Help at hand for the hard of hearing

People in Leeds are being offered help in adjusting to life with hearing aids.

The local Hear to Help scheme, unveiled yesterday at Leeds Civic Hall by Co-operative volunteer Irene Wood and service user Jim Craig, above, aims to reduce the isolation that can blight the lives of those with hearing problems.

Funded by the Co-operative for three years, the project is being run by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), Leeds Council and the NHS.

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The project will train volunteers, many of whom each have a hearing loss, to show others how to get the best performance from their hearing aids. Volunteers will help people to carry out basic maintenance – such as replacing tubing and batteries – as well as providing advice.

RNID chief executive Jackie Ballard said: "Our committed team of volunteers is looking forward to running community drop-in sessions and making home visits to build the confidence of the city's hearing aid users."

The Leeds project is among the earliest of 13 similar initiatives being set up by the RNID in England in coming months. The organisation hopes they will be followed by more in the years to come.

Picture: Tony Johnson.