Deaf Awareness Week 2025: Beyond Silence
Deafness in the UK
One in three adultsin the UK suffer from deafness, hearing loss, or tinnitus – a condition of hearing noises that do not come from an outside source. This is equivalent to over 18 million people in the UK having these problems, of which 1.2 million adults have hearing loss severe making it difficult for them to understand most conversational speech.
Deaf Awareness Week was established by the UK Council on Deafness, an organisation that brings together charities and not for profit organisations that support deaf people in the UK. This year’s theme of “Beyond Silence” is about encouraging accessibility, breaking communication barriers, and celebrating the resilience and contributions of Deaf individuals in all walks of life. It’s also an opportunity to educate all members of society on how to better support the Deaf community.
For more information about the UK Council on Deafness click here.
How can I support Deaf people?
Deaf people are diverse and the most effective means of communication with one Deaf person may not work for another.
Here are a few tips that can help break down communication barriers:
- Speak clearly: There is no need to overemphasise or shout towards Deaf people; speaking in a regular, measured tone and in turns can help those who rely on lip reading.
- Face the person in a well-lit environment: Deaf people who rely on lip reading for conversation pay attention to facial movements. Poorly lit environments, facing away from the person, or doing things that cover your mouth like eating, chewing gum, or smoking can make it more difficult for deaf people to read your lips.
- Reduce background noise: many Deaf people use hearing aids or cochlear implants, which can be affected by ambient noise like traffic or the radio.
- Write things down: using pen and paper can help ensure clarity. In addition, many devices on computers and cell phones have dictation and transcription software that can allow Deaf people to read what you’re saying.
For more information about communicating with Deaf people click here.
How can I spot hearing loss in myself or a loved one?
It can be difficult to detect hearing loss, but it is a common condition that can worsen with age. Indicators of hearing loss can include:
- Difficulty hearing people clearly in noisy places
- Misunderstanding people or frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Listening to music or TV on volume settings higher than what others need
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Difficulty keeping up with conversation
- Feelings of stress or tiredness from concentrating on listening to a conversation
If you or a loved one are seeing these problems, contact your GP or NHS 111 for urgent care.
For more information on the signs and causes of deafness click here.
