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Intouch News for Hearing Dogs Recipients & Hearing Link Beneficiaries ISSN 2399-4797 inTouch News for Hearing Dogs recipients & Hearing Link beneficiaries ISSUE 15 “I’ll never be able to thank Hearing Link and Hearing Dogs enough for what they have done for me and my family.” Read Steve’s story on page 4 GET INVOLVED AT: www.hearingdogs.org.uk and www.hearinglink.org In this issue... Features Page 8: Ask the Page 10: Molly’s Panel — Hearing making a Ask the Link volunteers difference — Panel answer your Read this lovable questions about Sound Support hearing loss. Dog’s story. Articles Page 3: The Grange — Restaurant & Gift Page 13: Online portal — New resource for Shop opens for business hearing dog clients Page 4: Our deafened journey — Steve Beal Page 15: Supporting Others — Hearing Link talks about hearing loss and family volunteers set up new support group Page 6: Subwoofers — Music festival is a hit! Page 16: Partnership — We meet John and find out how Theo changed his life Page 7: LinkUps — Pilot sessions taking place for Hearing Link groups Page 20: Tributes — To special people and dogs Get in touch Welcome... We want your feedback! Please share your comments e’re delighted to share and receiving support from Hearing with lorna.armstrong@ with you the latest edition Link has had on him and his family. of inTouch — full of hearinglink.org W We introduce our Ask the Panel news and information for Hearing feature (page 8) where Hearing Link Alternatively, please write Dogs recipients and Hearing Link volunteers answer your questions to: inTouch, Hearing Dogs beneficiaries. for Deaf People, Wycombe on hearing loss. Since our last issue, you will Road, Saunderton, Princes We meet Molly, a Sound Support notice there’s been a little bit Risborough, HP27 9NS Dog (page 10), and find out how of a refresh to mark a new she is having a positive effect on the inTouch is era as we merge publications lives of April and Mike Murphy. accessible in with Hearing Link Matters, the BSL via the links at: www. magazine previously published by There’s good news for hearing dog hearingdogs.org.uk/in-touch Hearing Link. clients with a new ‘Pawtal’ (page 13) set to launch soon, giving easy If you no longer wish to receive We hope you agree that our new access to information and resources. a postal copy of inTouch, please format shows off the wonderful email dataprotectionofficer@ We hear about a group of Hearing hearingdogs.org.uk to update work our charity is carrying out your preferences. through our Hearing Dogs and Link volunteers from Northern Hearing Link activities. Ireland (page 15) who are reaching out to individuals with their new We would love to know your views support group. about the content, so please send your feedback to lorna.armstrong@ And we meet John and Theo hearinglink.org who feature in the Hearing Dogs Summer Appeal — see page 16. In this packed issue, we meet Steve Beal (page 4) who talks about the Enjoy! The next issue of inTouch 02 impact which having a hearing dog will be published in December. The Grange opens for business Opening its doors on 24 May, launch week for The Grange Restaurant & Gift Shop has been smooth and successful. Relaxed: Unique: Friendly Designed staff and with hearing volunteers loss in mind Colourful: Freshly prepared cuisine ur new and unique Now, not only can visitors enjoy venue at Hearing Dogs a nourishing meal with us or Oheadquarters, nestled buy an original gift from our gift in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, shop, but The Grange gives us offers a deaf-friendly restaurant a fantastic opportunity to raise open to local residents and awareness about hearing loss visitors from further afield. and deafness, as well as the life- changing work of our charity. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, designed with Every penny of profit from The Hearing Hub service hearing loss in mind, meaning Grange Restaurant & Gift Shop that guests will enjoy a positive supports our work, helping Visitors to The Grange will soon be experience in this elegant setting people to embrace life whatever able to explore how to manage their whatever their level of hearing. their level of hearing. hearing through a new Hearing Link The menus boast colourful and Come and join us! service (pictured above). In our quiet and supportive area, trained volunteers fresh cuisine of freshly prepared, For further information on will offer advice on products and wholesome and delicious meals, opening times and menus, technology, and find the right product snacks and drinks. please visit our website at: www. or service to suit your hearing