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HearingSummer 2014 Timeswww.hearingtimes.co.uk Deaf-specific jobsite launched Independent newspaper Hearing Times CIC has launched an accessible, interactive jobsite with the support of a Big Lottery Fund grant The new jobsite, which is now available on the Hearing Times website, will facilitate the search for jobs and include interesting roles matching the skills profiles of deaf and hard of hearing jobseekers as well as a range of jobs in the hearing industry. Another section will provide support and information, with invaluable career advice from industry professionals, which will be updated periodically. The unemployment rate in the Deaf Community lies at 13% – a staggering 9% higher than the national average of 4% About 3.5 million people of working age (16-65 years) are deaf or hard of hearing*. Of these, 160,000 are severely or profoundly deaf. According to statistics from the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness, deaf people are far more likely to be unemployed. Indeed, the unemployment rate in the Deaf Preston MP signs up to Deaf Rights Group’s concerns Community lies at 13% – a staggering 9% higher than the national average of 4%.** Preston MP Mark Hendrick has facilitated a meeting between members of the With the launch of the first jobsite of its local deaf community and leader of the Lancashire County Council, Councillor kind, Hearing Times will proactively help to Jennifer Mein, to discuss deaf rights in Lancashire tackle the high unemployment rate among Following on from a meeting with local the procurement process of deaf services people in the UK with hearing loss. Hearing Times Editor, Helen Dewey, says, “We The jobsite will include career advice and campaigners, Colin Singh and Lesley in Lancashire. The Leader has pledged developed the idea of a HT jobsite after interview tips from experts in their field Davidson, who lobbied the MP in Parliament to include individual representation from repeatedly learning of the difficulties faced by tablets and other internet-capable devices. back in March, Mr Hendrick called for a local BSL users to inform and guide the unemployed people with hearing loss.” Editor Helen Dewey adds, “We are meeting to be held in Preston to enable acquisition of services. “Not only will new jobs be posted daily but extremely proud to be able to launch this members of the deaf community to engage Mark Hendrick said, “It was a very there will be section on courses and training unique website and look forward to the directly with both himself and CCllr Mein. productive meeting which not only available to people with hearing loss. You can feedback from long-time and new HT readers. “ Information and services will highlighted the many barriers to work and even subscribe to weekly updates and be the Although we don’t anticipate any problems, healthcare that deaf people face but also first to apply to new vacancies and courses, we hope that readers will bear with us in the have to be produced in BSL the importance of recognising British Sign whether you are unemployed or looking to event that issues should arise.” giving equal access to sign Language as minority language in this take a step up the career ladder!” The £3,000 grant awarded by the Big language users where there was country. What this will mean in practice is Since its creation in 2008, Hearing Times Lottery Fund earlier this year helped in the once a barrier” that information and services will have to newspaper has been a point of reference development of this much-needed resource, Members of the Lancashire Deaf Rights be produced in BSL giving equal access to for hearing aid dispensers, audiologists, which will be unique in providing unbiased, charities, lipreading teachers, BSL language relevant and in-depth news and features of Group (LDRG), an independent group sign language users where there was once students, and deaf and hard of hearing interest from local, national and international representing the views of BSL users, were a barrier” individuals. Jobs on the new website can sources. invited to discuss their concerns with Mr Colin Singh from Lancashire Deaf Rights Group said, “I’m really pleased about this be shared and sent to friends, and the site * www.efds.co.uk Hendrick and Ms Mein with assistance from can be accessed on PCs, laptops, phones, ** www.bsmhd.org.uk two BSL translators. During the meeting, meeting. It gave members of the local BSL lead campaigner Colin Singh, delivered community a rare opportunity to voice their a presentation entitled ‘Voice of Deaf BSL concerns. I hope we will work together Smokers and passive smokers more Users’ and the ‘Sick Of It Campaign’ by Deaf closely for a positive change in the future. Health Charity Signhealth, which highlights Mr Hendrick said that we will need to meet likely to go deaf, claims study how the health service is failing Deaf people. again and clarify what BSL users need to The Lancashire Deaf Rights Group was make sure we are on the right track. Smokers have a 15% higher chance of going deaf than non-smokers, formed in November 2013 by Colin Singh “Lancashire Deaf Rights Group is an according to University of Manchester research and they work to raise awareness about independent group representing the views Passive smoking also increases the and avoiding passive exposure to tobacco the key issues facing BSL users and to give of BSL users. We are unique because likelihood of hearing loss by 28%, but ex- smoke was also found to possibly reduce the them a voice to fight for better access to there is a communication barrier separating smokers have a slightly lower of going deaf risk of hearing loss. healthcare and information. The group also us from all other groups. In a world that is as many former smokers adopt a generally Dr Piers Dawes, from the Centre for campaign for BSL to be granted legal status. based on sound and speech, BSL users healthier lifestyle. Human Communication and Deafness at Following a question and answer session, often have no voice. That’s what we aim to The study, funded by Action on Hearing The University of Manchester who led the the Council Leader had the opportunity to be: voice of British Sign Language users in Loss, Medical Research Council and the research, said, “Given around 20% of the respond to concerns about the consultation Lancashire.” National Institute for Health Research, UK population smoke and up to 60% in with the local deaf community regarding revealed that giving up or reducing smoking continues on page 2 Photograph courtesy of H K Robertson: [email protected]

If you no longer wish to recieve the newspaper, please return it to Hearing Times C.I.C. | The Lansbury Estate | 102 Lower Guildford Road | Woking | Surrey | GU21 2EP 2 News Hearing Times Summer 2014 continued from front page A note from the Editor Tributes to woman Smokers more likely to go deaf Celebrating National who dedicated her life some countries, smoking may represent a Volunteers’ Week 2014 The sun is finally here, hooray! significant cause of hearing loss worldwide. to helping deaf people “We found the more packets you smoke per Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf What better way to enjoy your week and the longer you smoke, the greater Education celebrated national Chris Shone spent her spare time the risk you will damage your hearing.” Volunteers’ Week by launching its time off than laying in the garden teaching sign language in the area, Researchers at the university studied first ever Fundraising Volunteer with a glass of Pimms and your including to emergency services, 164,770 adults, aged 40-69 years old, who recruitment campaign favourite newspaper? and set up and ran the UK’s largest took hearing tests between 2007 and 2010. deaf youth group at Bolton Lads and Although the link between smoking and Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) is an For those of you looking for a Girls Club. hearing loss is still unclear as many smokers annual event celebrating volunteers and were also found to often have heart disease. volunteering across the UK and this year new challenge then perhaps Her daughter, marks its 30th anniversary. To coincide with you want to take a look at Billie Raynor, said, this milestone, the Academy kick-started its “She was their Researchers remain unsure our new jobsite. There’s whether toxins in tobacco smoke recruitment campaign and invited people to mentor, guide and be part of something amazing. countless interesting openings, saw all of these affect hearing directly, or whether along with invaluable advice Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are children as her own. smoking-related cardiovascular needed to represent the Academy; talk about and information on training “Mum took the disease causes microvascular the work of the Deaf Academy, attend events opportunities that might just help group on residential changes that impact on hearing. and collect donations on their behalf. you climb the next rung on the holidays all over There are many exciting new roles, full England, France and career ladder. Lead researchers remain unsure whether details of which can be found at www. Greece, completed toxins in tobacco smoke affect hearing directly, exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/volunteer. charity fundraisers and encouraged members or whether smoking-related cardiovascular You do not need any previous experience Alternatively, maybe you want of the group to overcome challenges, whether disease causes microvascular changes that of deafness or deaf culture, just a passion to to give something back to your it be personal problems or physical such as impact on hearing. get involved and make a difference. community and get involved getting them to complete the ‘hundred mile The study found that the increased risk Volunteering for the Academy can present canoe trek’.” among passive smokers, which was higher a wealth of opportunities and benefits. Not in some local volunteer work? Mrs Shone, who lived in Atherton all her There are countless inspiring than that for smokers, could be because only will all volunteers receive full training life, was the sole founder of the club, with smokers were compared to both complete and support, there will also be the chance stories in this issue of HT. some members travelling for two hours twice non-smokers and passive non-smokers. to take part in local events, meet and work a week to attend. Researchers at the university said this with new and inspiring people from across Remember for daily news “She worked at Unsworth’s Funeral means the association with smoking and the community, develop and enhance Service for the past nine years where she hearing loss may actually be under estimated. interpersonal and public speaking skills from deaf and hard of hearing helped grieving families get through the communities visit Dr Ralph Holme, Head of Biomedical as well as be part of a fun, enthusiastic hardest times with her compassion, humour Research at Action on Hearing Loss, said: and supportive team and learn more about www.hearingtimes.co.uk. and care. “Hearing loss affects 10 million people in the deafness. “Many would continue to visit her in the UK and with an aging population is set to You can make a difference within your local It is FREE to register! Atherton branch long after their relatives’ become a major public health issue. community and crucially, help change the passing, just for a cup of tea and a friendly “Hearing loss is often viewed as an lives of deaf children and young adults. To chat. She had a funny way of making anyone Alternatively, subscribe to the inevitable consequence of aging, but as the find out more contact the Fundraising Team feel better.” research published today shows this may not on 01392 267019 or email fundraising@ quarterly HT newspaper for only “She will be so sorely missed, not just as a always be the case.” exeterdeafacademy.co.uk £5 per year. Email your interest mum, but as a genuinely talented, loving lady Dr Holme suggested that giving up smoking to [email protected]. and a good friend to so many.” and protecting your ears from loud noise are Download the Volunteer role descriptions Mrs Shone died peacefully aged 59 after a two practical steps that could prevent hearing and an application form, visit: www. short illness at St Ann’s Hospice on May 28. If you have any news to tell us, loss later in life. exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/volunteer then please get in touch: we’d love to tell everybody we know. Send us a quick email to International solicitor encourages others to nominate [email protected] their audiologist for top award The search for the UK’s best hearing professional is already well under way, Helen Dewey as entries for 2014 Audiologist of the Year (AOTY) continue to flood in.

