Hearing Link
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Hearing Link Services is part of
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a UK charity which trains dogs to alert deaf people to a variety of sounds. The Charity's dogs provide emotional support through companionship, and practical support by alerting deaf people to life-saving sou ...
, a UK-wide
charitable organisation A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...
for adults with
hearing loss Hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear. Hearing loss may be present at birth or acquired at any time afterwards. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to acquire spo ...
, their family and friends. The head office is in
Saunderton Saunderton is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the Saunderton Valley in the Chiltern Hills. It is southwest of Princes Risborough, Saunderton Lee, about furthe ...
,
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
. Its Royal Patron is The Princess Royal.


Activities

Hearing Link Services promotes and encourages peer support, so services are largely driven and delivered by people with personal experience of hearing loss: * Create links with and between adults who have acquired hearing loss. * Provide impartial advice and information including through the Helpdesk, website, events and programmes. * Deliver specialist group programmes for adults with hearing loss and their families,. * Provide
advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...
for individuals and groups. * Reflect and champion the views and priorities of people with hearing loss. For example, informing NHS England, Department of Health, Public Health England and Clinical Commissioning Groups how to better support those with hearing loss. Calling upon the Government to introduce a national hearing screening programme for everyone aged 65. Setting up a campaign in 2013 which aims to improve hearing loops in public buildings. * Facilitate contact between people with hearing loss and appropriate service providers. For example, giving them information about hearing aid services so they can make the right decisions. * Build and maintain a network of informed volunteers, professionals, and relevant bodies. * Commission research studies designed to enhance the quality of life of people with hearing loss.


Hearing Link history

Hearing Link was formed in 2008 through the merger of two national organisations: Hearing Concern and the LINK Centre for Deafened People. Hearing Concern was originally called BAHOH – The British Association of the Hard of Hearing. It was renamed in the 1990s. It grew out of a number of informal gatherings that sprang up after the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
when soldiers returned home deafened by gunfire. Over the years it did a huge amount of work, all focused on promoting the need for more and better support to be available for hard of hearing adults. This includes encouraging hard of hearing groups to be established and pushing for
subtitles Subtitles are texts representing the contents of the audio in a film, television show, opera or other audiovisual media. Subtitles might provide a transcription or translation of spoken dialogue. Although naming conventions can vary, caption ...
on TV and deaf awareness at government level. The LINK Centre for Deafened People, meanwhile, was set up in 1972 and focused on developing and delivering unique and specialised rehabilitation programmes for profoundly deafened adults and their families. The approach was holistic and involved the wider health and circumstances of the individual, including their family. For a short period after the merger the organisation was called Hearing Concern LINK. In January 2011, the organisation re-launched as Hearing Link. In August 2017, Hearing Link merged with
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a UK charity which trains dogs to alert deaf people to a variety of sounds. The Charity's dogs provide emotional support through companionship, and practical support by alerting deaf people to life-saving sou ...
, another leading hearing loss charity. In 2022, Hearing Link evolved and rebranded as Hearing Link Services.


References

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External links


Official Website
Charities for disabled people based in the United Kingdom Deafness charities Deafness organisations based in the United Kingdom 2008 establishments in England Organisations based in Buckinghamshire