Sensory services - hearing impairment
There are about ten million people in the UK with a hearing loss. About 40% of people aged 50 or more have a hearing loss but it can affect people at any age.
Looking after your hearing
Many people lose their hearing over time. They may not notice at first. They may find high pitched sounds harder to hear. If you are worried or finding it harder to hear some sounds, go to your GP.
Excessive noise can permanently damage your hearing:
- Protect your ears with earplugs or earmuffs in noisy situations
- Don't listen to your personal music player at very high volumes
- If the music is uncomfortable for you to listen to then it's too loud
- If you can't hear external sounds when you've got your headphones on, it's too loud
What does the sensory services team do?
We can give you information and advice about buying every-day living equipment and managing your hearing loss. We can find out how you are managing and what you are finding difficult. This is called an assessment.
We can also register you as hard of hearing, deaf with speech or deaf without speech.
What happens after the assessment?
If you are eligible for support, we may suggest some of our services:
Daily living equipment or assistive technology
Simple pieces of equipment such as:
- flashing or vibrating alarm clocks
- flashing, vibrating or extra-loud door bells and telephones
- flashing smoke detectors
- TV aids which mean you can watch and listen without having the volume very high
Daily living training
Advice on getting the most out of your hearing aid - how to use the different settings.
General support
If you are having problems with other parts of your life because of your hearing loss - for example, debts have built up because you find it difficult on the phone, we can help you to sort these out.
If you are profoundly deaf we can also help with interpreters when you have doctors appointments, etc.
Longer term support
If you need longer term support, part of your assessment may be making a support plan. Your support plan helps you decide:
- changes you want to make to your life
- the goals you want to achieve
- what support will help you
We will use your support plan to help you decide the support you want. This could include equipment, help with every day tasks or help with finding work.
How much do services cost?
The services and equipment we provide are free. You may have to pay something for longer-term support.
What other support is there?
We support and work with other health and social care organisations and voluntary groups, which are listed on our hearing support page.
Who to contact
- Name
- Adult Social Care Contact Team
- Address
- Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5AW
Map to this location - Telephone
- 0161 909 6517
- social.services@salford.gov.uk
- Minicom
- 0161 909 6527
- Additional information
- Text: 07970 134894
This page was last updated on 23 January 2012
