National charity Deafness Research UK will be offering assistance to Arthritis Research UK, when it visits the charity’s Chesterfield branch to conduct free hearing screening for staff and members on Thursday 23 February.

Deafness Research UK is determined to help as many people as possible protect their hearing, and with this in mind, screenings will be available from 9.30am onwards, when Deafness Research UK’s team of experts will be on hand to offer advice on hearing loss and free hearing screening for those who would like it.

Alongside the award-winning Bionic Ear Show (sponsored by BUPA and supported by the BIG Lottery Fund), dedicated hearing screenings are just one more initiative which Deafness Research UK takes to provide support and advice on hearing loss. The charity’s hearing screenings and Bionic Ear Show are available to visit various organisations, businesses, social groups, schools and colleges, as well as fellow charities such as Arthritis Research UK.

Increasing numbers of us are causing damage to our hearing with loud music on MP3 players, and while many are initially unwilling to come forward at the first sign of symptoms, early treatment remains the best defence against hearing loss, while there is still time to halt the decline. At present there is currently no cure to reverse permanent hearing damage or loss, so it is extremely important to approach for treatment at the first sign of hearing loss.

“Our free hearing screening service is a great way to check if your hearing is as it should be,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. “So whether you have had the MP3 player set too high or have been stood too close to speakers, we hope a free opportunity to get a hearing health check-up will encourage anyone concerned to come forward.”

The ears and hearing system are often taken for granted but are one of the most important parts of the human body. The Hearing screening is quick, painless and reinforces the importance of looking after your hearing. Deafness Research UK encourages hearing checks to be undertaken regularly for the same reason people have eye tests; to spot any problems while they are small and easily dealt with.

Hearing loss is on the rise. The loud noises and buzzing from heavy machinery can mean workers are at risk of developing tinnitus (noises in the ears and head) and or premature hearing loss. Deafness Research UK is committed to delivering the serious facts about hearing loss far and wide, as in many cases the charity can help. The hearing screenings are taking place at the Chesterfield’s branch of Arthritis Research UK at Copeman House, St. Mary’s Court, St. Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield, from 9.30am onwards.

Arthritis Research UK was founded in 1936, and works tirelessly to treat, research and educate upon arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis as a condition affects more than 10 million people nationwide, and is a common plight of those on an older age, just as hearing problems are. Rather like Deafness Research UK, Arthritis Research UK provides help and information for sufferers and everything they do is underpinned by research.

Anyone who would like hearing screenings or the Bionic Ear Sow to visit their organisation, school, community group or event free of charge should contact Laura Turner at Deafness Research UK on 020 7164 2294 or email Laura at Laura.turner@deafnessresearch.org.uk . The schedule is subject to change, but an up to date version and further information can be found on the website at: www.bionicearshow.org

Dear Editor

Time to end the tinnitus tragedies

As we enter Tinnitus Awareness Week, I should like to urge any of your readers who suffer from this distressing condition not to suffer in silence and remind them that help is available.

Recent high profile reports of suicides by tinnitus sufferers show just how serious tinnitus can be but Deafness Research UK wants to assure people they are not alone, we are here offer help and support.

The charity continues to fund research into better treatments, with the ultimate aim of a cure. Our free information leaflets offer immediate help to sufferers and our national helpline provides additional support for those who need it. We understand that the noises in the ears and head that define tinnitus can seem intolerable but we urge people to get in touch. In many cases we can help.

Our new leaflet ‘Managing Tinnitus’ is free and available directly from our website at deafnessresearch.org.uk, by emailing info@deafnessresearch.org.uk or by calling our freephone helpline on 0808 808 2222.

Yours faithfully

Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive
Deafness Research UK

www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

Rachel Shenton, the actress from Channel 4 show Hollyoaks is set to tackle the gigantic Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of charity.

Rachel is fairly comfortable with hearing loss having experienced it at an early age within her family. Her father quite literally lost his hearing over night after he had a series of chemotherapy to treat his cancer.  Her father bought a hearing aid however he sadly passed away from causes unrelated to his cancer after he successfully beat it.

It was since this that the young, up and coming actress started to take more notice of the deaf world and it made her become very grateful for having her hearing. She then decided she would train as a BSL interpreter (British Sign Language).

Despite her busy schedule as a full-time actress she is taking time out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this year and she is doing it for the National Deaf Children’s Society. She started training for the climb in January of this year so she will no doubt be busy with her hectic filming schedule too.

There are approximately 19,600 deaf teenagers in the UK at the minute and with a vast array of different kinds of hearing aids that are available like Widex hearing aids, there are many teenagers who need not panic about their lack of hearing.