Editor The competition encourages patients for the hours that Jaspreet does, even when who have received exceptional levels of it has meant rearranging their own annual support and service from their audiologist, to leave. nominate their practitioner for the prestigious “I cannot stress enough, having arranged Contributors: Deafinitely Girly, Dan award. for my primary care to be under Jaspreet and Sing, Denise Muno, Juliet England, Jaspreet Bahra from Harley Street Hearing Harley Street Hearing, the difference this has Violet Oliver, Guy Peppiatt, Alfie Loki, in London, was crowned the UK winner made to my working and personal life.” James Richards, Matt Chesnay, David in 2013, before going on to win the overall But it wasn’t just Jaspreet that won. As the European title at Rayovac’s annual Evening ‘winning nominator’, Warren walked away Trendall, Chris Peacock, Sophia Gold, of Excellence in Nuremberg, Germany with a cash prize and a selection of other Murray Renton, Kirsty Dalgairns, last October, triumphing over champions prizes worth over £200. Stephanie Meli, Natalie Dibsdale, Faye from France, Germany, Spain, Ireland and McGinn, Helen Drever, Tessa Dawson Sweden. Her commitment and dedication Jaspreet was nominated by her patient, to both her patients and Hearing Times is protected by copyright. 29-year-old newly-qualified financing solicitor profession won the judges over To reproduce articles featured in this Warren Stapley, and her commitment and month’s issue, email your request to dedication to both her patients and profession “Entering the competition was very simple [email protected] won the judges over. Warren, who was born and the fact I received a prize too was a Audiologist Jaspreet Bahra pictured with with a rare form of hearing loss known to bonus! I encourage every patient who audiologists as ‘cookie bite’, making it hard patient Warren Stapley Hearing Times is an independent receives truly life-changing service from their for him to follow conversations, described newspaper, published four times per year. audiologist to nominate them, so that their patients to give back to their audiologist, and how his confidence has soared since meeting The newspaper is distributed throughout hard work and talent does not go unnoticed.” say thank you for the work they’ve done. Jaspreet and being fitted with state-of-the-art the United Kingdom to charities, ENT Now in its seventh year, AOTY is run in Entries can be submitted online at www. hearing aids which have transformed every and hearing therapy clinics, audiologists, partnership between Rayovac, the leading audiologistoftheyear.co.uk or via post to aspect of his life. hearing aid dispensers, care homes hearing aid battery manufacturer, Audio Audiologist of the Year 2014, Spectrum In his nomination for Jaspreet, Warren and schools and individual subscribers , Infos, the international hearing publication Brands (UK) Ltd, Washington, Tyne & Wear, said, “I first met Jaspreet in August 2011, reaching a readership of over 23,000. and the European Hearing Instrument NE37 3HW. Entries close on 11th July and in between then and July 2013, I have The contents of Hearing Times are Manufacturers Association (EHIMA), which 2014. All nominations must be submitted by attended 29 appointments with her, many copyrighted and no part may be represents the six major European hearing patients, but audiologists can ensure their of these on a Saturday and most of them at reproduced in part or whole without prior instrument manufacturers. patients are aware of the competition by ‘anti-social’ times such as 7.30 or 8.00am in consent from the newspaper. AOTY celebrates hearing professionals downloading promotional materials from the order to accommodate my working schedule. The opinions expressed in articles, who have gone above and beyond the call competition website. “I have never known, nor even heard of, columns and adverts are those of the of duty, in order to provide their patients any audiologist being so committed to a writer or advertiser and not necessarily with a level of care which far exceeds their For more information visit patient that they would arrange appointments those of Hearing Times C.I.C.. expectations. It is a great way for these www.audiologistoftheyear.co.uk Hearing Times Summer 2014 News 3 Library assistant tells MPs about life as a deaf Deaf man signs ‘watch me’ person in a hearing working environment Ruth MacMullen visited London as part of a HearFirst event to highlight the to pal before landing killer methods of communication used by deaf, blind and hard of hearing people in punch in pub row, jury told the lead up to Deaf Awareness Week. More than 25 MPs attended bite-sized A man signed ‘watch me’ before he killed an actor with a single punch after a training sessions to understand the impact BSL Pride event, a court heard of deafness on people in their constituencies and improve communications skills, and Ruth Matthew Powe, 30, knocked out Vitalis - with her assistance dog Chester - talked Katakinas during a late-night brawl outside a to them about her job and the university’s Wetherspoon pub, the Old Bailey was told. support. His 34-year-old victim, who was also deaf, Ruth said, “I enjoyed talking to MPs and was taken to hospital but never regained sharing my experience of deafness in and consciousness and died a week later on July out of the workplace. This was an interesting 6 last year. and insightful experience and I was proud to represent my employer there.” The victim, also deaf, became “very animated and direct” in his The training will help MPs be sign language deaf aware during one-to-one The aim of the event was to provide MPs with meetings with constituents, make deaf awareness knowledge and skills Jurors heard Mr Katakinas threw the first formal meetings accessible and with the knowledge and skills to help them punch – but prosecutor Alan Kent QC said (L) Victim Vitalis Katakinas and (R) defendant consider the needs of BSL users make real changes for deaf people within Powe, from Hornsey, north London, “intended Matthew Powe in written or web based materials their constituencies. In the case of MPs, it to cause him really serious harm”. could mean being deaf aware during one-to- He added, “The prosecution case is that he in his sign language – at which point Powe Julie Ryder, director and founder of one meetings with constituents, making more acted in retaliation or revenge and it was not intervened, jurors were told. HearFirst, said, “I am really pleased that a formal meetings accessible and considering self-defence.” It was then that the row “descended into representative from the University of York the needs of BSL users in written or web Both men had been at the British Sign violence”, said Mr Kent. came along to support the event and spoke to based materials.” Language Pride event in Highbury Fields on “Mr Katakinas punched the defendant in MPs at first-hand about real life experiences The eleventh annual Deaf Awareness June 29, the court heard. The fight broke out the face or pushed him, one or the other. That and the barriers and challenges that deaf Week ran between May 19 and 25, with after they and some other attendees went on caused the defendant’s glasses to come off,” people may experience in a working hearing hundreds of deaf charities and organisations to the White Swan in Islington, north London. he added. environment. across the UK participating in a series of Mr Katakinas had confronted another man, “He bent down to pick them up and put “The aim of the event was to raise national and local events to raise awareness Thomas Giddens, who was a friend of his them back on. Having done so, he signed to awareness of deafness and provide MPs of the cause.` fiancée, Lina Kankevicinti. a friend, ‘Watch me,’ and he then punched The father-of-one, from Lithuania, was Vitalis Katakinas in the face. That knocked said to have been ‘jealous’ of Mr Giddens, him to the ground.” Tell us your news and we’ll tell everyone! who allegedly told him to “go f*** yourself” via Powe denies murder or manslaughter and Email the HT team now at [email protected] Facebook just days earlier. claims he was acting in self-defence. The He became “very animated and direct” trial continues. Adverisement

2014 NomiNate your audiologist aNd wiN some great prizes. Tell us how your audiologist has shown outstanding care towards you or a relative and the winning nomination will receive a selection of fantastic prizes.

Closing date for entries July 11th

Enter now at www.audiologistoftheyear.co.uk or ask your audiologist for an entry form. 4 Local news Hearing Times Summer 2014 Arriva champions driving deaf Plymouth children presented with awareness forward cheque during weekly dance class A bus company has become the North East region’s first travel provider to boast A group of deaf children were presented with a cheque for £5000 at their ‘deaf aware champions’ thanks to a national Get Deaf Aware campaign weekly dance session Eight Arriva North East employees Members of the Plymouth and District attended the Get Deaf Aware (GDA) training Deaf Children’s Society (PDCS) were visited course which aims to increase awareness of during their weekly hip-hop dance class at the everyday communication barriers faced Street Factory Dance Studios by Santander by people with a hearing loss and included Tavistock branch manager Jessica Douglas practical exercises as well as examples of and control manager Laura Measham. clearer communication methods. The group had been nominated by Tony Hart, training and development Santander customer and PDCS supporter manager for Arriva North East is thrilled and member Sian Aubrey for the Santander that their customers can now benefit from Community Plus Fund award. this training. He said, “We recognise the Jessica said, “We walked away with a big importance of training frontline staff to deal smile, feeling that this was money very well spent and was a true investment back into with the specific needs of each customer. We Santander staff with PDCS hip-hop dance class now have eight ‘Deaf Aware Champions’ who Arriva North East training and development our community.” can ensure that Arriva maintains first class manager Tony Hart with Emma Mortimer, “We are all thrilled with this support. This transport for families, giving the members from accreditors Signature customer service for people who are deaf or award will help the group to continue hosting more opportunities to get together and share have a hearing loss. deaf people is now higher than ever. weekly events like the deaf-only hip hop experiences, which will help to break down “Many employers, whether in the public, dance classes and a number of family days the barriers and isolation some families “Many employers, whether in the private or voluntary sector are acknowledging out,” said Yvette Beer, chair of the PDCS. experience with their deaf children in public public, private or voluntary sector that they need to offer a better service The money will be used for things such as venues. are acknowledging that they need for their deaf customers. Arriva has done to offer a better service for their exactly that and now, thanks to investment in deaf customers.” training and taking on board our advice and guidance, it has the employees, skills and Cornwall Council cuts leave Duchy’s “Our ‘champions’ have a newfound policies in place to offer real added value to confidence because they know exactly what their customer service.” deaf centre’s future under threat they need to do to communicate effectively Arriva North East now plans to train with a deaf person and, going forward, they more staff using Get Deaf Aware’s unique Cornwall’s only centre for the deaf has been dealt a blow after it was announced will be able to pass on what they have learned e-learning course which presents training funding for its interpreters has been withdrawn to their colleagues.” in a fun, interactive format, takes only 30 The interpreter service at Cornwall Deaf More than 100 deaf people use the services Get Deaf Aware is a national campaign minutes to complete and enables participants Centre in Camborne costs £2,500 each at the centre each year but Ms Goldie and to enhance awareness and best practice to complete training literally anywhere and year and had previously been funded by the rest of the team were refusing to throw in everyday deaf and hard of hearing anytime. The training concludes with a short Cornwall Council’s social services for the in the towel just yet, saying they hoped to communications through increased test and, when successful, you print out a deaf department. This has been withdrawn hold fundraising events and look into grant understanding and training. Course content, certificate to evidence your understanding. due to budget cuts. schemes to try to raise the money needed for qualifications and accreditation come from Get Deaf Aware can offer employers The interpreters are needed so deaf the interpreters. Signature, the UK’s leading awarding body in advice, guidance and access to tailored members of the centre’s board can Nick Fripp, from Cornwall Council’s deaf communication. training solutions which have been created attend regular meetings, including those directorate of education, health and social Signature’s commercial services manager, to meet current UK Equality & Diversity laws. discussing finances and the annual general care, said, “Unfortunately the significant Emma Mortimer, said, “Here in the UK one meeting, which are required by the Charity reductions in our funding from the Government in six people have some degree of hearing For more information contact Commission. means we are unable to continue to provide loss. That’s about 10 million people so the [email protected] or Jackie Goldie, the secretary at the centre this funding directly. demand to learn communication skills with telephone 0191 383 7911 in Camborne, said, “Cornwall has four “The council has a continuing duty to interpreters who act as a lifeline for many provide communication support, including deaf people. interpreters, for deaf individuals to be able to “The Cornwall Deaf Centre is like a second access and receive services from Cornwall Driver overcomes doubters at Derby taxi firm home and is a real hub of the deaf community. Council.” A deaf man who struggled to get a job for four years is believed to have made Cutting funding for interpreters is like taking The first fundraiser at the Cornwall Deaf history by becoming the UK’s first deaf taxi driver the wheels off of a wheelchair. Centre was a 24-hour pool marathon and “Social services for the deaf informed us many more will follow. Muneeb Ahmed said he had found his three weeks ago that they were regrettably disability a barrier to getting work but the forced to withdraw our funding because of For more information on taking part in 25-year-old now drives for Pride Executive decisions from above them. We won’t take the next event, contact Jackie Goldie on Cars in Derby, which is owned by Ashbourne this lying down.” 01209 842798 Road firm 75 Taxis. He regularly drives clients to Heathrow Airport and his bosses said he is one of the Minister for Disabled People announces review of impact of firm’s most popular drivers. Access to Work on deaf people and suspends ‘30 hour rule’ “He is one of our best drivers and The three month review will take place over the summer and involve key he has proved me totally wrong.” organisations working with and for deaf people Muneeb said, “When I was applying for The announcement follows the launch of their jobs. jobs, I sent off over 500 applications but I After a rocky start, Muneeb is now one of the the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s The rule said that someone needing more never heard back. I guess it’s because I was customers’ favourite drivers general inquiry into Access to Work. than 30 hours communication support a week deaf and it was a very challenging time.” The idea for the review was developed by could only claim at an hourly rate equivalent “I’m very proud to be the first deaf taxi at the office who tells him where to go. the UK Council on Deafness and presented to a £30,000 salary. That is significantly below driver – because I know it’s not happened Company owner Mohammed Yasin said he to the Minister by Stephen Lloyd MP, chair the market hourly rate for a sign language before – but it’s been a good challenge.” was keen to take Muneeb on when he started of the All Party Parliamentary Group on interpreter. Muneeb, of Burton, said the company because he could see the benefits a deaf Deafness. It means deaf people have been struggling heard about what he was going through and driver could bring. In a meeting with representatives of the to find communication support and therefore wanted to give him the unique opportunity to But, one of the firm’s partners, Dianne UK Council on Deafness, the Minister also do their jobs. In some cases employers have drive. And Muneeb passed his licensing test Finney, was initially against the move, “When suspended the rule that has restricted deaf been unable to keep their deaf employees. in March last year – at the second attempt. I heard a deaf driver was coming, I was very people’s access to communication support Jim Edwards, chair of the UK Council on He said, “It’s a really hard test because doubtful and, in the first few weeks, there such as sign language interpreters. Deafness, said, “This is excellent news for you have to remember different places like were a few complaints. But now he is one of The ‘30 hour rule’ will not be applied to deaf people who are in work or trying to find schools and pubs but in the end I passed. I our best drivers and he has proved me totally any new claims to Access to Work during it. was really pleased when I did.” wrong.” the review. And anyone whose support was “We now look forward to working with the Muneeb has a sign in his vehicle which Muneeb is now one of the customers’ reduced due to the application of the rule can Minister to deliver the review. Mike was clear explains that he is deaf. He uses special favourite drivers, and some even call to ask have it reviewed. he cannot do it without us. software which is linked back to the controller especially for him now. Describing it as “the arbitrary rule on “The first step is to tell him about the other 30 hours”, the Minister said he was not problems that are affecting deaf people at the comfortable with it after UK Council on moment. As well as suspending the 30 hour Tell us your news and we’ll tell everyone! Deafness members and his constituents had rule, there may be other immediate action he Email the HT team now at [email protected] told him about deaf people beginning to lose can take.” Hearing Times Summer 2014 Local news 5 New service to benefit deaf and blind Local company donates audiology people in Highland opens in Inverness equipment, provides aid to Nepal See Hear Highland has launched a joint service for both deaf and blind A Folkestone hearing company has donated a range of audiology equipment to a people in Inverness Nepal-based charity set up by a British surgeon As part of a Scottish Government initiative, Hearbase gave a tympanometer and free- staff at the centre will be working together to field audiometer, used to test hearing and make the facility more accommodating for diagnose problems with the inner ear, as well those who live with hearing and sight loss. as other items to The Britain-Nepal Otology Lynda Campbell, from NHS Highland Deaf Service (BRINOS). Services, said, “We will be open every day This was founded in 1988 by Neil Weir, between 10am and 3pm. The deaf services a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon, will run between 10am and 1pm and Sight after a survey had found deafness to be the Action will run between 12pm and 3pm. largest single disability in Nepal. “Previously, both services ran separately however, with this new service, there will be an overlap for one hour where we can Many with hearing loss went support people who are deaf-blind. untreated because they lived in “All of our staff are trained in both deaf and remote parts of the country James Fairley (left), with Puran Tharu sight issues, but having specialist staff from each team can only help to better support However, many sufferers went untreated Mr Fairley to Puran Tharu, who leads the those people. because they lived in remote parts of the Ear Health Community Service at Fate-Bal “We want our service to be informal, country, out of reach of ENT departments in Hospital, Nepalguni. friendly and approachable so that people Kim Quinton and Lynda Campbell from NHS the capital Kathmandu. As a result BRINOS set Mr Weir said, “Mr Puran was delighted with continue to use this facility. They will be met Highland Deaf Services and Catriona Menzies up twice-yearly ear surgery camps and, from all the gifts from Hearbase which will help him by professional staff that can provide useful and Gillian Mitchell from Sight Action. 2008, these have been held three times a year. and his team to enhance the service they are advice, support and information.” Services cover all of Highland and currently Hearbase heard about the camps from presently giving to the people of Nepalguni The resource centre, located at 16 Kenneth have 2,300 and 2,400 service users James Fairley, consultant ear, nose and and adjacent districts.” Street, has been in operation for nearly two respectively. throat surgeon at the Ashford-based ENT Staff from the UK, including at least two decades and is run by NHS Highland’s Deaf Lynda continued, “The location of our Kent Partnership. ENT surgeons, along with an anaesthetist Services team. centre means that clients don’t have far to Mark Scutchings, Hearbase managing and sponsored nurses, go out to Nepal to As well as support, guidance and everyday walk from where they park and the easiness director, said, “We are very pleased to be help run the camps. living aids, the NHS Highland Deaf Services of popping in means they can get the range able to help such a worthwhile cause. Staff from Nepal, as full team members, team provides maintenance on all service of support they need when they need it most. “We are continually upgrading our enhance their surgical skills and help in the users’ hearing aids; changing batteries and “We are determined to make a positive equipment so it is good to know that perfectly delivery of primary ear care. replacing tubing when required. difference to the lives of people in Highland usable audiology appliances will help people Sight Action provides their clients with a wide who live with sensory loss. This new service in remote areas of Nepal.” To find out more about BRINOS visit their range of low vision aids and equipment, daily is one such way we can do just that.” Hearbase’s donation was handed over by website, www.brinos.org.uk living aids and mobility training. It is hoped that this new drop in service will provide service For further information, phone See Hear Tell us your news and we’ll tell everyone! users with a number of benefits. Highland on 01463 248100 or Sight Email the HT team now at [email protected] Sight Action and NHS Highland Deaf Action on 01463 233663 Adverisement 6 International news Hearing Times Summer 2014 Deafblind adventurer travels to Rome for audience with the Pope India city traffic noise A deafblind man from Michigan, US was a part of history recently as he attended a special program with Pope causing hearing loss Francis in Rome Working daily in busy streets of the Bill Barkeley, who is deaf and legally endurance feats, Bill began losing his hearing cities of India is hazardous to your blind, was in the first-ever meeting with an as a child due to Type II Usher Syndrome, a hearing, according to several studies all deaf and blind audience with the Pope as disease that depletes hearing and vision over he spoke about the culture of “encounter” time. Research into the genetics of Usher About three traffic patrol officers in four instead of “exclusion”. has suggested 15-18% of deaf and hard of (74 percent) in Hyderabad, India, suffer from “The people were ecstatic,” Bill said. hearing children have a genetic make up that permanent hearing loss. After more than four “I was moved by such a huge gathering suggests Usher Syndrome, and that Usher years of working the traffic beat, the likelihood of interpreters and blind guides helping in the general population is estimated at the of suffering from hearing loss is 100 percent. everyone. Imagine the deafblind man who rate of 1 in 6,500 births. These were the findings of a study carried out has sign language done into his hand so he One of his accomplishments is climbing by the Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired. can tell what is happening.” Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa using wireless In Kolkata, the state environment communications and night vision goggles department performed hearing tests over a One of his accomplishments so he could see his guide’s feet. He also four year period of heavy vehicle drivers. The is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro completed the Boston Marathon with guide study found that 40 percent of professional runners two years ago. Bill strives to change perceptions deafblindness drivers suffered from partial hearing loss. in Africa using wireless The noise from the daily massive large communications and night vision Barkeley credits his wife, Mary Beth, with high?” Bill asked. the opportunity to travel to Rome. “Mary Beth “What good is a prosperous world vehicle traffic through the mega cities is goggles so he could see his identified as a major cause of the many guide’s feet. wrote a beautiful letter to Pope Francis asking economically if we do not value life at all for me to join in on that special audience of its life stages, from birth, childhood, hearing injuries among the traffic officers and drivers. According to a Times of India Bill happily told HT he was “in close for my birthday, and for work I do with the adulthood, seniors and end of life? People estimate, a total of 170,000 trucks, trailers, proximity” to the Pope on three separate deaf-blind around the world,” Barkeley said. with disabilities or challenges do not want buses, minibuses and taxis a day travel times during his trip, and was accompanied “She worked local contacts, the bishop, a pity. They want to contribute, have impact through the streets of Kolkata. by his son, Will. U.S.cardinal and even hit the phone lines by and be valued as any other human being in Needless honking by residents adds to “All people with challenges so filled with calling directly to the Papal Prefecture.” this world. the noise, according to a member of the AP life, enthusiasm, hope and commitment to a Bill believes the Pope chose to focus on “Instead, we are pushed to the side to keep Pollution Control Board, which has recorded better world. It was simply an honour to be the deaf and/or blind for a good reason. “Can us away from the connectedness in the world traffic noise levels close to 100 dB. This is a part of this first-of-its-kind gathering in the a world truly say that it protects, sustains and we so desperately need. Out of sight out of equivalent to the maximum output on a home world,” Bill added. nurtures human potential when percentages mind and a stipend for your trouble is a cruel stereo or the noise of a chainsaw. Known for his extreme adventures and of unemployed deaf and blind people are so and unjust human fate.” US university appeals order requiring support for deaf student Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska, is appealing a federal judge’s ruling requiring it to provide a deaf student with special equipment and interpreters to allow him to finish his last two years of medical school U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp provide Argenyi with a system that transcribes refused to allow him to have an interpreter to a student.” ruled in December that Creighton University’s spoken words into text on a computer screen interact with clinical patients, even if he paid The school will provide Argenyi with the medical school must accommodate Michael and a cued speech interpreter that Argenyi for it himself. captioning equipment and interpreters when Argenyi’s disability. Last month, the judge had used as an undergraduate student, He sued in 2009, and a federal jury last he resumes his studies this summer while ordered the Omaha University to pay nearly earning a 3.87 GPA. year found that the private Jesuit school had the school’s appeal is pending, Creighton $500,000 in Argenyi’s legal fees. Instead, Creighton used a microphone discriminated against him. attorney Scott P. Moore said. An attorney for the private Jesuit college system that emitted frequencies to be picked Following the judge’s ruling, Argenyi re- “The objection that we had was that we filed notice of the school’s appeal. up by Argenyi’s cochlear implants. Argenyi enrolled at Creighton to finish his final years were not allowed to present to the jury how Argenyi was accepted to Creighton’s said the system was inadequate, and of medical school. He is slated to resume his much it would cost the school to provide medical school in 2008 after disclosing that one doctor determined it actually reduced studies July 2, his attorney, Mary Vargas, said. those things,” Moore said. “The jury didn’t he was hearing-impaired and requesting Argenyi’s ability to understand his professors. “He remains, as always, focused on get to decide whether that cost was an undue accommodations for his disability to allow Argenyi took out more than $110,000 his studies and on pursuing his dream of burden to the school.” him to follow lectures and communicate with in loans to pay for the assistance himself, becoming a doctor and serving the deaf Moore estimates it would cost the school patients. but said he was forced to take a leave of community,” Vargas said. “He hopes, in time, $300,000 to provide the equipment and But Creighton’s medical school refused to absence in his third year when the university that Creighton will be proud to have him as interpreters for two years.

