Lip-Reading Groups in Consett and Stanley now running every Wednesday.

Our Aim

DDS helps and supports people who have acquired hearing loss and find that a hearing aid is not enough.

We aim to do this by providing information, support, and advocacy, to enable them to cope with their disability. We aim to understand and meet their communication needs. We are a local charity based in Horden (the heart of the Durham Coalfields Area), and  we cover all of County Durham and Darlington. You may like to watch our video "Are you listening?" which shows some of the difficulties faced by those with hearing loss – and some of the solutions.

DDS provide services where they are needed most, with small, informal lip-reading / support groups, individual support, as well as our "Dealing with Deafness" rehabilitation weeks, and various other activities held throughout County Durham and Darlington. They are attended by people who have been referred to us by GPs, Social Care and Health, Hearing Therapists, or who have contacted us directly.

We provide holistic approaches to hearing loss, and advocate looking after the body as a whole, not just the ears, and facilitate access to physical exercise activities, such as Yoga. 

We offer tinnitus support; mainly within groups, although 1-to-1 appointments are available, if required. Our Tinnitus Counsellor has received training from the British Tinnitus Association.

We offer a range of activities for members, such as Crafts, Communication via IT, and short walks for health to our members.

Why DDS was started?

DDS was established in 1998, when Jane Atkinson from East Durham found that after losing most of her ‘useful’ hearing, that she didn't fit in. She found no benefit in wearing hearing aids, or using equipment such as amplified phones, yet she wasn’t a BSL (sign language) user. She described herself as "a hearing person without hearing". She could find nothing to help her, not even a lip-reading class. DDS is the result of her determination to change her own situation, as well for others with acquired hearing loss.

If you find yourself (or a family member) having similar problems, please get in touch for further information. We look forward to hearing from you.

A long standing pillar of the community

DDS was founded on 8th May 1998, and we are proud to have served the community for over 26 years.

Dementia Friendly Communities

Members at Durham Deafened Support are now trained as Dementia Friends; building dementia friendly communities.

dementiafriends.org.uk