Starkey hearing aids are also available and if you’re someone who happens to suffer from hearing loss then you should definitely look at getting a hearing aid for yourself.

The Bionic Ear Show is travelling west of the capital on January 30 to deliver its healthy hearing message at the Hounslow Rotary Club. The award winning show from national charity Deafness Research UK will be highlighting the effects of loud noise on the ears and how to protect a sense that is all too often taken for granted.

Sponsored by BUPA and the BIG Lottery Fund, the Bionic Ear roadshow is touring the country and driving home one of its key messages – that however old you are, it is never too late to take care of your hearing.

Our hearing is as precious as our sight: a fact that people only tend to recognise when they are faced with losing it. The Bionic Ear Show has been designed to raise awareness of the dangers that many of us are unwittingly exposing our hearing to. There will be demonstrations of what it sounds like to have high frequency hearing loss, plus “Guess that tune” – allowing Rotary Club members to appreciate how easy or hard it is for people with cochlear implants (so-called “bionic ears”) to recognise everyday music.

The Bionic Ear Show will be with the Hounslow Rotary Club on Monday 30 January at the Master Robert Hotel, 366 Great Western Road, Hounslow between 8.30pm – 9.10pm. The 40 minute show will be followed by free hearing screening for those who would like it. The philosophy of the Rotary Club is “getting more out of life working together for others”, similar to the work of Deafness Research UK and the Bionic Ear Show. The charity remains committed to its mission to find a breakthrough cure for deafness while offering support and advice now.

The Show is designed to be interactive, with the message aimed at old and young alike, so it is very easy to understand and no specialist scientific knowledge is required to enjoy the spectacle.

As well as the serious underlying message about hearing loss, the show is great fun and features among other things “the world’s largest ear!” During the show, the presenter constructs a model to highlight the different parts of the ear, which is over 22ft and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, the Rotary Club will learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right.

“It is never too late to get the message about taking care of your hearing,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. “While deafness and tinnitus can develop as a result of old age, it is common for older people to have factors other than just age contributing to hearing loss and the Bionic Ear Show is the perfect medium to get this point across.”

“The more people are aware of in relation to their hearing, the better the treatments they can expect” continued Vivienne. “By raising awareness of the issues, we are hopefully delivering the prospect of improved and healthy hearing for all.”

The Bionic Ear Show appeals to all ages and delivers interesting and informative demonstrations about how the ear works, and how to protect your hearing. The 2012 Bionic Ear Show will be coming to a town or city near you so please contact Laura Turner at Deafness Research UK if you would like the Show to come to your school, community group or event for free. Laura can be contacted on 0207 164 2294 or email Laura at bionicearshow@deafnessresearch.org.uk .

The schedule is subject to change, but an up to date version and further information can be found on the website at: www.bionicearshow.org.

A recent study in the USA has found that as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 are affected by hearing loss, and it is thought that it this could be due to listening to music too loud on portable music players.

The research was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, and revealed that 20% of people in the US were suffering from hearing loss in one ear, with 12% having hearing loss in both of their ears.

This puts the number of Americans suffering from some form of hearing problem at 48 million, which is higher than the previous estimates of between 21 and 29 million. Experts believe this is due to the increase in popularity of mp3 players. The average mp3 player reaches volumes of about 115 decibels (dB), and hearing experts say that listening to music through headphones for just 15 minutes at 100dBs or for prolonged periods at 85dBs can cause damage.

Hearing loss can be a major problem as it can be many years before a person becomes aware of the problem and seeks out professional help or invests in hearing aids.

Dr Frank R Lin, lead author of the survey, told CNN: “Aging and genetics do sometimes play a role, but what we know now is that environmental exposures – like listening to music too loudly – can contribute to long term hearing damage over time.

“The tricky thing about loud noise exposure is that most people won’t see the impact for many years later,” continued Dr Lin. “So consumers aren’t aware they are damaging their hearing until it’s too late.”

Once hearing is damaged it cannot be repaired, only be helped with devices such as hearing aids, so it is recommended that music fans choose headphones that cover the ear rather than ones that sit in the ear canal and turn down the volume to avoid permanent damage

When Southampton mum, Anne-Marie Paulin first took her daughter Summer, now five, to nursery she realised something was wrong but thought Summer was just having trouble settling in. Not realising the underlying problem was with her young daughter’s hearing, Anne-Marie couldn’t have predicted that it would take a series of tests, operations and speech therapy to put right the glue ear causing Summer’s distress.