Stamps raise awareness of challenges facing Israeli deaf Oman’s first society for the deaf launched The Israel Postal Company issued a new series of stamps featuring common A special reception for the launch of the Omani Society for the Hearing signs in Israeli Sign Language Impaired took place under the auspices of Shaikh Khalid bin Omar al Marhoon, Minister for Civil Service, in Oman recently About 650,000 people in Israel are deaf or hard of hearing, according to the Central There was a large turnout for the event Bureau of Statistics, making the problem where presentations were given outlining bigger than most people suspect. The new the importance of the formation of this new stamps are intended to raise awareness of society which will cater exclusively to the the challenges facing deaf Israelis. needs of the country’s hearing impaired The postage entered circulation on community. Tuesday and features pictures of the signs Prior to this, the Oman Association for the for “friendship,” “thank you,” “good bye,” Disabled was dealing with the concerns of “love” and “kiss.” They are the product of people with hearing loss. cooperation between the Institute for the Ahmed bin Mohammed al Amri, Advancement of Deaf Persons in Israel and Supervisor, Omani Society for the Hearing the Israel Philatelic Service. Impaired, commented, “The gathering marks Yael Kakoon, executive director of the the launch of the society, which was formed Campaigners hope the stamps are a step closer to official recognition of Israeli Sign Language institute, said that she and other members under a ministerial decision and is now the of Israel’s deaf community hoped that the Campaigners hope the stamps are a step closer to official recognition of Israeli Sign Language official umbrella under which all the concerns those called ‘friends of the deaf’, who assist stamps “will increase awareness of the of the country’s deaf population will be taken in engaging members of the deaf community ongoing struggle of deaf and hard-of-hearing step on the path towards official recognition care of. through various activities.” Israelis to better integrate into Israeli society of Israeli Sign Language in Israel. When you “We will endeavour to uplift their “Civil service and public sector service- and to achieve recognition of Israeli Sign want to show respect for someone, you try to knowledge, instigate development and desk employees should learn sign-language Language as one of the official languages of address them in their language.” encourage the ability of engaging in social so that they can communicate with deaf the State of Israel. Yaron Ratzon, director of the Israel activities, this requires that members of the people. “When someone says ‘thank you’ to a Philatelic Service, said that the stamps are public also learn sign language to allow for “This is a very big problem at present and deaf person in their language, it gives them intended to raise the level of awareness of communication and integration of members there are various other issues that also need a feeling of belonging,” Kakoon said. “Deaf the deaf and hard-of-hearing community of the Omani deaf community into society.” to be taken care of. Israelis have the right to equal and active “through the use of these carefully chosen Commenting on what actions they have “We need a lot more support in areas such participation in society, as in all realms of life, signs. As the stamps are intended for regular taken since the establishment of the society as education, training and employment, as and to full education in their language. use, with time the majority of Israelis will be last year, he said, “We have held a number well as in other fields, like establishing a “We hope that these stamps will be another exposed to this important message.” of courses and workshops for the deaf and marriage fund.” Hearing Times Summer 2014 International 7 Helping deaf children in Gambia In Africa’s smallest mainland country, provision for deaf children is severely restricted. Malcolm Garner, who founded The Gambia Deaf Children Support Project (GDCSP) a decade ago, and his colleagues, are working to change that. He emailed Juliet England during his latest visit to the West African nation.

When Malcolm Garner drove a minibus deaf children and adults to use their aids and overland to Gambia in 2004 to take a large cope with their hearing loss generally. delivery of hearing aids, he found a country woefully lacking in facilities for the deaf “In the first year alone, we tested 2,000 deaf and hard of hearing, where deafness is children and adults. If a child is diagnosed usually only noticed when a child fails to with a hearing loss, they can be referred communicate through speech. Often, it goes to one of the itinerant teachers of the deaf, completely undetected. introduced and supported by the charity, who will provide ongoing support in mainstream “In the first year alone, we tested schools, and advise class teachers and 2,000 deaf children and adults.” parents. “There was one school for the deaf, but no “It works both ways, so that school teachers qualified teachers for those with a hearing notice a problem with a pupil’s hearing can loss, and no routine assessments anywhere,” refer them to the HARK clinic.” he explains. Since August 2007, the HARK project He joined forces with friends who, like him, has helped many thousands of patients in were trained teachers of the deaf, and began western Gambia – and also made a handful making regular trips to train teachers and of visits further inland, where the charity others working with deaf youngsters. believes many more cases of deafness still go undiagnosed. However, a lack of fuel Himself able to hear, Garner’s interest The Gambia project has set up a class for deaf pupils in a primary school at Basse, 200 miles inland allocation limits the number of these longer and where there was previously no education for children who couldn’t hear in helping deaf children goes back to his journeys that can be made. training as a primary teacher. He went on to and discussing training of sign language Gambia, to improve the quality of education train as a teacher of the deaf, qualifying in the “There is little understanding of interpreters, and with hospital authorities on and encourage the use of hearing aids. early 1970s, and also had well-established developing the HARK mobile clinic. links with the adult deaf community. deafness; ignorance of the issues Finally, this summer, Malcolm is pedalling is pretty complete. No-one knows Gambia Deaf Children Support Project has 750 miles from his home in Bewdley, Now retired, he was deputy head of about hearing aids or what they’re also paid for two teachers from the Gambian Worcestershire to the small French town of Longwill School for the Deaf in Birmingham, for and what they do.” deaf school, St John’s, to visit Longwill Samoens, in the Alps, some 45 miles south then Head of Education services for deaf School for the Deaf in Birmingham to see of Lake Geneva to raise the funds for a how British pupils are catered for. couple of teachers from St John’s to make a children in Avon, then Staffordshire and In partnership with the Kashmir Deaf further UK visit. finally Birmingham. Children’s Trust (KADECT), the Gambia Meanwhile, Helen Cooper, a teacher of project has also set up a class for deaf pupils The Gambia project joined forces with the deaf at Longwill School and a member of Details of how you can sponsor him in a primary school at Basse, 200 miles inland Sound Seekers, which works to help the deaf the charity’s team will be taking two months’ can be found on the GDCSP website, and where there was previously no education and hearing impaired, particularly children, in leave to work at the St John’s deaf school, www.gambiandeafchildren.com the developing world, and they supported the for children who couldn’t hear. setting up of a mobile clinic called HARK, and Garner adds, “With its small size, Gambia is the training of local staff in Gambia to run it. poorer even than most other African nations and with few natural resources. There is little This clinic was opened around seven years understanding of deafness; ignorance of the ago, and followed a joint visit and successful issues is pretty complete. No-one knows Adverisement fundraising. about hearing aids, for example, or what British Academy of Audiology The HARK clinic – a specially adapted they’re for and what they do. 11th AnnuAl ConferenCe bright yellow Land Rover with a portable “Record keeping is not as good as in a generator, fridge and carrying audiological developing country, and so understanding kit – is instantly recognisable and now a well- underlying causes of deafness is not easy. Today’s Vision: Tomorrow’s Reality known firm fixture in Gambia. It has facilities It’s been nearly 30 years since the last study to test a wide range of ear conditions, and fit of deafness in Gambia, which found that hearing aids. meningitis-type symptoms could account for Two British audiologists spent eight up to a third of all known deafnesses.” 20th & 21st November 2014 months training local eight Gambian staff He adds that the project has received a Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth (five health workers and three teachers) to warm reception locally, with frequent return use the equipment and diagnose and help visits helping to establish relationships and training courses in particular appreciated. On his current trip, Malcolm has been The UK’s biggest audiology conference. This working with the US-based Starkey Hearing year’s theme - Today’s Vision: Tomorrow’s Reality Foundation to identify and help more deaf people and, where appropriate, fit hearing will address a broad range of clinical, academic aids. Follow-ups will take place in the coming and professional issues within audiology. months. Babs Day, recently retired head of Longwill School for the Deaf, Birmingham, and David Key Dates for your Diary: Couch, Head of Deaf Education Services in East Sussex, also joined the trip. • Closing date for abstract submissions: 24th July 2014

