Big boost for Deafness Research UK Information Service

27 April 2004

Deafness Research UK is today launching its newly expanded Information Service as part of a three-year plan to make information about research, treatments and technology for deafness and hearing impairment more accessible to the public and health professionals.

As the UK's only medical charity for deaf people, Deafness Research UK has unrivalled links with the nation's top researchers and is uniquely placed to:

• Play a major role in improving patient access to information about deafness and all forms of hearing impairment.
• Facilitate the transfer of research results to professionals working with hearing impaired people, thus hastening the delivery of real health care benefits.

Thanks to a grant of nearly £292,000 from the Community Fund, and support from some of the UK's leading grant-making trusts, Deafness Research UK is now able to promote its Information Service more actively, handle more enquiries from the public and health professionals, and reach new audiences, such as community groups.

"Information is not a cure, but it can empower people and their families, enabling them to make the best treatment choices based on using the very latest research evidence," says Head of Information Geraldine Oliver.

"For example, sudden onset of deafness or tinnitus can be very distressing, and people don't always seek immediate treatment or know the right questions to ask their GP. Our Service can give people basic or additional information and reassurance," says Ms Oliver.

"We also want to ensure that GPs and other health professionals are aware of the latest advances in hearing research, so that new treatment options can be made available to patients as early as possible."

The numbers of people affected by hearing impairment are huge and growing. As the population ages, it has been predicted that the incidence of hearing impairment will rise from one in seven to one in six of the UK population by 2010. In addition, rising environmental noise levels are putting younger people at risk. Experts believe that young people regularly exposed for prolonged periods to dangerously loud music are likely to suffer hearing impairment far earlier than previous generations.

Deafness Research UK applied for funding after a pilot service in 2000 dealt with enquiries from over 20,000 people.

The Deafness Research UK Information Service responds to enquiries by letter, telephone (voice and text), fax and email and provides information in the form of leaflets, factsheets, written responses to individual enquiries from medical experts and via the website which includes news and columnist articles, the 'Dr Earos guide to the ear' for children, and much more.

The Service is accessible via:

• internet:www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
• email:
• freephone: 0808 808 2222 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm)
• freepost: FREEPOST WC4938, London, WC1X 8BR
• textphone: 020 7915 1412

For more information, please contact:

Geraldine Oliver, Head of Information, Deafness Research UK, phone 020 7833 1733, email

Note to editors

Deafness Research UK (The Hearing Research Trust) is the UK's medical research charity for deaf and hard of hearing people.

As the only national charity dedicated to supporting medical research into deafness and other hearing disorders, Deafness Research UK can provide journalists with unrivalled access to the UK's top researchers and can advise on the very latest findings on all aspects of hearing loss and other hearing disorders.

We are also uniquely positioned to provide access to case histories, arranging interviews with people with personal experience of all types of hearing problems.

In addition to these services, we can offer rapid responses to news stories on each of the key following areas of our work:

• Medical research
• Inherited deafness
• Deafness and aging
• Deafness and noise
• Tinnitus and hyperacusis
• Cochlear implants
• Hearing aids
• Glue ear
• Neonatal screening
• Hearing tests