A:

Hearing Loss and Dementia.

Over many years academic institutions here, and around the world, have carried out extensive research on the way in which early onset dementia could be delayed by the correction at an earlier stage of mid-life hearing loss. There is much more research needed in this area; as we try to establish the best plan for the long term focus on dementia management.

The NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has focused on the management of dementia as their primary aim over the short to medium term. I believe that this is a significant and positive aim; however, nowhere in their published information do they indicate that their own Audiology departments could be a force which has the potential to show significant long term financial savings by the correction of mid-life hearing loss at an earlier stage in an individual's life cycle.

I believe that our government must lead by example and allow the funding to flow to our researchers so that their findings can be quantified and then to produce the drive and energy needed to persuade people to have their hearing checked far more regularly. Then; if the signs of mid-life hearing loss exists, to provide the funding to correct that hearing loss much earlier - this will in the long term be far more productive, as it will prove to delay the onset of dementia by allowing a far greater period of social interaction by the patient.

Contacts:

Wiltshire & Dorset Deaf Association 
WDDA Admin, 16 Athelstan Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH6 5LY
Email: admin@wdda.co.uk, Mob: 07722 853857, Website: www.wdda.co.uk/

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
The Grange, Wycome Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS
Email: info@hearingdogs.org.uk, Tel: 01844 348100, Website: https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/

Bridport Deaf Club
Social Education Centre, Flood Lane, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3QG
Website: bridportdeafclub.com

Royal Association for Deaf  People - Advocacy
Email: advocacy@royaldeaf.org.uk
Tel: 0300 688 2525 (voice phone) or 0300 688 2527 (text phone)
Mob: 07749 965727
Website: https://royaldeaf.org.uk/news/what-is-advocacy

Bournemouth Deaf Centre
Lockyer Hall, 27a Morley Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 2JJ
Website: www.bournemouthdeafclub.org.uk

Deaf Awareness Technology
16 Furzey Road, Upton, Poole, Dorset, BH16 5RW
Tel: 01202 682795, Website: www.deafawarenesstechnology.co.uk

Communication Learning Advice Support Services - CLASS
113 Merley Ways, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1QP
Email: admin@deafcommunication.co.uk, Tel: 01202 610370
Website: www.deafcommunication.co.uk/Home_Page.php

Hearing Impairment Factsheets:
National Association of Deafened People 
Paul Tomlinson, PO Box 50, Amersham, HP6 6XB, 0845 055 9663 Mobile (SMS only): 07527 211 348 01305 262591 enquiries@nadp.org.uk

Disability Etiquette Guide
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/equality-and-diversity/pdfs/community-research-and-consultation/disability-etiquette-guide.pdf

Tinnitus UK The leading Charity in the UK dealing with all the aspects of tinnitus and its possible corrective treatments. Address Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB the web site is tinnitus.org.uk

This section is constantly under update and review, please be aware some information maybe out of date: This page will now gives information on the County teams which offer help and assistance to people who suffer from hearing impairment.

To get help and assistance with your hearing contact the main number as highlighted in RED for each local authority. They will then arrange for a member of your local Adult Access Team to contact you, they will then arrange to visit you to discuss in person the problems you are experiencing.

Adult Access Teams for the County of Dorset
Dorset Direct, PO Box 7184, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1GA
Tel: +44 (0) 1305 221 016 Minicom: +44 (0) 1305 267 933
email: adultaccess@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Other useful contact details for Dorset County Council 

Social Care Local Offices:
Bridport: The Grove, Rax lane, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3JL Tel: +44 (0) 1308 422234 Minicom: +44 (0) 1308 426076 email: bridportsocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Bridport Sight and Sound Centre Allington Court, St Swithins Road, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5DQ
Open Wednesdays between 10am - 1pm
Christchurch: Loring Road (off Jumpers Road), Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2GZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 474106 Minicom: +44 (0) 1202 495568
email: christchurchsocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Christchurch Sight and Sound Centre 250 Lymington Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 5ET Open Wednesdays 9.30am till 12noon
Dorchester: Acland Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1SH Tel: +44 (0) 1305 251 414 Minicom: +44 (0) 1305 251 596 email: dorchestersocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Dorchester Sight and Sound Centre Acland Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1SH
Open on Wednesdays from 10am till 1pm and from 2pm till 4pm
Ferndown: Penny's Walk, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9JY Tel: +44 (0) 1202 877 445 Minicom: +44 (0) 1202 868 262 email: ferndownsocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Wimborne Sight and Sound Centre The Hanham Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1AS Open Wednesdays 10am till 12noon


Social Care Offices
North Dorset Social Care, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1DR
Tel: +44(0) 1258 472652 Minicom: +44(0) 1258 474 091 email: northdorsetsocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Purbeck Social Care, 19 Bonnets Lane, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4HB Tel: +44(0) 1929 553 456 Minicom: +44(0) 1929 557 071 email: purbecksocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Sherborne Social Care, The Shielings, The Avenue, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AJ Tel: +44(0) 1935 814 104 Minicom: +44(0) 1935 811 216 email: sherbornesocialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Weymouth & Portland Social Care, Jubilee Retail Park, Jubilee Close, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7BG Tel: +44(0) 1305 760 139 Minicom: +44(0) 1305 208010 email: weymouthsocialcare@doorsetcc.gov.uk

Other useful contacts:

Action on Hearing Loss,  9 Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6XU
email: information@hearingloss.org.uk web address: www.hearingloss.org.uk

Bridport Hard of Hearing Group Tel: +44(0) 1308 862 608 bridport.deafclub@hotmail.com
Bournemouth Deaf Centre Tel: +44(0) 1202 428717 www.bournemouthdeafclub.org.uk/
Concern with Hearing - East Dorset Tel: +44(0) 1202 885 182
Ferndown Hard of Hearing Club Tel: +44(0) 1202 874 847
British Deaf Association (BDA), 69 Wilson Street, London, EC2A 2BB Tel: +44(0) 2075 883 529 email: info@signcommunity.org.uk web address www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk
Tinnitus UK, Ground Floor, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB Tel: +44(0) 1142 509 922 Helpline: +44(0) 8000 180 527 Minicom: +44(0) 1142 585 694 email: info@tinnitus.org.uk web address: www.tinnitus.org.uk
Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS), University of Bristol, Centre for Deaf Studies, 8 Woodland Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1TN Tel: +44(0) 1179 546 900 Minicom: +44(0) 1179 546 920
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Bucks HP27 9NS
Tel: +44(0) 1844 348 100 email: info@hearing-dogs.org.uk web address: www.hearing-dogs.org.uk 

Hearing Concern LINK, 19 Hartfield Road, Eastbourne, Sussex BN21 2AR Tel: +44(0) 1323 638 230 Minicom: +44(0) 1323 739 998 TEXT: 07526 123 255
email: info@hearingconcernlink.org web address: www.hearingconcernlink.org
Sence, 101 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LG Tel: +44(0) 8451 270 060 (local rate) +44(0) 2075 200 999 (London) email: info@sence.org.uk web address: www.sence.org.uk