British audiologists trained eight Gambian staff At the same time, the project is working • Closing date for award nominations: 1st September 2014 to use equipment, diagnose and give advice with local deaf adult organisation GADHOH • Early bird price valid until: 30th September 2014

Delegate registration, abstract submission and award Got a project you’re For more nominations are now open at: www.baaudiology.org passionate about? international If you have any questions please contact the Tell us about it: news visit BAA events team at [email protected] www.hearingtimes.co.uk [email protected] / 01506 292042

Hearing Times - Quarter Page Advert Text - May.indd 1 15/05/2014 14:31 8 Community Hearing Times Summer 2014 Deaf friendly care village awarded Unique holiday Care Quality Mark programme for deafblind people seeks volunteers Peaker Place Care Village has been presented with a Care Quality Mark for Older Deaf People, in recognition of its commitment to creating a deaf friendly Hannah Phillips, from Derby, is community for it residents. calling for volunteers to take part in The quality mark was granted to the an induction loop assistive listening system Sense Holidays, a unique holiday Prime Life care home as part of a deafness was fitted into the care home’s communal programme for deafblind children awareness care programme running in lounge. Other changes such as adding and adults taking place in various partnership by deafness charity Sonus and subtitles to all television sets and moving locations across England and Wales the Royal Association for Deaf People. away from sound related activities has in July and August this year. This morning I read a news article in Care home association Care England allowed the home to further accommodate The Guardian about common words has endorsed the care programme, which residents with hearing loss. Sense Holidays are week-long summer the people pronounce wrong and it I recognised the adaptations and changes Mr Key said, “We play bingo. I have got a breaks which give deafblind people the was genuinely surprised that not one Peaker Place made to ensure the needs of gardening patch and I grow vegetables for chance to get away from it all, try something new and have a lot of fun. of the words on the list was on my list its deaf residents were fully met. this home. I have got a shed and also look after the hanging baskets. We have friends Hannah, 22, who is studying Medicine of things I get wrong. In response to the couple’s who live in a care home in Leicester and they at Nottingham University, first volunteered needs, staff were given basic struggle, but they really look after us here.” for the holidays programme four years ago Things like ‘espresso’, ‘prescription’ sign language training and an The couple’s daughter Liz Jones, who is and has been volunteering every year since. and ‘etcetera’ – all of which I say induction loop assistive listening also the chief executive of Sonus, said, “On Last summer she was matched with a very correctly. system was fitted both a personal and professional level I am energetic 12-year-old boy who is partially delighted to see that older deaf people’s care blind and deaf and has learning disabilities. Together they gave a go at things neither of It reminded me of the time I went to James Wood, managing director of Prime needs are for the first time being adequately addressed by residential care providers and them would normally do. They played football, the pub quiz with Friend Who Knows Life, said, “We are passionate about providing a high-quality standard of living tailored to our the quality mark is a way of rewarding their made ice cream, went on rollercoaster rides Big Words and the guy holding it clients’ needs, and this is a perfect example efforts and showcasing to deaf people the and had picnics by the seaside. couldn’t pronounce ‘pronunciation’ of our philosophy.” most appropriate homes for them to choose correctly and eventually FWKBW had The care home first took measures to improve to live in.” to step in and correct him to prevent its facilities when profoundly deaf residents Mr Wood continued, “The team at Peaker herself from smashing something in Leslie and Betty Key moved into Peaker Park has struck up an excellent relationship rage. Place and found they could not appropriately with Leslie and Betty, especially team leader Kinga Kalinowska, who always goes above communicate with staff members. In response to the couple’s needs, staff and beyond to ensure they are happy and But there are words I can’t get right. were given basic sign language training and comfortable.”

Things like ‘alt’ that button on the computer keyboard. Should be ‘alt’ Teacher recognised for the ‘art’ of teaching like ‘alternative’, right? Not according Donaldson’s School’s teacher of art and design, Aileen Mullen, is the only to me. Scottish teacher to have been shortlisted in the Inspirational Teacher of the Year category of the UK-wide TES Schools Awards 2014 When I was little I discovered that In encouraging pupils, some of whom have ‘envelope’ was another word for ‘wrap a range of complex learning needs, to have up’ and used it with glee – saying it the confidence to continually try out new the same way as the stationery until ideas, Aileen has helped them overcome someone corrected me. their barriers to learning and to succeed in a variety of competitions and awards. Then there was the ‘Versailles’ and As a result, three of her pupils have had ‘Marseilles’ debacle, which reminds their work hung in the Scottish National Gallery as part of the Tesco Bank Art me I don’t know how to pronounce competition exhibition – from a total entry of Hannah Phillips (L) has been volunteering for ‘debacle’ either. 11,222 - and five were winners in the Royal four years and finds it very rewarding Hospital for Sick Children’s Art Competition. Hannah explains why it’s so much more As a child I couldn’t pronounce than having an incredible time that makes ‘sausages’, because it’s quite hard Parents, pupils and colleagues all Jordan Denley’s winning poster entry her keep coming back, “Volunteering for to lipread. I couldn’t pronounce recognise Aileen’s inspirational Sense Holidays has helped me develop my ‘schizophrenic’ either and once spent approach and results, describing beyond expectation. abilities to look after others. Learning to be Margaret Burnell, interim principal of a whole weekend practising this – her as devoted to encouraging responsible for other people and putting their Donaldson’s, said of Aileen, “Both HMIe and needs first are essential skills for my medical much to the ’rents’ alarm. children SQA have commended this good practice and career. Every year I volunteer I discover my One of Aileen’s students, Jordan Denley,16, have graded Aileen’s skills as excellent. Her personal strengths and how I can make the But the thing is, when I do pronounce submitted his entry to the Edinburgh Festival original ideas and creative ability inspires most of them as part of a team. It’s extremely something wrong, I blush a furious Fringe poster competition and has been the children and young people and their rewarding supporting deafblind children red shade and feel rubbish. I can’t named as the Lothians regional winner. His work contributes to the bright, colourful and enjoy some of the things that most of us take help it. It’s an immediate reaction. poster will now appear in the Museum of motivating atmosphere of the school. for granted and giving a much needed break Childhood’s public exhibition of the winning “Aileen is truly inspirational and there is no to their families.” entries. doubt that she deserves this recognition. We So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m Aileen joined the School as a probationer wish her every success when the awards are “We’ve played football, made ice going to get braver and learn more in 2009, learned British Sign Language and announced in July.” cream, gone on rollercoaster rides words I can’t pronounce. I’m going to simultaneously developed her craft as a Donaldson’s is Scotland’s national grant and jumped out of planes” ask for help in saying words I am not teacher. Parents, pupils and colleagues all aided special school, providing high quality sure about starting with: recognise Aileen’s inspirational approach education, therapy and care to children and Hannah Tompkins, Head of Volunteering and results, describing her as devoted to young people up to the age of 18 years who at Sense, said, “Our holidays programme is encouraging children who are deaf and/ are Deaf, hearing impaired and/or have ‘Debacle’ very much dependent on the support of our or have communication disabilities to thrive severe communication difficulties. remarkable volunteers. The week is planned ‘Ricin’ around the needs of deafblind people and ‘Tortilla’ what would make a lovely holiday for them. Brighton pupils raise money for deaf kids’ charity Volunteers like Hannah that have chosen a Phonetic answers on a postcard Pupils at a Brighton school baked hundreds of cakes and sold them to raise career path which involves caring for others, please and look out for the deaf funds for the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). really make a difference as they can bring blonde girl wandering around The pupils at Hamilton Lodge Deaf School wonder they sold out so quickly. Our children in these specific skills and experience to repeating ‘debacle’, ‘ricin’, ‘tortilla’ raised almost £260 to mark Deaf Awareness regularly raise money for good causes and support the holidaymakers. They will also Week which ran from Monday 19 May to the NDCS is one particularly close to their have a great time all while experiencing a over and over to herself, with few huge sense of achievement.” ‘schizophrenias’ and ‘Versailles’ Sunday 25 May. hearts. Their cake sale included awareness- “NDCS are there to help families with a deaf thrown in, too. raising designs relating to sign language child access the services they need so that To volunteer for Sense Holidays, visit such as hands and ears. any barriers can be overcome and the child www.sense.org.uk/content/volunteering- www.deafinitelygirly.com Principal Graham Sheppard said, “The can grow into a confident and independent sense-holiday, call 0300 330 9250 or cakes looked great and tasted delicious. No adult.” email [email protected] Hearing Times Summer 2014 Arts & Culture 9 Film competition winners donate Deaf rapper Signmark breaks $10,000 to deafblind charity silence after four-year lull Short film Shift by Patrick Ryder and Del Mak won Madonna’s Art for Internationally known Finnish sign language rapper Signmark has released Freedom competition his third album after a four-year hiatus After cementing his switchover from He came to our attention in 2012, after his Finnish to American Sign Language (ASL) short film Cerberus, shot on a budget of just the rapper, originally Marko Vuoriheimo, £50, won the prestigious Film The House ventures into uncharted territory with a competition. And now filmmaker Patrick number in southern Chinese sign language. Ryder is riding high again, after his new Signmark had his breakthrough moment film Shift won Madonna’s Art for Freedom before home audiences in Finland back in competition, securing a $10,000 grant for a 2009 when he performed his beguiling R&B- charity of his choice. flavoured hit ‘Speakerbox’ at the national “I’m really overwhelmed,“ the south Harrow qualifying competition for the Eurovision resident says, “winning for Cerberus was a Song Contest. big thing, but to win for Shift... I just don’t The film was described by Adam Garcia as Signing in ASL and backed by vocalist know what to say. “wonderfully performed and brilliant realisation” Osmo Ikonen and hip-hop artist Brandon Signmark also works with the Finnish Foreign “When you win awards for your films Bauer, Signmark placed second, but he Ministry as an ambassador for disabled rights you’re usually just getting a pat on the back, ten years ago, and what he could do, so I created a winning formula for taking his one of the songs off the new album features which is great, but it’s nice to think that in approached him to co-direct the film. I knew music to global audiences with the help of well-known Finnish faces whom the rapper this instance you get to give something back how to cut the film, but had no idea when it vocalists and rappers. has met during the course of his career. through charity.” came to dance. It was great teaming up with Although the group split up, Signmark was Among them are former Finnish president him, he really drove the film forward.“ taken into the Warner Finland fold to become Tarja Halonen and International Development Once the film was completed I It was Del’s idea to submit the film to the first deaf person to sign a deal with an Minister Pekka Haavisto. thought to myself, it’s not quirky Madonna’s Art for Freedom competition, and international record label. He describes his The new album ‘Silent Shout’ contains enough, maybe dance would not long afterward the duo heard their film music as “party hip hop that stakes a stand”. nine tracks and according to Vuoriheimo aka make a difference. had been selected as the winner. Over the past few years since his last album Signmark, is more versatile than his previous “Madonna and her team pick a film they Signmark has been making his mark on the offerings. Shift, a joint project between Patrick and like from the submissions every day, with world stage. During that time he’s become “I wanted to try a new way to work with Del Mak, is an imaginative short, which an overall winner selected at the end of the particularly interested in the human rights different songs. And by using music videos follows a white-collar worker who escapes month,“ the father-of-two says. “We’ve also situation in China and the status of China’s I also wanted to give many others the the confines of his working environment had some recognition from other celebrities deaf community. His new album offers one opportunity to learn sign language too. The through the medium of dance. such as Adam Garcia, who tweeted that he song in southern Chinese sign language. music has also changed since I’ve noticed Del, who has worked with the likes of thought the film was ‘wonderfully performed “China is a massive country, where the while touring that the songs that go down Beyonce, choreographed the film, which and brilliant realisation’, which is good. human rights situation isn’t quite right. There best with audiences are the ones built on the stars Renako McDonald, runner up on Sky “As for the charities, we’re still ironing out are many deaf people there – around ten use of sign language,” he explained. One’s Got to Dance television series. The the final details as to which causes will be million. Such an intriguing country arouses The deaf rapper has been working with the music was created from an original score by receiving the $10,000, I’ve opted for Sense, many thoughts and ideas,” he said in Finnish Finnish Foreign Ministry as an ambassador friend Ben Symons. which helps people who are deaf and have sign language. for the rights of the disabled since 2010. He The movie was shot over a period of 20 learning difficulties. It’s a cause particularly Signmark’s new album is self-published, said recently that although he’s committed to hours, with locations in West Harrow Park close to my heart as my sister-in-law following his break with the record label his music, he doesn’t plan to give up on his making an appearance. Elizabeth is affected.” Warner Finland some time ago. A video from advocacy work. “The premise of the film came from a silent, Besides the Art for Freedom competition, black and white romantic film I’d made,“ the duo have submitted their film to a series explains Patrick. “The film focused on a guy of film festivals including Sundance, and are in an office who wanted to escape. Once working on their own separate projects – for the film was completed I thought to myself, Patrick that’s a film involving time travel. it’s not quirky enough, maybe dance would “We do have plans to make another film Adverisement make a difference. together though,” he says. “It will either “I’m not a ‘dance’ guy, but I’d known Del involve dance again or martial arts. Either since working with him in Woolies about way, we make a great team.” Deaf dancers move to the silence The Manchester Deaf Centre and Jamie from the band ‘The xx’ have teamed together to release this stunning video for his latest single ‘Sleep- Sound’ “I was on a train listening to music, getting deep into it, and this girl started staring at me,” says London-based artist and poet Sofia Mattioli of the genesis of her video for Jamie xx’s ‘Sleep Sound.’

