areas and above all be solutions focussed. In that way attendees will have some tools and tips to try when considering the following:
- Family communication breakdowns that can lead to emotional distance and isolation.
- Home safety and alerting device concerns
- Considering assistive listening devices and smart tech that can improve communication, and entertainment access.
- Emotional and social impacts of changes to your hearing
- Cultural and family disconnection.
As with previous Helpful Hours, next month we will be consulting with all our Peer Support Volunteers and the wider live experience network within the charity to input on some of the following:
- Short anecdotes/stories = An experience that sums up the/your current experience.
- What ‘good’ looks like = What works, how to get to ‘good’, etc..
- Typical issues = Key things that need addressing.
- Aides = Recommended tips, techniques, technology, & deaf awareness products, etc..
- Signposting = Available information that backs up your point (websites, blogs, books, articles, etc..)
We hope to launch the next topic in early autumn. Keep an eye out for more details about how to get involved.
If you would like to find out more about getting involved with our Helpful Hours team, please email Nicholas for further information.