Directory: Hearing

A Communication Skills Group provides an ideal opportunity to practice lipreading skills in a friendly, relaxed and informal setting. You will learn from each other and the tutor those situations and behaviours, which make it challenging to lipread and the strategies you can use to help yourself and others around you. Sharing experiences of living with a hearing loss can be invaluable, as being deaf or hard of hearing can be very isolating.

Classes are FREE and take place weekly (during term-time). The classes run ten weeks for two terms.

Groups are held in Frome, Glastonbury and Castle Cary.  For the current dates, times and locations please contact as below or follow Deafplus Somerset on Facebook.

Fully accessible advice line for British Sign Language (BSL) users. Delivering advice on a range of issues, helping clients understand their assessments, civil rights and other services they need to access.  The advice line enables BSL users to sign ‘face to face’ with a trained advisor who is also a native BSL user.

Also offered as a text-based service for deaf clients who do not use BSL to ensure it is accessible for everyone.

The DeafPLUS Mobile Advisory Service gives advice and information on all aspects of hearing loss, deafness and deaf issues, raises awareness and gives equipment demonstrations.

Visits to the Mobile Advisory Service are currently by appointment only. Please contact Stewart Weston as below for more details and to book.

RUH supplied hearing aid – free batteries available from Frome Community Hospital or Priory Health Park Wells. Or from the Audiology Department of RUH. You will need your hearing aid record card or book.
Musgrove Park hearing aid – free batteries from Vine Surgery, Glastonbury Surgery or West Mendip Hospital. You will need your hearing aid record card or book.

Repairs to hearing equipment are by appointment only. Please ring for a convenient appointment on the number below.

If you have an NHS hearing aid supplied by Musgrove Park Hospital you can request a repair appointment by contacting the Audiology Department at Musgrove Hospital. Contact details below or text the word ‘audiology’ followed by your message to 07768-258508

We train dogs to alert deaf people to sounds they would otherwise miss – simple sounds that many people take for granted like the doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm. Being aware of these – thanks to a hearing dog – makes a real difference to deaf people’s lives.

A hearing dog and their deaf recipient need to be carefully matched to ensure the partnership will work well. Matches can take up to three years. There is so much more to find out so please contact Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Part of hearing dogs for deaf people. Information, specialist services and guidance to support people with hearing loss. Working towards a world where everyone can enjoy life and participate fully and confidently, whatever their level of hearing.  Services are accessible across the UK.

This leaflet contains information on support organisations for people with hearing loss in Mendip. Click on leaflet below.

The volunteer-run hearing aid repair clinic is available at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital. The free clinic is for patients of RUH’s audiology services and can help with replacement tubing, cleaning as well as advice on how best to look after your aids. To pre book an appointment call the number below.

The dates for 2023 are:12th May, 9th June, 14th July, 11th August, 8th September, 13th October, 10th November and 8th December.

The volunteer-run hearing aid repair clinic has returned to the Outpatients department at Frome Medical Practice. The free clinic is for patients of RUH’s audiology services and can help with replacement tubing, cleaning as well as advice on how best to look after your aids. To pre book an appointment call the number below.

The dates are:21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 14th July, 11th August, 8th September, 6th October, 3rd November and 1st December.

RNID (Action on Hearing) are experts in providing support and information for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. We supply communication services and training. We offer practical advice to help people protect their hearing. We send out leaflets and catalogues. We have a Samaritan trained person to support  people overwhelmed by Tinnitus. For more information about the service, visit our website or call the freephone number below.

Sight loss information from Somerset Council. Links to information on a wide range of equipment, societies and support services for people who are blind, partially sighted or have dual sensory loss.

For home eye tests and home hearing tests free on the NHS for people who find getting out a problem.