During the course of one day, she danced with 13 members of the Manchester Deaf Centre

“After a while I took my headphones off The idea developed when a deaf girl said she could and she came up to me, started signing and almost hear the music from Sophie’s movements then wrote me a note to say that she was deaf but could almost feel the music by my footage of the dancers emulating Sophia’s movement.” movement’s whist feeling the vibrations from With the germ of an idea from this chance the music. encounter, Mattioli was asked to create a It is a truly moving piece of footage and video for the member of The xx and Grammy- captures the essence that music can not only winning producer of Alicia Keys, Gil Scott- be heard but also felt and seen. Heron and Drake. “The relationship between silence and During the course of one day, she danced music is a big part of what I am trying to with 13 members of the Manchester Deaf express with my work,” says Mattioli. “The Centre with ages ranging from five to 27 first kid in the video, Archie, was bliss, all of years old, who responded to the movement them were amazing. I hope this is a project I of the artist and the vibrations in the air given can develop further.” off by the song. ‘Girl / Sleep Sound’ was released on May 5 Captured on film was some amazing on Young Turks.

Tell us your news and we’ll tell everyone! Email the HT team now at [email protected] 10 Arts & Culture Hearing Times Summer 2014 Discovery of new language could help explain how we communicate Most of the news about minority languages is that they’re endangered or dying off, and the only new languages we hear about are those created for Hollywood sci-fi blockbusters. But sometimes, linguists find a previously unrecorded language — and when they do, it’s a sign language. The reasons for this discovery aren’t Kata Kolok (literally “deaf language”), which are looking at what it means if they’re the mysterious. “Because of the sporadic developed in Bengkala, Indonesia, where only sign languages without it. Is it a function incidence of deafness, the generation-to- villagers share a belief in Bhatara Kolok, a of their young age? Or is there some other generation transmission of language is deaf god. Linguists are also investigating reason? disrupted,” says Richard Meier, a linguist new sign languages in the Yucatan Peninsula and sign language expert at the University of Mexico as well as Turkey. Linguists of the past, inspired by the of Texas at Austin. “Deafness may appear work of Noam Chomsky, would have tried in communities that had not previously had These sign languages help scientists to figure out some innate, uniquely human it. Because of their hearing loss, the deaf understand how humans create a new order in these sign languages. Nowadays, are likely unable to acquire the local spoken language. Because they are so new, they contemporary scientists like Simon Kirby look language. But the community may lack an don’t have the same complex structure that at language as a complex adaptive system Researchers Lynn Hou, Kate Mesh and Hilaria established sign language.” The result? older, more established spoken and signed that is influenced by numerous factors — not Cruz visiting San Juan Quiahije and Cieneguilla People create languages. languages have. Nevertheless, they are only the limits of the human brain but the size fully functional languages, used by hearing of the groups, the number of deaf people 50s, and her younger brother, who was also On her first fieldwork trip in 2010, linguist and deaf people to share information, tell in each family, and even social interactions deaf. The youngest deaf signers are several Lynn Hou, who is deaf, and her colleague at jokes and stories, make speeches and share based on gender. girls, the youngest of whom is 4. Yet hearing the University of Texas at Austin, Hilaria Cruz, emotional intimacies. people use the sign language as well, even if from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, “I hope this research will reveal they don’t have deaf family members. visited the villages of San Juan Quiahije and “It is natural to assume that there can be more precisely how initially improvised Cieneguilla. Cruz had grown up signing to little direct evidence that casts light on the communication becomes conventional and Because Chatino Sign Language is deaf family members. On their trip, Hou met evolution of language, because its origins then systematic through a process of cultural probably only two generations old, the signs some deaf adults and learned the signs they are lost in the prehistory of our species,” evolution,” Kirby says. haven’t become fully conventional yet, which use. She suspected that they weren’t using says Simon Kirby, who studies the evolution means that not all signers use the same Mexican Sign Language. of language at the University of Edinburgh. To study this, researchers are comparing sign for a certain meaning. This has led to “But recently there has been a growing descriptions of the language environment comedic consequences for the researchers. These new sign languages are realization that not only biological but also with computer models and laboratory One morning, Hou and Mesh went to a also challenging some long- cultural evolution has an important role to experiments. For instance, Tessa Verhoef, deaf signer’s house for a breakfast of meat held assumptions about what is play in understanding language origins.” a computer scientist at the University of tamales. The filling had a distinct smell that universal in human languages. California-San Diego’s Center for Research they couldn’t identify, so they asked their host Scientists look at language as a complex in Language, is studying how people simplify what the meat was. He replied by flapping Several years later, Hou returned to Oaxaca adaptive system influenced by numerous a sequence of slide whistle sounds when his arms, which they interpreted as a sign for with a collaborator, linguist Kate Mesh. There factors — the limits of the human brain, the they teach it to others. She is also running “bird.” But Hou and Mesh were surprised to they confirmed that people were using a size of the groups, the number of deaf people experiments in which people learn and teach later learn that their tamales had been filled unique sign language that had been invented in each family, and even social interactions sequences of gestures. “We are creating with iguana meat — the man’s flapping arms locally. In the spring of 2014, Hou received based on gender. chains of transmission which would simulate weren’t wings, they were the front legs of an grants from the National Science Foundation the way that languages are passed from iguana. and the National Institutes of Health to study These new sign languages are also generation to generation,” Verhoef says. Chatino Sign Language. (Chatino is the challenging some long-held assumptions These simulations can be compared to Chatino Sign Language is also unique Spanish name for the indigenous people of about what is universal in human languages. findings from the field made by people like because it draws on a much older repertoire the area as well as the name of their spoken One characteristic of most languages is that Hou and Mesh. of gestures that serves as a lingua franca language.) speakers are able to build very complex in a linguistically diverse part of the world. structures, such as sentences, out of a simple Watching this process unfold in real time Imagine the “thumbs up” gesture that many Hou’s discovery is one of about a dozen set of more basic units, like words. In spoken reveals how simple symbols may have people share: Dozens of such gestures sign languages identified for the first time languages, the basic units are sounds; in sign evolved into something more complex evolved across southern Mexico because by linguists in the last decade, and more languages, they are shapes of the hand. But around 150,000 years ago. there was no other shared language. The are popping up. Most recently a group of some of the village sign languages don’t have researchers are looking at the possibility American and Israeli linguists have been this property, which has long baffled linguists. On her initial trip to Chatinoland, Hou that this has been one resource for the deaf studying two new sign languages in Israel, One proposal is that the signs haven’t suspected that the sign language wasn’t Chatinos, who turned simple gestures into one of which arose only four generations become fully conventional yet because they Mexican Sign Language because people nouns, verbs and adjectives that can create ago in a Bedouin village with an unusually often “look like” objects or actions, a quality didn’t do finger spelling for words. They didn’t more complex sentences. large deaf population. Such ‘village sign that young sign languages exploit early in mouth Spanish words along with their signs, Watching this process unfold in real time languages’, as they’re called, appear all over their lives. But linguists don’t yet know when and she didn’t detect any initialized hand reveals how simple symbols may have the world. this structure emerges or how. shapes. In Mexican Sign Language, the evolved into something more complex hand shape for the letter “L” means Monday, around 150,000 years ago. And in the future, There is Ban Khor, a sign language used It was also assumed that all sign languages because the Spanish word for “Monday” is whenever we teach our language to children by about a thousand people in a village in use the space around a signer’s body to “lunes.” Chatino signers didn’t have this sign. or foreigners, we’ll be able to draw on this Thailand; Adamorobe, a language in Ghana change what verbs mean (such as when an new understanding of humanity’s creation that shares a number of traits with other action occurred, or whether it is ongoing), but As far as they’ve been able to tell, the from the deep past that comes from the study West African sign languages, like loose some of the sign languages that have been Chatino Sign Language in its current form of languages being born today. hand shapes and sweeping gestures; and found in villages don’t do this. Researchers was started by a deaf woman, now in her Story source: Michael Erard, Gibrán Morales Carranza, Aljazeera World Federation of the Deaf release statement on standardized sign language The World Federation of the Deaf is concerned about attempts to “standardize” sign languages in some countries

Often, language standardisation takes the resources are then used to teach sign not have one word for one concept either (for important also to note that the UN Convention form of deciding on one single word or one language, train interpreters, or to serve as example, in English truck/lorry, elevator/lift). on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities sign for a concept and as a result, the natural a record of the language, and these do not Sign languages are like spoken languages requires governments to ensure that people variation of the language is ignored. reflect the natural richness and variation that in that there is a great deal of sociolinguistic with disability can express themselves freely, The United Nations Convention on the is present in sign languages. variation (Lucas and Valli 1992 and Lucas, including in sign language. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) It is possible that such an activity will in Bayley, and Valli 2001). This variation can The WFD believes that any sign language article 21 (e) obliges states parties to the long term alienate or disenfranchise be regional, age, gender, education, family work should reflect all the different signs recognize and promote the use of sign language communities. background, social, ethnicity, register, lexical. used by a language community. Therefore, languages. In the spirit of the CRPD, sign It is important to highlight that sign All languages of course allow for the same sign language dictionary work should always languages should be promoted in the form languages are full-fledged natural languages, thing to be said in different words/signs. document all the different signs and their that they are used by Deaf Communities structurally independent from the spoken Variation is a natural feature of both sign variations that deaf people in a community or around the world. languages with which they co-exist; they languages and spoken languages, and this is area use. Some researchers or organisations around are certainly in contact with these spoken an important part of any language research. It is not advisable to pick only one sign the world have attempted to standardize languages but their structure is different and Further background on the WFD Statement for one word when documenting sign sign languages by producing dictionaries independent. on Sign Language Work can be found on languages. The WFD therefore does not which only have one sign for one concept Some people believe that there should only their website, www.wfdeaf.org support any formal standardization activities and ignoring the other variations of the sign be one sign for one word or one concept, This Statement emphasises that it is related to any sign language, but supports or concept. This is an incorrect approach which is wrong both from an everyday, lay important for sign language work to be done appropriately qualified linguistic research into because this does not reflect how natural and from an academic perspective. It is with leadership of Deaf native sign language and documentation of all sign languages in languages have variation. Also, these important to note that spoken languages do users and WFD Ordinary members; it is the world. Hearing Times Summer 2014 Technology 11 Microsite launched for teenagers Mum of three-year-old boy triggers with hearing loss #handsonears selfies Can hearing solutions stream music? Can I do outdoor sports no matter the Celebrities are covering their ears to raise awareness for deaf people in the weather? Teens want to know all about the latest hearing technology and what latest selfie trend to hit social media and it’s all thanks to one North East mum it can do for them. Danielle Williams, 33, from Medomsley in Because a teen’s world is a different one, Marketing of Phonak said, “Their primary County Durham, has four children, including Phonak presents the first microsite tailored sources of information are the hearing care twin brothers Alfie and George, who are both to the needs of teenagers with hearing loss. professionals, but hearing impaired teens three. Alfie is autistic, and was plagued by a Through teen-specific hooks such as music, also love getting connected with others in virus at the end of last year which resulted in sports and social life, the site offers them all the same situation. This is why we have him going permanently deaf. they want to know about hearing technology introduced a microsite offering them all the After raising thousands of pounds for – and more importantly, what it can do to information they seek and a platform for charity with bake sales, Danielle thought she enhance their lives. interacting with their peers. would do something to mark Deaf Awareness “Through hooks like music, sports and Week, and came up #handsonears - a photo Hearing impaired teens expect social life, the microsite shows them what she took of herself and her family covering their hearing aids to allow them difference hearing technology can make in their ears, which she then posted on to do whatever they want to do their lives – in all the situations they want to Facebook. without being limited by their enjoy life to the fullest with their friends”. It received a massive response, with John and Danielle Williams with twins George hearing loss A short, engaging video shows how thousands of people from around the world, and Alfie in the #handsonears pose Phonak Sky Q and Roger can give them a including celebrities from the worlds of Surveys have shown that hearing impaired music experience that seamlessly integrates TV, music and sport, posting pictures of getting involved, even the Red Arrows all teens see themselves as normal teens who with their everyday social interactions like themselves online. standing in front of their planes with their happen to have hearing loss. They love to be never before – all heard and seen from a Musician Fat Boy Slim and his TV hands over their ears, which is just amazing.” active in sports, music, and other fun activities teen’s perspective. presenter wife Zoe Ball, champion athlete Danielle said that, while tests had led her like any other teenager. They expect their A number of interactive elements, including Iwan Thomas and TV presenters Andi Peters to expect that her young son had gone deaf, hearing aids to allow them to do whatever a playlist of songs that sound great with and Adam Richman, from the cult American to actually hear the news came as a huge they want to do without being limited by their hearing aids, a Phonak Sky Q and Roger series Man vs. Food, have all sent pictures shock. hearing loss. colour customisation tool, and an “Ask your to the campaign, as have the RAF’s Red “We didn’t really know where to go from Can my hearing solutions stream music? audiologist” tool make sure teenagers get the Arrows flying squad. there, but soon after we were inundated with Can I chat away with my friends in a club with most out of the microsite, according to their support from so many people that we didn’t the music on at full volume? Teens want to individual preferences and needs. Alfie’s mum is putting together a even know. It was overwhelming.” know all about the latest hearing technology montage of all the photos to show Alfie is too young to understand the social and what it can do for them. Check out the microsite, visit him when he grows up. media storm he has triggered, but his mum is Maarten Barmentlo, Group Vice President www.bringsoundtolife.com putting together a montage of all the photos “I wasn’t expecting it to be this big,” said to show him when he grows up. Danielle. “I put the photo of the family on “I would like one day for sign language Facebook and it just kind of took off.” to be taught in schools,” Danielle said. Got a product you want reviewed? “By the end of Deaf Awareness Week I “Sometimes when I tell people Alfie is deaf Ask our independent reviewers to look into it! thought I didn’t want this to be the end, so I they react strangely and a bit worried, but Email [email protected] put it on Twitter and what has happened has people need to know there’s nothing scary been incredible. I’ve had so many celebrities about deaf people.” Adverisement