needs. thegrangesaunderton.org.uk The Grange welcomes all, You can make an appointment including families with children, The Grange Restaurant & Gift through Hearing Dogs Reception at and dogs inside the restaurant, Shop, Haw Lane, Saunderton, The Grange, or by emailing helpdesk@ 03 with ample seating outside too. Princes Risborough, HP27 9NS. hearinglink.org Our deafened journey Volunteer and beneficiary Steve Beal shares his hearing loss journey and how a hearing dog and Hearing Link changed his life and his family’s. y hearing journey started One of the first things I learned was In 2008, after approximately 18 when I was about 11 years that I was not alone. months, I was offered a hearing dog old. called Yogi. He completely changed M There were other people with my life. Unfortunately, I contracted very bad the same problems, and Chris infections in my middle ear which was able to speak with partners Yogi was a rescue dog and one of led to radical mastoid surgery. By the experiencing what she was going a litter of five that were found in a time I was 16, I’d had 15 operations through. I also started to get my dustbin at five weeks old. He came which left me deafened. confidence back. to me as a fully accredited hearing dog and I can honestly say it was My wife Chris and I met when love at first sight (sorry Chris)! we were 17 years old. I was an “The support Chris and apprentice carpenter, but due to ear Chris and I soon became Hearing problems I had plenty of time off I both received, during Dogs volunteers and so far we have sick. and after the course, delivered over 100 talks on behalf of the Charity. Eventually we got married and had was so beneficial.” two children, who grew up learning Yogi rescued me because he can how to cope and live with a deaf go everywhere with me. He helped me to gain even more confidence father. The deafened volunteers who and attend our church and meetings ran the programme showed full I lost several jobs because of ill again. Chris and I have also flown empathy and understanding. health, caused by my hearing loss to Scotland with him to do some We were so impressed that we and Ménière’s disease. voluntary work for Hearing Link. both then became volunteers for Chris was very supportive and often Hearing Link. When Yogi came into our lives he took me to hospital when I was very totally changed life for Chris too. We have undertaken many volunteer sick and dizzy, which meant I needed He enabled her to go out and do roles, travelled all over the country urgent medical attention. what she wanted to do, safe in the for Hearing Link and still continue to knowledge that Yogi was there. It was while attending one of these do so. hospital appointments with a Speech My family noticed such a difference At the end of the Hearing Link week I Therapist that she suggested I attend in me and have put it all down to set myself three goals — one of these the Link Centre for Deafened People the support of Chris and my special was to apply for a hearing dog. It was (now called Hearing Link). friend Yogi. while we were attending our local Chris and I both attended its Ear, Nose and Throat Department for Yogi has now retired and I have a Intensive Rehabilitation Programme my monthly ear cleaning that Chris lovely black Labrador called Jemma. in June 2006 for six days. picked up a leaflet about Hearing Yogi can now have a well-earned In that time, we learned new Dogs for Deaf People. rest. ways to live with deafness, gained I’d never had a dog before and it I will never be able to thank Hearing confidence to enable both of us to wasn’t until we attended the Hearing Link, and especially Hearing Dogs, understand how to cope and ways Link course that we first heard about enough for what they have done for to support each other. the Charity. me and my family. 04 Life-long Partnership: Steve with his Hearing Dog Jemma (left) and Yogi, now retired. For more on Hearing Link’s services, visit www.hearinglink.org/services To find out more about Hearing Dogs visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk 05 SubWoofers music festival is a hit! Musical: The Dog and deaf crowd enjoyed a friendly: We great selection of welcomed lots of performances. new visitors. ore than 3,000 visitors descended on The interpreters and speech-to-text displays making this a Grange in May for our first dog-friendly and uniquely deaf-friendly music festival. deaf-friendly music festival. M Visitors could also enjoy fairground rides and other SubWoofers was organised in collaboration with second attractions, as well as plenty of good food, drink, and year BA Events Management students from Bucks New much more.
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