“Summer appeared to be misbehaving at nursery and I gradually became worried,” Anne-Marie explained. “But it all seemed to be about her behaviour, not her hearing. She was biting and I was worried that she just didn’t seem to be settling in.” With little support from the nursery, Anne-Marie and her husband asked for a behavioural psychologist from the council to visit their daughter as they were not experiencing any behavioural problems at home. When the nursery refused to allow the psychologist to carry out the observations the family decided to move Summer to a different nursery. “The new nursery seemed much more pro-active and wanted to look at why Summer was so unsettled and they seemed to identify the problem straight away.” Anne-Marie continued. “They noticed she was walking away as though she wasn’t hearing things and that her speech wasn’t as it should be.” A problem more common than people realise according to national charity Deafness Research UK who receive many calls to their free information line from worried parents who’s children are at schools and nurseries unequipped and inexperienced for dealing with children who have hearing problems.

Further investigation, referrals and tests found Summer to be 85% hard of hearing and suffering from glue ear. With a twelve week wait on the NHS for grommets and Summer’s adenoids removing, Anne-Marie used her husband’s BUPA plan to get the operation within a week. “The operation wasn’t the end of Summer’s problems; she suffered many more ear infections and her adenoids grew back so the procedure had to be repeated at Christmas,” Anne-Marie said.

“But since discovering the cause of the problems, and with support from the nursery, we’ve not looked back. Once we’d identified the root cause of the behavioural problems we were able to understand why it was happening and within just eight weeks the biting and unrest had stopped. At nursery, Summer was having speech therapy for an hour a week to help her catch up. She is hearing well again and her most recent tests are showing signs of improvement. Apart from a couple of ear infections, her progress is now good.” Her experiences with Summer meant Anne-Marie was able to notice signs of glue ear in her son, Casey, at a much earlier age. “My son is now two and a half and also suffers with glue ear,” Anne-Marie explained. “After all I had been through with Summer I was able to recognise the signs immediately and get him seen straight away. He was suffering with lots of colds and as he started toddling and seemed to be falling over and losing his balance so I took him for a check up.”

It is still early days for Casey. He is monitored every three months as the specialists watch and wait. “We are keeping an eye on Casey’s speech and he is being checked from a much earlier age than Summer,” said Anne-Marie. “At the moment his glue ear isn’t as bad as his sister’s and he has one ear worse than the other. We are now waiting to see how he will cope through the winter and hoping the cold doesn’t make it worse. We’ve used Makaton signing with Casey since birth and he’s great at it. It’s a good way for helping children communicate and I really believe it’s helped him and Summer tremendously.”

Anne-Marie is now fascinated by glue ear and is hoping to use her experiences and all she’s learned through her children’s conditions in her career. Training as a children’s nurse, she hopes to continue her studies and research glue ear and its effects on children’s behaviour at PhD level.

Believing that there is not enough information available for parents, Anne-Marie hopes to write a leaflet from her studies and is supporting the work of national charity Deafness Research UK, the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people. “The work Deafness Research UK does is so valuable to families like ours,” Anne-Marie explained. “The literature given by the NHS isn’t great so the services and access to information through Deafness Research UK are a huge help and support.” Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “Finding out your child has a hearing problem is often hard for parents to deal with, they are faced with unexpected challenges and often don’t know where to go for help or advice. We produce a range of leaflets and factsheets on hearing loss – these are available on our website or contact our freephone helpline on 0808 808 2222, where our expert advisers are on-hand to answers any questions. Often having the right advice and facts can be an essential support.” ENDS

Press enquiries Jon Gardner, BeyondPR.
Direct line 0114 275 6996.
Mobile 07930 697773.
e-mail: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk
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The country’s medical research charity for people with hearing loss, Deafness Research UK, is launching an exciting new competition for young people to encourage them to think about their hearing and how science could help improve life for people who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.

My Hearing, My Future will be open to young people aged 10-18 years from across the UK from 17 October 2011 and entries will be invited in English or British Sign Language. Entrants are being invited to help “Sonar”, Deafness Research UK’s very own Superhero, by contributing ideas on research, technologies and inventions that could help him improve the world for people with hearing loss.

Sonar is a research scientist who happens to be Deaf. He also has extraordinary powers including superhuman intelligence and super strength. Like many young Deaf people, Sonar wears a Cochlear Implant but Sonar’s Implant has a very special “super” feature – it warns him of impending danger. Sonar has a new mission – he has pledged to find ways to improve the world for people who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing and he wants young people, including other Deaf young people, to help him by contributing their ideas on new avenues of research, new technologies and inventions that could help improve life for people with hearing loss.

“Around 9 million people in the UK are affected by hearing loss and the numbers are growing rapidly. We want to encourage young people to think about their hearing, the support currently available for people with hearing loss and the difference they could make to those affected,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK.
“We also want to get young people excited and involved in hearing research and encourage more to consider a career in science.”

“To encourage as many young people as possible to enter, we are inviting entries in a wide range of creative formats including short essays, comic strips and videos. This competition is an exciting opportunity for schools to involve and empower pupils as the children will have a real say in the future direction of research and policy. Our winners will have the chance to discuss their ideas directly with leading researchers in the field.”

Competition entries will be judged in two age categories: 10-14 and 15-18 years and entries can be in English or British Sign Language. The closing date for entries is 20 January 2012. Winning entries will be selected by a prestigious expert panel including people with hearing loss, scientists and a Member of Parliament and competition winners will be honoured at an awards ceremony at the House of Commons in March 2012.

Prizes will be presented for the most innovative entries in each of the age group categories, and there will be prizes for schools that have made a special effort to promote the competition’s important messages. My Hearing, My Future is a collaboration between Deafness Research UK and The Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL) and is sponsored by BT, Advanced Bionics and Phonak. The prizes for the winning schools have been sponsored by Chilli Technology. For more information visit http://www.my-hearing-my-future.co.uk/

ENDS

Press enquiries:
Jon Gardner, BeyondPR. Mobile 07930 697773.
Direct line 0114 275 6996.
e-mail: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
www.BeyondPR.co.uk

Scientist Dr Robert Carlyon of the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, has signed himself up to cycle from London to Brighton on 11 September hoping to raise as much money as he can for Deafness Research UK. Bob, 51, is embarking upon this 54 mile challenge in the hope of giving something back to the charity that has helped fund and support much of his research.

Bob Carlyon is one of the small group of scientists at The Cambridge Hearing Instrument Research Programme, working to improve treatments for deaf people. Receiving vital support, project work and funding from Deafness Research UK, the group aim to improve devices such as cochlear implants and hearing aids. Bob is also one of the specialists on the Deafness Research UK advisory board, working closely with the charity and seeing on a daily basis the importance of the work they do and the difference their funding can make to medical research and developments.

“I have never done anything like this before,” said Bob. “I have been cycling the two miles to work on the flat streets in Cambridge so I suppose it will be the same; just 52 miles further with hills. I have joined a local cycling club to add to my training but I won’t be riding a super bike or shaving my legs to make myself faster, nor will I be wearing a big bunny outfit,” says Bob. “All I really want to do is finish the bike ride in reasonably good shape and raise as much money as I can for research into deafness.”

Anyone wishing to support Bob with his fundraising efforts and research can visit his Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/Bob-Carlyon

Danny Whiteside, Individual Giving Fundraiser at Deafness Research UK, said: “It’s fantastic to hear about Bob’s fundraising efforts and we are always so grateful for the much needed fundraising people do on behalf of the charity. Our funding and ongoing research is very much dependent on the efforts of people supporting us with fundraising and the generosity of their sponsors.

“Anyone wishing to join Bob at the London to Brighton bike ride, or wishing to do anything else to help our charity is welcome to give me a call for a fundraising pack, or just some general advice, support and encouragement!”

Deafness Research UK is the charity for the deaf and hard of hearing and exists to secure radical improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment. Ultimately, it is the aim of the charity to find treatments and cures for what is a distressing and neglected disability. Relying solely on donations, it is only through the efforts of people like Bob that Deafness Research UK can continue to fund vital research.
ENDS

Press enquiries Jon Gardner, BeyondPR.
Direct line 0114 275 6996.
Mobile 07930 697773.
e-mail: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk
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Disability Wessex, a service operated by Diverse Abilities Plus which provides advice, support and information to those with disabilities, is growing. As a result Disability Wessex is now able to offer its expert, professional disability benefits advice service to even more disabled people, their families and to carers and parents of disabled children. It is hoped that in excess of 1000 local people will make use of the service within the next twelve months when requiring assistance with disability benefit applications and deputyship applications.

For many people, the benefits system can be similar to that of a maze. The length of a 30 page form to apply for Disability Living Allowance can appear daunting, and this can be worse for people who have a health condition that causes them pain and fatigue, a mental health condition or a child with challenging behaviour. Changes likely to be implemented in the future, such as to modify the application for disability living allowance to make it a medical assessment, further complicate the process.

Disability Wessex has a small, but growing, team of expert advisors who have in-depth knowledge of disability and of the benefits system and can help with applications for disability living allowance, attendance allowance, carers allowance and employment and support allowance. They also can advise on submission appeals and hearings.