Even when wearing your hearing aid? 12 Technology Hearing Times Summer 2014 Renowned composer Turkish scientists invent ‘talking hands’ and deaf travel writer Two Turkish scientists have built a prototype of ‘talking gloves’ that translate sign language into vocal language, helping people with hearing and speech impairments make their voices heard star in latest Apple ads The revolutionary invention of computer for their project, which is titled ‘Talking The latest phase of Apple’s ‘Your engineer Elif Saygi Bavunoglu and her Hands’. Verse’ TV campaign promoting the husband, Harun Bavunoglu, a Ph.D student “The project is currently under evaluation,” iPad Air has launched in the UK in mathematics and computer science, has Elif Saygi Bavunoglu said. “If we can get been chosen as one of the final projects at support, we hope to launch the production The new ads show renowned composer New Ideas New Businesses, Turkey’s first and process within a month, and initially produce and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen using largest technology-based entrepreneurship gloves that detect movements. In the next the tablet to turn everyday moments into competition. The competition is organized by stage, which should take about ten months, classical scores and deaf travel writer Cherie the Middle East Technical University. we will focus on equipping the gloves with King using it to help her travel the world. The prototype was created at the couple’s the ability to perceive Turkish sign language The lighting system can be programmed as an alarm clock, gradually getting brighter tech start-up, Turtela, built at the Izmir and convert it to sounds. The whole process Technology Development Zone in the Izmir should take 22 months.” low price.” Institute of Technology, a public research At this stage, the prototype can convert This wearable technology, which converts university. 15 signs into sounds. When the project is movement to sound, can be utilized in many completed, the gloves will have the capacity industries including defence, entertainment, This wearable technology, which to translate all of the nearly 2,000 words in advertising and cinema, and it could also converts movement to sound, the Turkish sign language dictionary, as well be used to help establish communication can be utilized in many industries as their local variations, she said. She added between machines and humans, Bavunoglu including defence, entertainment, that English and other sign languages could said, adding that their priority at the moment advertising and cinema also be uploaded. is developing products for the handicapped, It will also be possible to learn which signs but they could also produce devices for other “We have developed a pair of gloves to correspond to which words with the help of a sectors down the road. translate Turkish sign language into vocal sign language training module on a screen, There are about 198,000 registered language,” said Elif Saygi Bavunoglu. “These which will be attached to the wrist with a hook hearing impaired people in Turkey, but the gloves are equipped with built-in sensors and loop fastener, she said. actual number is estimated to be more than that can detect hand and finger movements, “After developing the commercial prototype, 500,000. Virtually all of them communicate As well as the TV activity, the campaign and transfer them to sounds with the help of we will start investing in production,” using sign language. extends to apple.com, where each person’s artificial intelligence algorithms. Bavunoglu said. “Our dream is to have these “At the moment, there are only a few story is explored in more detail, and the Therefore, a person with hearing gloves handed out to impaired people through groups worldwide working to develop such App Store, which will feature a collection of impairment gets the chance to express the Social Security Institution. Otherwise, we technology, but we have not yet heard of a Salonen and King’s favourite apps. himself or herself verbally in addition to will work with several agencies that purchase prototype”, Bavunoglu said. The iTunes store will also feature an signing.” such equipment and distribute to those in “With the help of talking gloves, we exclusive video of Esa-Pekka conducting the The Bavunoglus have applied to TUBITAK, need in order to facilitate their lives. In that aim to eliminate the communication Philharmonic Orchestra performing the third The Scientific and Technological Research case, we will do our best to ensure that the problems people with hearing and speaking movement of his Violin Concerto. Council of Turkey, to get financial assistance gloves are handed out for free, or at a very impairments encounter every day.”

Made for iPhone hearing ‘Signglasses’: Google Glass for deaf students aid’ available ‘off the shelf’ When it comes to enjoying events like a trip to the planetarium, there’s a whole segment of the population incapable of Halo, ‘the Made for iPhone® Hearing appreciating their tour of outer space Aid’ allows iPhone users with hearing With the lights off, deaf students can’t see system with students from Jean Massieu difficulties to connect with a hearing the sign language interpreters in front of the School for the Deaf. So far they’ve learned control application and manage their room, but with the lights on, they can’t lose that most students prefer the interpreter be hearing aid directly from their phone themselves in the constellations of stars projected to the center of the lens, rather

Screengrab via BYU The Halo, designed by Starkey, is a projected up above for all to see. than at the top. revolutionary new hearing solution that This way, students say, they can focus brings what people love about the iPhone According to the university, deaf more on the planetarium show. students would be able to push to anyone and everyone with hearing loss. But what has really proven advantageous The advanced new hearing aids connect a button and a video dictionary to Jones’ technological advancements for the easily to iPhone, iPad® and iPod touch® would pop up and project a deaf community is working alongside those The lighting system can be programmed as an alarm clock, gradually getting brighter via ‘TruLink’™, an easy-to-use hearing definition of the word in sign who will be most affected by his invention. control application. It allows users to pre-set language. “Having a group of students who are fluent researchers at Georgia Tech to explore this volumes for different environments such as in sign language here at the university has idea, which could help deaf students as they ‘stadium’, ‘outdoor’ or ‘home settings’, which That’s what inspired a group of researchers been huge,” said Jones. “We got connected encounter new words in books. According to they can switch to at the touch of a button. at Brigham Young University to launch the into that community of fluent sign language the university, deaf students would be able to Other features include a location tracking ‘signglasses’ project – an innovative system students and that opened a lot of doors for push a button and a video dictionary would device if users misplace a hearing aid and that projects sign language interpreters onto us.” pop up and project a definition of the word in indicators to show battery capacity. Google Glass and other similar products, While originally created as a way to help sign language. Helena King, Head of Affinity and effectively improving experiences for those improve the planetarium experience for deaf If all goes according to plan and signglasses Development at Age UK said, “We are really who are deaf. students, the signglasses project may also become a mainstream reality, the product excited to be able to offer Halo, the Made for Lead by Michael Jones, assistant professor have other practical uses – like as a literacy could move beyond BYU and Georgia Tech’s iPhone Hearing Aid, to our customers. Age of computer science at BYU, the research tool. campus, perhaps even landing in the hands UK Hearing Aids offer a complete hearing team has already begun field testing the The BYU team is currently working with of Gallaudet University students in D.C. care service with solutions for all kinds of hearing difficulties and guides people through the entire process. This is a great Book festival praised for accessibility after inclusion of live subtitling option for people who have an iphone and we are excited to include it in our range.” Organisers of a West Yorkshire literature festival have been praised by a national hearing loss charity for taking steps Robert Savage, Marketing Director at UK to make the event more accessible to people with hearing loss. Hearing Care said, “We are delighted to be Huddersfield Literature Festival arranged Dr Lorraine Gailey, Chief Executive of ensure venues also have working hearing able to offer our customers Made for iPhone for live subtitling to be displayed during the Hearing Link said, “Hearing loss can bring loops. “Millions of people in the UK have hearing aid solutions. This product truly is main event, the appearance of former BBC many challenges to people’s lives. hearing loss and it makes sense to ensure at the forefront of hearing aid technology chief news correspondent Kate Adie. “These are made far harder than they they can join in and participate, especially as providing Apple customers with fantastic Kate Adie spoke about her work as an need to be when relatively inexpensive those numbers are going up,” said Dr Gailey. functionality, including streaming calls and award-winning war reporter and her latest technologies are not put in place to make “We urge all literature festivals in the UK to music directly to their hearing aid. It even book, Fighting on the Home Front: The things accessible. We are delighted that think about access and to get in touch with offers a feature which enables customers to Legacy of Women in World War One. Huddersfield Literature Festival made us so we can help them to plan appropriate find their hearing aid easily plus the ability to The use of live subtitles, known as speech- speech-to-text reporting available and praise communication support.” use GPS to automatically adjust the hearing to-text reporting, meant that everyone was their efforts.” Michelle Hodgson, Huddersfield Literature aid to specific pre-set locations. It’s great to able to follow what she said. As well as being Hearing Link is now calling for other book Festival organiser, said, “The Huddersfield be able to offer this remarkable solution to a keynote speaker at the event, Kate Adie festivals to make their events more accessible Literature Festival aims to be as inclusive as those with hearing difficulties.” is a patron of Hearing Link so this move is too. As well as speech-to-text reporting, possible so we decided to invest in speech- Halo hearing solutions are available from particularly apt. Hearing Link urges festival organisers to to-text reporting for one of our key events: Age UK Hearing Aids nationwide. Hearing Times Summer 2014 Technology 13 Smart Bulb ‘could prove New technology for cinema audiences trialled Ambassador Theatre Group and the National Theatre will be among the first revolutionary’ for deaf people organisations to trial new technology, aimed at increasing access for deaf and hard of hearing audiences, providing more accurate automated captioning Connect to your phone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Stagetext, a charity that provides theatre LG’s Smart Bulb blinks when users get captioning services, has won around phone calls – could this new ‘smart lightbulb’ £125,000 from the Digital R&D Fund for the open up smartphone usage amongst people Arts. The fund supports ideas that use digital with hearing loss? technology to engage audiences in new The South Korean company’s Smart Bulb ways. is an LED lightbulb with WiFi and Bluetooth It was awarded to Stagetext to fund the connectivity. It will last for over a decade if development of its CaptionCue project, which switched on for an average of five hours per will develop a system that would no longer day. This represents an 80 per cent energy require a person to operate the captioning c. Jeremy Fowler saving compared to traditional incandescent systems in theatres. Instead, CaptionCue will bulbs, according to LG. use voice recognition software to generate Caption unit at the Tricycle Theatre The lighting system can be programmed accurate automated captioning. for audience members which include to act as an alarm clock, getting gradually The lighting system can be programmed as an The NT and ATG will join English Touring personal display devices, such as tablets, brighter from a chosen time in the morning, alarm clock, gradually getting brighter Theatre in acting as development partners, and even adapted glasses which project rather than emitting a sound. It also comes offering spaces to allow the technology to be subtitles into the wearer’s eye line. with a ‘security mode’, which turns the lights “There is currently no other product like tested. “We need to get an idea of what works on for short periods while the user is away on this on the market,” Taylor added, “and if and what doesn’t. We can create beautiful holiday, to deter burglars. the Smart Bulb’s features can extend to We can create beautiful captions captions that happen exactly on time, but if There is also a ‘party mode’, which adjusts responding to text message, email alerts and you’re spending 90% of the time looking at perhaps even the doorbell it could prove a that happen exactly on time, but if the brightness in accordance with the music you’re spending 90% of the time a tablet and not at the show it’s pointless”, emanating from the smartphone and will even revolutionary tool in the daily lives of people Graham said. blink to the beat, but his is only available for who are deaf or hard of hearing.” looking at a tablet and not at the show it’s pointless “We have a win-win situation here. We use with Android smartphones at launch. The Smart Bulb will be released in Korea will be testing and developing CaptionCue, shortly for 35,000 won (£19) each. “The Smart Bulb is a promising new The project is led by Roger Graham, who so whatever happens this grant means It won’t be the first product which product - and the fact users can connect the hopes that the technology developed will that we can ensure that access provision is inadvertently revolutionises life for people bulb using technology such as Bluetooth and expand the amount of shows available to improved”, he added. with hearing loss. When Apple shipped the Wi-Fi to their smart phones to alert them to deaf and hard of hearing people and improve The Digital R&D Fund for the Arts is a first iPhones with FaceTime, the firm’s video calls, makes it especially beneficial for the the accuracy of automatic systems. partnership between Arts Council England, calling feature, it saw a sharp uptake in use one in six of us with some form of hearing “The idea is to try and output the lines the Arts and Humanities Research Council amongst deaf customers, who used the new loss,” said Kevin Taylor, a product specialist absolutely simultaneously to them being and Nesta. function to make calls in sign language. for Action on Hearing Loss. spoken so our client audience can get what Nesta’s director of creative economy is as close as possible to the experience that programmes, Jon Kingsley, said, “CaptionCue anyone else gets at the theatre. Right now, it’s promises to be truly transformative for arts quite hard to get that sort of sensitivity without performance organisations by dramatically Submit your product for review a manual captioner there”, Graham explained. reducing the cost of captioning – helping to The project will spend the next engage not only those with hearing difficulties [email protected] twelve months developing software and but also people for whom English is a second experimenting with different output methods language.” Adverisement

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Email: [email protected] 14 Health Hearing Times Summer 2014 Oldest implant patient hears friends again Bad healthcare costs NHS £30million A midland woman born a month after the outbreak of the First World War has become the oldest person in Europe to receive a cochlear implant to improve a year and puts Deaf people at risk her hearing Thousands of Deaf people are suffering from undiagnosed, potentially life- Mollie Smith, who celebrates her 100th threatening conditions, because of unintentional neglect by the NHS. And birthday in September, had the device it’s costing the health service £30 million a year implanted in her left ear at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in January, before it A five year research study by the Deaf in waiting rooms by was switched on last month. Health Charity SignHealth and the University staff who call them And the active great grandmother, who of Bristol shows that doctors are failing to by shouting out their regularly goes to the gym and walks her dog spot problems with the health of Deaf people names. There’s a every day, says it has already made a huge on a frightening scale, and when they do failure to supply sign- difference to her life. diagnose conditions there’s a shocking level language interpreters Mollie, from Rugby in Warwickshire, of ineffective treatment. for consultations which was profoundly deaf in both ears, and is The researchers say it means a likelihood means the doctor doesn’t registered blind, but despite her impairments of reduced life expectancy in Deaf people. understand the problem and can’t explain she fiercely maintains her independence. “[My hearing] is much sharper and it has made The Sick Of It report shows that Deaf people any treatment. And there is a chronic lack of She said, “My hearing is definitely better a great difference to me” are twice as likely to have undiagnosed high health information in British Sign Language. since I had the implant. It is much sharper didn’t think I would get it done.” blood pressure as the rest of the population, The researchers found that the NHS and has made a great difference to me. Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, and if they have been diagnosed it’s three Choices website has around 900 health “I haven’t had a great deal of opportunity Andrew Reid, said, “The intent was to improve times more likely that their treatment isn’t videos to help people make healthy choices to talk to people for a while because they her hearing and allow her to maintain a level working. and take some control over their own health, wouldn’t visit me as I couldn’t hear them. of independent living. More than half of the Deaf people with only 10 of those videos have sign language “But I’ve got a neighbour opposite and I “This sort of thing is possible for older heart disease aren’t being treated properly, interpretation. can hear what she says now. And I also have people because of modern-day skills of and the same is true of diabetes. Deaf people “There are really simple things we can do a friend who comes to my flat every Sunday anaesthesia and nursing care, and is a great with high cholesterol are half as likely as to make a huge improvement”, says Steve and I can now hear him.” example of teamwork across many clinical hearing people to be on medication to bring Powell, the CEO of SignHealth. “It’s shocking areas.” it under control. that in this internet enabled age 45% of Deaf “Since she has had the implant Louise Craddock, Midlands Hearing “This is unjust, unfair and unacceptable”, patients have to walk into their doctor’s I think everyone has seen a Implant Programme Manager, said of Mollie’s says Dr Andrew Alexander, SignHealth’s surgery to make an appointment, and they’re significant improvement in her cochlear implant, “We would not discriminate medical director, “there’s clearly no intention forced to communicate in ways that lead to communication.” on the basis of age. to treat Deaf patients badly, but doctors are errors and misunderstandings”. “She is entitled to receive an implant not doing the good job we think we are, and SignHealth have drawn up Prescriptions Mollie, a widow who has three children because she is profoundly deaf in both ears. we’re failing a whole community, putting For Change, simple steps which can be aged 67 to 77, added, “Before I had the And even though she’s registered blind, it’s them at risk of heart attacks, strokes and taken by health workers, NHS management implant I hadn’t had the television on for her deafness that has caused the greater other conditions.” and government, to improve healthcare for nearly two years. dependence on her family and been the “Sick Of It” identifies the causes: doctors Deaf people. “I used to watch Noel Edmonds because I biggest barrier to her independent life. surgeries and hospitals are not accessible could hear what he said more, but that was “Since she has had the implant I think to Deaf patients, who find it difficult to make The report is published by SignHealth at about it. I’m now able to have it on more and everyone has seen a significant improvement appointments and who are often left stranded www.sick-of-it-.com watched the winter Olympics which I could in her communication.” see because of the snow in the background. Daughter Rita, who acts as Mollie’s only “And I could hear the presenters saying carer, said of her mum, “I am so proud of World’s first gene therapy trial for deafness what they were doing, such as ‘that was a her because she’s so independent and so good jump’. That was quite clear so it was determined. Age shouldn’t be a barrier to People who have lost their hearing will be injected with a harmless virus very good. having your hearing, especially someone carrying a gene that should trigger the regrowth of their ears’ sensory receptors “I have also been able to hear my great who has always been very active. In two months’ time the volunteers, who lost discovered that certain genes can transform grandson and his partner quite clearly. And “She goes with me to the gym twice a week their hearing through damage or disease, will the cells supporting the hair cells into both when I go to the gym with my daughter I can and she does all her own gardening. I have get an injection of a harmless virus containing types of hair cell. now hear the receptionist.” even caught her in the last few years lifting a gene that should trigger the regrowth of the To see whether one of these genes, called Mollie, who takes her Jack Russell terrier paving slabs.” sensory receptors in the ear. Atoh1, could be used to improve hearing, Zena for daily walks on her mobility scooter, Rita said her mother used to be one of the The idea is that the method will return a last year Staecker and colleagues inserted it also enjoys the treadmill and rowing machine finest dog trainers in the country and was more natural sense of hearing than other into a harmless virus and injected that into during her twice-weekly visits to the gym with a motorbike despatch rider during the war technologies can provide. Hearing aids merely the cochlea of mice that had had almost all daughter Rita. before working as a bus conductor. amplify sounds, while cochlear implants of their hair cells destroyed. Two months She added, “I’m definitely happy I had the “The quality of her life has certainly transform sound waves into electrical waves later, the rodents’ hearing had improved by operation as I can now hear better. I know I’m improved since she had this implant fitted,” that the brain interprets, but they don’t pick about 20 decibels. “This is about the same not fragile like most people my age but I still she added. up all of the natural frequencies. This means difference between hearing with your hands people can find it difficult to distinguish many over your ears, and what you hear ordinarily,” of the nuances in voices and music. says Lloyd Klickstein, head of translational Hard of hearing are up to five times more “The holy grail is to give people natural medicine at Novartis, the Swiss drug hearing back,” says Hinrich Staecker at the company collaborating on the trial. likely to develop dementia, study finds University of Kansas Medical Center, who is Staecker’s team have now got the go- leading the trial. “That’s what we hope to do ahead to do the same in people. In the next Compared with individuals with normal hearing, people with mild, moderate – we are essentially repairing the ear rather month, they will begin searching for about and severe hearing loss are two, three and five times more likely to develop than artificially imitating what it does.” 45 volunteers who have severe hearing dementia respectively than people with normal hearing There are still many things we don’t know loss, most likely caused by the side effects about how the ear works. This is because of drugs. This group will have lost a large Even after taking into account other factors the delicate machinery of the inner ear is number of hair cells, but will still have that are associated with high risk of dementia, enclosed in the hardest bone in the body, supporting structures, such as neurons, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, age, making it difficult to isolate without causing present in the inner ear. “The biggest risk sex and race, hearing loss and dementia are damage. is that we interfere with residual hearing, still strongly associated. What we do know is that sound waves are so we’re starting with people who have lost The findings are found in a study published funnelled into the ear, making the ear drum almost all hearing already,” says Klickstein. in 2011 made by Frank Lin, otolaryngologist vibrate. These vibrations are transferred to People between the ages of 18 and 70 will and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins School the cochlea in the inner ear via three tiny be eligible for the trial. Those who are born of Medicine in the US. He and his team bones. Thousands of sensory receptors deaf won’t be because they often don’t have followed 639 patients for 18 years. line a part of the cochlea called the organ of the structures needed to support hair cells. None of the subjects had cognitive Corti, as rows of inner and outer hair cells. Staecker estimates that the approach could impairments at the beginning of the study, Sound waves, amplified by the outer hair help 1 to 2 per cent of all people with hearing although some did have a certain degree of cells (shown above right), vibrate the inner loss. hearing loss. During the 18 years of follow hair cells, opening ion channels on their “Today’s medical treatments are largely up, 58 cases of dementia were diagnosed “[My hearing] is much sharper and it has made a great difference to me” surface that let neurotransmitters flow in. limited to hearing aids and cochlear implants, amongst the 639 patients. This triggers electrical activity in the cochlear which are essentially just sticking plasters,” Another study, published in 2012 by The authors found a strong relationship neurons, passing the information to the brain says Ralph Holme, head of biomedical Gallacher et al, has confirmed these findings. between hearing loss and both dementia and so it can be processed. research at Action on Hearing Loss. In this study, 1057 men were followed for a cognitive decline. Both inner and outer hair cells can be “This is why the planned trial is extremely period of 17 years. Their hearing loss was For every 10 dB (A) of increasing hearing damaged by loud noises, drugs such as some encouraging and offers hope to the millions evaluated at the start of the study and then loss, compared to normal hearing level for antibiotics and disease, and don’t regrow. A affected by hearing loss that a cure is again after nine years, in which both cognition that age, the risk of developing dementia possible fix arose in 2003, when researchers possible.” and dementia were assessed. increased 2.7 fold. Hearing Times Summer 2014 Education 15 UK awarding body provides BSL access for free The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has partnered with SignVideo to enable deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users to contact them conveniently in their own language SQA helps people realise their ambitions pleased that SQA has responded positively to by providing a wide range of high quality, improve access for the deaf BSL community. internationally recognised qualifications and SQA should be applauded and congratulated associated services. for their vision and innovation as they are the SQA works with schools, colleges, first awarding body in the United Kingdom to universities and training organisations to offer full inclusion. Do you ever feel like life is passing develop and deliver these qualifications and “Secondly, SQA is leading the way forward you by and you are not sure what you assessments. in providing full access for deaf people, have got to show for it? In 2012, 17% A BSL Live link is now available on the showing how other public service institutions of the British Population were 65 or contact page of the SQA website. By clicking with customer services that are inaccessible the link on their computer with a webcam and for deaf BSL customers could ensure full older, by 2037 it is estimated that this broadband connection, BSL users are able to inclusion for deaf people like myself. Sign Video is the only service that is 100% will increase to 24% (UK National connect to a SignVideo interpreter instantly “This excellent example of open and ease accessible without prior booking Statistics). But is 65 really that old any and make a free BSL interpreted call to the of access will provide the means for them to authorities throughout the UK. more? At the time of writing this article SQA Customer Support Team. consolidate on their exemplary track record “We see this as an opportunity for of ensuring that no one is being prevented other services to look more closely at their there were 4 people in Britain who “Our feedback findings show from using their services. customer services and see if they are had been verified aged 110 or over, that many people within the deaf “Our feedback findings show that many currently accommodating deaf people and if with a further 11 waiting to be verified. BSL community are increasingly people within the deaf BSL community are not, they are welcome to give us a call to see (wikipedia.org). More and more of us excluded from public services” increasingly excluded from public services how they could open up access for them.” and their number one desire is to gain Steve Borley, Head of Marketing at SQA, are living healthier for longer. But how SignVideo is particularly proud of this equality of access to these services without said, “We are proud of the fact that we are are we using our old age? Many partnership and is looking forward to seeing any complexities such as booking a sign the first awarding body in the UK to offer this people still retire in their late 60s but the positive impact it will have on improving language interpreter in advance or waiting for service to the deaf BSL community. are still fit and wanting to contribute to education and employment for the BSL an interpreter to be available online. “We ensure that our products and services society. This is where volunteering community in Scotland. “SignVideo, the UK leading Video Relay enable people to realise their ambitions SignVideo continues to provide BSL Service (VRS), is the only service that is and by improving the equality of access to comes in. 1-7th June is National solutions to organisations and businesses 100% accessible without prior booking - our customer services, we are giving more Volunteers week celebrating all the who wish to make their services accessible instant access to online video sign language people the opportunity to ask to us about the wonderful people who give up their to BSL users who often face major barriers in interpreters - and we are pleased to welcome qualifications they want to use to help them time to support groups and charities. accessing