Help on offer for people diagnosed with hearing or sight loss

Do you find yourself turning the TV up louder than other people, or have you been struggling to hear on the phone? Or perhaps you’ve noticed some changes to your sight recently? These could be some signs of hearing and sight loss, and you’re not alone. In East Sussex we have a growing population of people who have hearing or sight loss, and both are common.

While hearing and sight loss can affect people of any age, they become more common as we get older. Almost one in six people aged over 65 have sight loss which affects their day-to-day living, and the number of people with sight loss in East Sussex is expected to increase 26% by 2030. According to the charity East Sussex Hearing there are 116,000 hearing impaired people in the county and 40% of people over 50 have a hearing loss.

As more and more people experience hearing loss, sight loss, or both, it’s important you know where to turn to for support if you need it.

If you are having problems with your vision or hearing, the first step is to contact your GP practice.

If you’ve been diagnosed by a GP with a sensory impairment and need help and support in your daily life because of it, then the Sensory Impairment Reablement Team at East Sussex County Council could help.

The team offers a range of support and advice to help you stay independent at home. They’ve recently launched a new online self-assessment form to make it even easier for local people to access their expertise.

After you get in touch, and depending on what you need, the team can:

  • provide information and advice
  • offer rehabilitation support, including daily living skills, use of digital technology, and orientation and mobility training
  • work with you to develop a care and support plan to help you achieve the changes you want to make in your life
  • supply equipment to help you in your daily life.

Here’s some more information on sensory impairments:

Hearing loss

You may have hearing loss if:

  • you need to turn the volume up on your TV to hear it
  • you find it difficult to follow what people are saying
  • you find it difficult to hear people on the phone
  • other people have noticed you are raising your voice

If you think you have hearing loss, make an appointment to see your GP. They can refer you for further assessment.

For more information on causes of hearing loss, visit Hearing loss | NHS

Sight loss

There are many conditions that can cause loss of vision. Common causes are glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes and age-related macular degeneration.

Make sure you have a regular eye test. Sight problems can often be treated if they are diagnosed early.

For more information, visit: Blindness and vision loss | NHS

Dual sensory loss

Dual sensory loss is when you have a loss of both hearing and vision. It may cause major difficulties with getting around, communication and accessing information. Deafblindness can develop over time (acquired) or can be apparent from birth (congenital).

Getting in touch with the sensory impairment team

If you need care and support because of a visual, hearing of sensory impairment, you can: