Hearing Impairment (Deafness)

Deafness can be described as partial or complete hearing loss. Hearing impairment can be caused by a range of factors such as genetics, infection, damage to the ear or environmental factors such as noise, drugs or age.

• Some people may be able to hear, but have difficulty picking out sounds in a noisy environment
• Use of sign language or a hearing aid
• People with tinnitus may have difficulty sleeping and experience tiredness during the day
• Communication difficulties. Not all people with a hearing impairment will use sign language, a hearing aid, or be able to lip read
• May have difficulties with written instructions. For some hearing impaired people, sign language is their first language
• Hearing impairments as a result of their environment, for example noisy machinery, can affect the range of hearing, such as difficulty in hearing certain pitches in speech.

• A sudden or unexpected loss in hearing can have an emotional or negative impact on mental health
  
• Workplaces and homes may need aids and adaptations, eg. to fire alarms
• Frustration in communicating - don’t assume someone with a hearing aid has full hearing
• Potential vulnerability in some busy environments.

• Make sure all support aids and adaptations are in place
• Consider the installation of a hearing loop system for employees with a hearing aid or cochlear implant. Portable and permanent systems are available
• Ensure you understand the best way to re-enforce communications with the individual and check their understanding. Don’t assume that just because you have provided information in writing that it has been understood
• Give consideration to induction, company handbooks etc. and how the individual can access these. In particular, it is vital they have understood health and safety requirements
• Written material should be supported with visual media where possible
• Poor communications can sometimes lead to outbursts of anger – always consider the reasons for any outburst before jumping to conclusions.