services. SQA in joining our illustrious stable which reach their personal or professional goals.” Jeff McWhinney, Chair and founder of includes blue chip companies such as At Deafax we have a number of SignVideo said, “The thinking behind this Barclays Bank, British Telecom, Bank To use the BSL Live link visit www.sqa. volunteers who are vital to our work. commitment is twofold. Firstly, we are very of Scotland, BSkyB and numerous local org.uk and click on the ‘Contact’ page From supporting the delivery of our training to helping out in the office, Charity highly commended for its work with apprentices each one contributes something to further the Deafax mission. But how The UK hearing loss charity Hearing Link has been highly commended for its do you go about volunteering and work in supporting apprentices in East Sussex what are the key things to think about The charity was among individuals and been highly commended for our support of when offering to volunteer? A good employers across the region that were the Apprentice Scheme run in partnership volunteer is worth their weight in gold recognised at the Sussex Downs College with Sussex Downs College. but their rewards should be a sense of “Our apprentices have and continue to Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony. value and satisfaction, knowing that Hearing Link received a highly commended be an integral and successful part of the commendation award in the Small to Medium Hearing Link team, gaining valuable work what they do is changing the world Employer of the Year category celebrating experience whilst working towards their NVQ around them. But volunteering needs its support of apprenticeships through qualification. We are extremely proud to to work for both the individual and the employment opportunities. have been recognised for the role we play in organisation, so before deciding when The charity has been part of the scheme, supporting apprentices.” Wayne Wright, Deputy Principal of Curriculum and where to offer your services make run in partnership with Sussex Downs Hearing Link is a UK charity which and Skills; Sharon Heiser, Head Office College, for the past four years and currently provides information and support for people Administrator; and Vanessa Edwards, Head of sure you have checked out the offers two Apprentice Administration living with hearing loss and their families. The Operations at Hearing Link following: Assistant positions. organisation makes it easy for people to find 1) How much time can you offer? Dr Lorraine Gailey, Chief Executive of information and support and to connect with For more information about Hearing Link Hearing Link, said, “We are thrilled to have others who have similar experiences. visit www.hearinglink.org Be honest, do you want to offer a few hours a month or one day a week – Can you make a regular commitment or is it more on an ad Annual family weekend informs and educates hoc basis – there are often The Ear Foundation Family weekend, sponsored by Cochlear Europe, is an annual event for parents and children the volunteer opportunities for both. opportunity to find out more about the latest gadgets and technologies available, which schools to attend and ideas 2) What causes motivate you? to enhance the life of a deaf child, says Lorna Lord, Head of Education and Family, The Ear Foundation There are many amazing groups Sue Archbold opened the Family the technology, and the support of the Ear Mayer, Associate Professor in the Faculty of out there doing fantastic work, but Conference reminding attendees that it was Foundation led by Sue Archbold, now chief Education at York University, Toronto and you can’t volunteer for them all so 25 years since the first cochlear implant, executive, that cochlear implants are helping Sue Archbold. Professor Mayer suggested then reviewed present day innovations and deaf adults and children hear today. ways for parents to support their children pick your top five and see what looking to the future full of new exciting Cochlear are the leaders in this new in developing listening and language skills opportunities there are for you. developments. technology and Jayne Spencer was next which underpin literacy. 3) What are your skills? The Ear Foundation continually strives to to take the podium. She reviewed past and Sue also provided some innovative ideas Everyone has something they can keep ahead of recent technology, offering present cochlear implant devices and the to help the child improve its listening skills by help and support with a range of resources new Nucleus 6 sound processor. Amanprit suggesting ways to access spoken language offer, so think about your work/life and expertise, to babies and toddlers, teens Johal, the first Graeme Clark Scholarship at home and in school in this noisy world we skills and what drives you. and adults. The first speakers to address the Award winner, gave a presentation about live in. 4) Give it a go! conference were cochlear implant pioneers her inspiring implant journey. She has an The conference concluded with 22 year old You won’t know until you try it but it Marian Batt, parent of the first child implanted excellent job, has many friends and lives life Nicholas Carter, who had a cochlear implant with a cochlear implant in the UK, and to the full. She left the audience inspired by at the age of five. Nicholas spoke inspiringly could be the most rewarding work audiologist professor Barry McCormick who her zest for life about his life and how much he benefits from you’ve ever done! organised the very first Family Weekend at Clare Sheridan, from Cochlear, captivated his cochlear implant. Contact [email protected] for Deafax Center Parcs twenty one years ago. the audience with a talk for parents on The Ear Foundation is especially grateful Volunteering Opportunities. They talked about the battle over the Behaviour Management, giving tips and to Cochlear for their sponsorship of the years to have cochlear implants recognised techniques on how to help parents stay cool weekend at Center Parcs over the past twenty as a viable technology that would give deaf as they help their child listen and enjoy their years. We are already looking forward to next people an opportunity to hear. It is thanks journey through life. March 2015, to another weekend of shared www.deafax.org to their determination and confidence in The final presentation was given by Connie experiences in such a fun filled environment. 16 Sport Hearing Times Summer 2014 National Tennis Championships Deafblind man completes “scary” for the Deaf 2014 mountain trek Inca Trail challenge Peter Willcox won his twelfth men’s singles title and Beth Simmons claim her An Angus man who has limited hearing and 95% sight loss has completed second women’s singles title at the 2014 National Tennis Championships for an epic South American mountain trek the Deaf at Gosling High Performance Tennis Centre, Welwyn Garden City John Whitfield, who lives with Usher syndrome and uses bilateral hearing aids, West Byfleet-based Willcox, who won the completed the gruelling four-day Inca Trail in first of his men’s singles titles in 1999, took Peru last week to raise awareness and funds on 2012 champion Lewis Fletcher in the for Deafblind Scotland. men’s final for the third successive year after The 55-year-old from Carnoustie, who is the top two seeds had won their quarter-final registered blind, described the trek as the and semi-final matches comfortably on the hardest thing he has ever done and was first two days of competition. forced on two occasions to navigate across In the first three set final between them sheer cliff edges in the dark. Covering almost Willcox finished the stronger for a 6-1, 3-6, 30 miles over four days, John climbed with the 6-1 victory. aid of guides to over 13,000 feet where the “I am delighted to win my twelfth national air is thin and altitude sickness is common. singles title. All the hard work I have been John said, “For most people this would putting into training has paid off,” said Willcox. “I am grateful for all the support I have had from my family, friends and the Tennis Foundation” have been hard, but as I am registered blind “I relied on my head torch shining on the heels “Today it was about executing my game it was incredibly difficult. I relied on my head of my guide and my walking poles” and in the first and third sets I did this very champion Bethany Brookes in the round- torch shining on the heels of my guide and well. In the second I let Lewis back in and he robin phase of the event, while Beth defeated my walking poles to feel my way forward. John has raised over £5,000 for Deafblind raised his level, which made it tough for me. Brookes in the semi-finals. “At times we were alongside cliff edges with Scotland, a charity of which he is both an However I played a great third set and served “I am overwhelmed about beating Alex in sheer drops, and when I placed my pole forward employee and member. brilliantly. the final. It was a very close and tense match,” and it only felt thin air, it was very scary.” “I am grateful for all the support I have had said Beth. The trek visited several historical Inca To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ from my family and friends over the last year “We had lots of close rallies. The funding I’ve sites including the renowned Machu Picchu. John-Whitfield and for the support of the Tennis Foundation, had from SportsAid has helped me massively who have provided us with a fantastic set up.” to prepare for this tournament, so I would like There was a thrilling end to the women’s to say thank you to them and to the Tennis singles final after Beth Simmons beat her twin Foundation for their support.” Marathon runners raise £8k for charity sister Alex Simmons 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) after a Later in the day there was further success Eight runners have put their best foot forward to raise an incredible £8,000 final set tie-break. It was the first time that the for the Alex and Beth Simmons in the women’s (so far) in aid of the UK charity Hearing Link. Oxfordshire twins had met in the final, with doubles when they claimed a 6-2, 6-1 win Beth having previously lifted the title in 2005. over Brookes and Valerie Copenhagen to Jenny Graham, Stacy Hopkin, Sue challenging living with hearing loss can be. Earlier in the tournament Alex secured win their third National title together after Faulks, Michael Turton, Lucy McNee, Simon The event was amazing, I feel so honoured a surprise straight sets win over defending previous victories in 2005 and 2007. Bendle, Nigel Thorne and Dominic Howes all to have run the marathon. The crowds were Fletcher and Willcox clinched their fifth successfully crossed the finish line. so supportive and provided hours of energy men’s doubles title as a partnership and their It was the largest number of runners to date for tired legs.” third in a row after the top seeds earned a that Hearing Link has ever had participate in Dr Lorraine Gailey, Chief Executive of 6-2, 6-0 win over second seeds Nicolas the Virgin Money London Marathon. So far Hearing Link, said, “We are delighted to Ansell and Jack Clifton in the final. It was a their efforts have raised an incredible £8,000 have put forward our highest number ever 15th successive men’s doubles National title with more funds expected to come in over the of participants in the Virgin Money London for Willcox. next few weeks. Marathon. Not only have they accomplished Top seeds Willcox and Beth Simmons One runner, Sue Faulks, said, “I wanted to a tremendous personal achievement by also won the mixed doubles in another run the marathon to raise funds to support completing the marathon, to raise £8,000 exciting conclusion, defeating second seeds Hearing Link in their efforts to support so far is an incredible feat. Their donations Fletcher and Brookes 6-4, 3-6, (11-9) after families and people who find themselves with will go a long way in helping our charity to a championship tie-break to regain the title hearing loss. Several members of my close provide vital support and information for they first won together in 2012. and extended family suffer with hearing loss people living with hearing loss and their Organised by the Tennis Foundation, this of one sort or another, so I am aware how families. Congratulations to them all!” year’s Championships gave members of the National Deaf Tennis Squad the chance to put in eye-catching performances ahead of the announcement of selections for the Great Walk challenge set for Hearing Loss Cornwall Britain team for the Dresse and Maere Cup, Last summer a team of three friends from Falmouth set out to walk 216 miles the Davis and Fed Cup of deaf tennis, which from Bude to Falmouth, in six days, following the South West Coast Path will take place in Chattanooga in the USA in Beth Simmons beat her twin sister, Alex, after a July. The challenge pushed all three to their final set tie-break limits but all completed the event and raised over £3000 for local cancer charities. This July the same team are joined by two Swimathon in aid of school raises £1.5k friends and will attempt to walk from Plymouth to Falmouth in just 24 hours in aid of Hearing Two lifeguards from Surrey have completed a 24 mile/24 hour swimathon to Loss Cornwall; a distance in excess of 100 raise funds for Mary Hare school for deaf children km, again following the Southwest Coat Path. On their journey, the team hope to Rachel Harris, 18 and Amber Danks, encounter more of the stunning scenery and 22, started swimming at 7am on a Sunday challenging terrain they encountered during morning and swam all day, swimming one last year’s challenge; but the reward will be mile, on the hour, every hour, for 24hrs - a worth the effort. total of 1,920 lengths. Hearing Loss Cornwall is a small Cornish Last year’s walkers were pushed to their limits Rachel and Amber were swimming charity based in Truro but working all over the approximately 1 mile in 30-35 minutes and County, to support deaf and hard of hearing Dave Hennesy is a Flight Lieutenant in the then resting for 25 minutes. people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Royal Air Force; George Taylor has very The swimmers were helped along by a The charity can offer information, advice, recently left the Royal Air Force; Carl Ortega team of life guards and lap counters and guidance and communication support to is a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy; Mark both stuck to a strict eating regime to help anyone affected by any degree of hearing Richardson is a Aircrewman on Royal Navy them keep up the nutrition levels and fluid loss, as well as providing support and advice search and rescue helicopters at RNAS intake. The dedication of the whole team was to family and friends. Culdrose; and his brother Dan Richardson fantastic. Rachel and Amber swam a total of 1,920 lengths The Team chose Hearing Loss Cornwall works at Falmouth Docks. Towards the end of the event their skin was Swim’ appeal to help restore the school’s as they wanted to help another local charity starting to look very white and sore in places swimming pool, currently in disrepair. and one of the team-members also has close Visit their donation page: and Amber’s shoulder had to be strapped. relatives who are deaf and grew up in the www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ Mary Hare is very grateful to Amber and To support Rachel and Amber visit their County. WalkForHearingLossCornwall or send a Rachel and the whole team. So far they have donation website www.justgiving.com/ All but one of the Team are serving or cheque directly to Hearing Loss Cornwall, raised £1,540 towards the £300,000 ‘Sink Or GTgirlVSRachel-SwimmingForMaryHare ex-serving members of the Armed Forces. 3 Walsingham Place, Truro TR1 2RP © Copyright Hearing Times 2014 | Published by Hearing Times C.I.C. | The Lansbury Estate | 102 Lower Guildford Road | Woking | Surrey | GU21 2EP | Tel: 0845 2930688 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd | Newspaper House | Morton Way | Horncastle | Lincolnshire | LN9 6JR | Tel: 01507 523456