Miss-Delectable
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The Cumberland News
THE deaf and hard of hearing are missing out on learning essential life skills, according to a Bolton New Houses mum calling for free lipreading courses for all
Lipreading has been a lifeline for Therese Guy who lost her hearing overnight five years ago after contracting a virus.
She spent six months unable to walk after the hearing loss left her with tinnitus and vertigo.
But rather than being unable to communicate with loved ones and live an isolated existence, Therese fought back learning how to lipread and becoming a lipreading teacher.
She said: “It can happen to anyone and at anytime.
“The emotional and psychological effect of hearing loss is so great. It’s isolating. Many people cannot even hear the birds.”
Therese, who is in her early 50s and worked at Chrysalis day centre before her hearing loss struck, said one in seven people in the UK have hearing difficulties.
Despite this, funding to provide free lipreading classes is scarce. Therese is the only working tutor in west and north Cumbria and people are forced to travel from as far away as Whitehaven to attend her Wigton-based course.
Shirley Cowburn, of Asby, near Cockermouth, said: “This is the first class I’ve ever seen in this area.
“It’s an important skill because even with hearing aids a lot of what you hear is distorted.”
Mary Cook, of Carlisle, comes to learn lipreading to socialise.
“It’s not just about the lipreading. It’s about sharing information with others with hearing problems.”
Jim Gilbertson, of Wigton, said: “The lipreading helps me a lot, especially when I’m talking to my wife on the other side of the room.”
The course in Wigton Methodist Church Hall that Therese began in September has been funded for 25 weeks by Wigton Adult Education.
But the course to start this September could cost those taking part more than £100 and the class’s afternoon slot means working people cannot attend. Therese said: “Many people with hearing difficulties do not inform their employers out of fear it will affect their jobs.
“But they should be given time off to attend lipreading classes.
“The course comes under languages, but we are not teaching people to order food on their holidays. This is a life skill.”
Therese added that funding is difficult to find throughout the country because of education spending cuts.
“We need more free classes, in more areas and at more times. There’s a lot of people out there that need support,” she said.
To find out more about lipreading classes in Wigton, call Fiona Wasteney on 016973 42610 or drop into the Adult Education Centre at Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton.
For more information on the national campaign for free lipreading classes visit RNID.org.uk.
THE deaf and hard of hearing are missing out on learning essential life skills, according to a Bolton New Houses mum calling for free lipreading courses for all
Lipreading has been a lifeline for Therese Guy who lost her hearing overnight five years ago after contracting a virus.
She spent six months unable to walk after the hearing loss left her with tinnitus and vertigo.
But rather than being unable to communicate with loved ones and live an isolated existence, Therese fought back learning how to lipread and becoming a lipreading teacher.
She said: “It can happen to anyone and at anytime.
“The emotional and psychological effect of hearing loss is so great. It’s isolating. Many people cannot even hear the birds.”
Therese, who is in her early 50s and worked at Chrysalis day centre before her hearing loss struck, said one in seven people in the UK have hearing difficulties.
Despite this, funding to provide free lipreading classes is scarce. Therese is the only working tutor in west and north Cumbria and people are forced to travel from as far away as Whitehaven to attend her Wigton-based course.
Shirley Cowburn, of Asby, near Cockermouth, said: “This is the first class I’ve ever seen in this area.
“It’s an important skill because even with hearing aids a lot of what you hear is distorted.”
Mary Cook, of Carlisle, comes to learn lipreading to socialise.
“It’s not just about the lipreading. It’s about sharing information with others with hearing problems.”
Jim Gilbertson, of Wigton, said: “The lipreading helps me a lot, especially when I’m talking to my wife on the other side of the room.”
The course in Wigton Methodist Church Hall that Therese began in September has been funded for 25 weeks by Wigton Adult Education.
But the course to start this September could cost those taking part more than £100 and the class’s afternoon slot means working people cannot attend. Therese said: “Many people with hearing difficulties do not inform their employers out of fear it will affect their jobs.
“But they should be given time off to attend lipreading classes.
“The course comes under languages, but we are not teaching people to order food on their holidays. This is a life skill.”
Therese added that funding is difficult to find throughout the country because of education spending cuts.
“We need more free classes, in more areas and at more times. There’s a lot of people out there that need support,” she said.
To find out more about lipreading classes in Wigton, call Fiona Wasteney on 016973 42610 or drop into the Adult Education Centre at Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton.
For more information on the national campaign for free lipreading classes visit RNID.org.uk.