Nikki Haswell, who manages Disability Wessex, said: "Our service has a 10 year track record of high rates of success in securing benefits to which our clients are eligible, due to our in-depth knowledge of both disabilities and the social security law behind the benefits system. We provide a hassle-free service and can assist by writing letters, making phone calls and working with the authorities on your behalf, as well as help collect evidence and sort out problems, mistakes and mix ups."

The Disability Wessex team also offers help to parents of children, spouses and other people caring for an individual adult who does not have the mental capacity to make decisions about managing their own finances or make major decisions about their welfare.

For further information about Disability Wessex, call 0300 3305514.

Disability Wessex is part of Diverse Abilities Plus, which is the only local charity which provides a lifetime of support to children and adults with varying physical and/or learning disabilities. Established for over 55 years, the charity provides a range of assistance, support and education services for young people aged two to 19, adults and families.

For more information or to contact Diverse Abilities Plus please visit www.diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk or call 01202 718266.

Ends

Editors Notes
Diverse Abilities Plus is a charity that has been supporting children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and associated disabilities working in the County of Dorset, England for 50 years. The charity provides a range of assistance, support and education services for young people aged two to 19, adults and families. Services include:
Langside School " independent, non maintained specialist day school for children and young people from the age of two to 19 years who have PMLD (profound and multiple learning disabilities). It's one of only 19 similar SEN (special education needs) schools in the UK.
Smithers " provides overnight and day short breaks. Short breaks help families manage the challenges of providing full time care for their child. A visit can be during the day or a 'sleep over' allowing the child to make and meet friends and relax and enjoy themselves.
Shapes " provides home support (domiciliary care) for children and young people aged between two and 18 with individually tailored programs.
Project My Time " provides child-led holiday activities that give young people with disabilities the same leisure and fun opportunities that their peers enjoy.
Barnabas " a well equipped day setting for adults. Adults can learn new skills and enjoy a wide range of experiences.
Supported living " this service is for people who live in their own home but may need up to 24/7 support.
Disability Wessex – offers assistance with disability benefits for people with disabilities or chronic and acute health conditions and their families or carers, as well as the parents of disabled children.
Play Opportunities – supports families with disabled children to have a chance to get out and enjoy themselves with other families in similar situations.
Awesome Days and Awesome Nights " A youth group, set up and run by young people of all abilities, aged between 13 – 19 years.
Face 2 Face " a free and confidential network of trained volunteer befrienders, who support parents to make positive adjustments to the news that their child has a disability or additional need. Every Face2Face befriender is a parent whose own child has a disability. They know what it's like to cope with a new diagnosis and can offer support parent to parent.

The charity was founded in 1955 by Mrs Phyllis Edwards who formed a group of parent's intent on providing better opportunities for their children with physical and learning disabilities.

Visit Diverse Abilities Plus Facebook page at www.facebook.com/diverseabilitiesplus and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GoldChallengeDA

For more information
Contact: Zoe Hiljemark, PR Account Director / Jenny Pearce, Senior PR Account Executive
E-mail: zoe@marketing-matters.co.uk / jenny@marketing-matters.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 777111 / +44 (0) 7770 924439
Address: Marketing Matters, Unit C, Acorn Business Park, Ling Road, Poole, Dorset, UK, BH12 4NZ

Over a thousand women took part in a midnight walk to raise money for a local Bristol hospice.

Starting at 10.30pm on Saturday 9 July from Ashton Gate football ground, the women took in some of the city's best known sites during the 10-mile route which finished in the early hours of Sunday 10 July.

Organised by St Peter's Hospice, this was the second midnight walk which it is hoped will raise over £100,000 for the charity.

Including the suspension bridge, the Downs, Bristol Zoo, Cabot Tower and the ss Great Britain the women, who all wore the distinctive pink Midnight Walk t-shirts, snaked their way across the city finishing back at the football ground.

Jo Gibbons, Head of Fundraising at the hospice said: "First of all I'd like to thank all those who took part in the walk. It was an amazing effort and fantastic to see so many people all together wearing the pink t-shirts.

"Thanks also needs to go to the marshals and all of our volunteers, without whom the walk couldn't have taken place.

"Everybody had such a good time and made a night of it. It's now vital that everyone who took part gets their donations in as soon as possible as the money raised goes towards keeping the hospice running throughout the year."

St. Peter's Hospice is Bristol's only adult hospice caring for local people with incurable diseases and giving them a better quality of life. All care is provided free of charge but with the NHS contributing just 23% of the £6 million needed to run the hospice yearly, money raised from events like the Midnight Walk is vital.

Last year the hospice cared for 2,000 patients in the region and supported over 6,000 family members, including children.

Pictures of the event can be found on www.facebook.com/stpetershospice. For more information on the hospice please visit www.stpetershospice.org.uk