Hearing, Communication and Support: A Friendly Starting Point

If you or someone in your family is finding it harder to hear, you are not alone. Hearing changes can affect people of all ages, from young children to older adults. They can make everyday life feel more tiring, especially in busy places, at school, at work, or when talking with family and friends.

The good news is that there is help available. Audiology services, hearing technology, communication skills and support groups can all make a real difference. This page is a starting point to help you understand some of the options, including lip reading, signing and where to find further support in the UK.

Lip reading: what it is and how it can help

Lip reading means watching a person’s mouth, face, gestures and body language to help understand what they are saying. Many people lip read a little without realising it, especially in noisy places. For people with hearing loss, learning lip reading skills can improve confidence and make conversations easier.

Lip reading is not about understanding every word perfectly. Some words look very similar on the lips, so people also use clues such as the topic, facial expression and situation. A good lip reading class can teach useful tactics, such as asking people to face you, checking key words, sitting where you can see people clearly and feeling more comfortable asking someone to repeat or rephrase.

To find lip reading help, you can ask your audiologist, local adult education service, local sensory support team or community college. The Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults, often known as ATLA, lists lip reading and managing hearing loss classes. RNID and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People also provide helpful information about lip reading and communication tactics.

Signing and British Sign Language

British Sign Language, or BSL, is a language used by many Deaf people in the UK. It has its own grammar and structure. Some families learn BSL because their child is deaf. Some adults learn it after hearing loss, or because they want to communicate better with a Deaf family member, friend, colleague or customer.

Signing can be used on its own or alongside speech, hearing aids, cochlear implants, lip reading and written information. The right approach depends on the person, their hearing, their age, their language needs and what works best for daily life. For children, early communication support is especially important, so families should ask for advice from audiology, speech and language therapy, education services and specialist teachers of deaf children.

BSL courses are available through local colleges, adult learning providers, Deaf organisations and online learning providers. The Royal Association for Deaf People, Signature-approved centres and some family support schemes may offer BSL courses, including funded places from time to time. Families of deaf children may also be able to access support through specialist local services or charities.

Charities and support groups that may help

There are several UK charities and organisations that support people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or live with tinnitus. They can offer information, helplines, family guidance, local groups, equipment advice and support with communication needs.

• RNID offers information and support for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, including advice on hearing aids, communication and rights.
• National Deaf Children’s Society supports deaf children, young people and their families with practical guidance, events and information about education and communication.
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People provides information about living well with hearing loss and may support people through trained hearing dogs and community resources.
• SignHealth is a Deaf health charity that works to improve access to health services and provides information in BSL.
• Royal Association for Deaf People supports Deaf people and families, including through BSL courses and services in some areas.
• Local sensory support teams, councils and community groups can often help with local services, equipment, communication support, benefits advice and social groups.

Support for children and families

If a baby or child has hearing loss, early support can help with speech, language, learning and confidence. Families can ask their audiology team about referrals to a Teacher of the Deaf, speech and language therapy, local education support and family support services. Parents and carers should also feel able to ask questions about hearing aids, cochlear implants, BSL, communication choices and support at nursery or school.

Every child is different. Some children use spoken language, some use sign language, and many use a mixture of communication methods. The most important thing is that the child has access to clear, consistent communication and that the family receives support as early as possible.

Support for adults

For adults, hearing loss can affect work, relationships, social life and wellbeing. Support may include hearing tests, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, workplace adjustments, lip reading classes, BSL learning, counselling or peer support. It can also help to tell close family, friends and colleagues what makes communication easier, such as facing you when speaking, reducing background noise and writing down important details.

If hearing loss is affecting your confidence or mental health, please speak to your GP, audiologist or a trusted support organisation. Asking for help is a positive step, and many people find that the right support makes everyday life feel easier and less isolating.

Small changes that can make conversation easier

• Face the person before you start speaking.
• Keep your mouth visible and speak clearly at a natural pace.
• Reduce background noise where possible.
• Use good lighting so faces can be seen.
• Write down names, times, addresses and important instructions.
• Check understanding kindly, without blame or embarrassment.
• Use captions, text messages, speech-to-text apps or video relay services where helpful.

When to seek professional advice

It is a good idea to seek advice if hearing changes are sudden, one-sided, painful, linked with dizziness, or affecting daily life. A hearing test can help identify what is happening and what support may be useful. For children, speak to your GP, health visitor, school nurse or audiology service if you have any concerns about hearing, speech, language or attention.

My Local Audiologist aims to make hearing information simple, friendly and practical. Whether you are looking for help for yourself, your child, a parent or another family member, there are people and services who can support you.