Help & Support

Durham Deafened Support can offer valuable help and support by offering Community Support Groups including Lip Reading, Tinnitus Support and Events.

Return of Support Groups - Risk Assessment

In anticipation of the return of our support groups, we have updated our Coronavirus Risk Assessment in accordance with Government guidelines on steps to reduce the possible transmission of Covid-19 and any future variant. 

Community Support Groups including Lip Reading

All tutors who undertake this group on behalf of Durham Deafened Support are trained by ATLA.  Attendance at groups is by referral only, please contact the office, click here to contact us.

Recent Feedback Received:

"Words cannot fully describe the difference that attending this group has made to my mother.  An active, intelligent and educated lady, she was becoming increasingly isolated despite having family and friends.

This group has quite literally transformed her life, providing techniques for dealing with her hearing loss and also support, friendship and warm, caring companionship at the group sessions.  It has helped us as a family to better communicate and we are extremely grateful for all it has done to improve our mothers quality of life.

A Big ‘Thank You’"

Details of Community Support Groups

Seaham

Tuesday10:30am to 12:30

Horden

Wednesday - 10:00am to 12 noon

Durham

Wednesday - 1:30PM to 3:30PM

Horden

Thursday - 10:30am to 12:30pm

Sedgefield

Thursday 2:00PM to 4:00PM

Stanley

Friday 9:45am to 11:45am

Lanchester

Friday 12:45PM to 2:45PM

Bishop Auckland

Friday 1:30PM-3:30PM

Cochlear Implant Friendship Group

Do you have a Cochlear Implant, require about the programme or just want to know more about the procedure.

If so DDS can help we offer regular cochlear implant friendship groups supported by Palantype.  The date of the next Cochlear Implant Friendship Group will be announced shortly.   Please contact DDS if you would like to attend

Diabetes

DDS have been acutely aware of the  number of  our members being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Some of our members undertook a bespoke awareness session  with Palantype facilitating communication, the pace was slower for people to lip-read and digest the information shown. 

Being realistic the aim wasn’t around “ticking a box’ to say a person has attended a structured education session, but that deafened and hard of hearing people with type 2 diabetes receivedthe  information they needed  and felt  they understood their condition and were  able to manage their diabetes better. The course was as light as possible while still getting the message across regarding being responsible for our own health eg diet, fitness, and medication.
Diabetes Event.jpg

If you, or someone you know has a hearing loss and has Type 2 Diabetes contact us, this will enable us to keep you informed as to what is happening next

Mental Health

DDS are becoming acutely aware of the links between Mental Health & Hearing Loss.

This is a developing area of work, please watch this space for further details

Benefits

If you are a DDS member and are unsure whether you are in receipt of your correct benefit entitlement or require assistance with forms etc, please get in touch.

We have staff available who are able to specifically help with Benefits

Tinnitus Support

Chester-Le-Street

Last Tuesday of each month (excluding December)

1:30pm to 3:00pm

Seaham

10AM to 11:30AM

Last Friday of each month with the exception of December

Darlington

Last Monday of each month (excluding Bank Holidays and December)

1:00PM to 2:30PM

BSL

We hold 12 week BSL courses across County Durham and Darlington - watch this space for courses starting soon.

Priority for these courses is always given to people with hearing loss or who have family members who are BSL users but we do have spaces on most courses for those who are interested in learning.  We have the following courses starting soon.

Shotton Colliery BSL

Starts Wednesday 8th March between 5:30PM to 7:30PM 

Further details to be announced shortly