How deaf and hearing impaired people are involved in our work

We exist to improve the lives of deaf and hearing impaired people. So it is vital that we take account of their views in everything we do.

In practice, this is achieved by:

• Ensuring that the views of deaf and hearing impaired people are represented at board level: currently, five of our trustees have a hearing impairment.
• Asking our research advisors and external reviewers, as part of the peer review process applied to all grant applications, to assess the nature and degree of benefit arising from the proposed research together with its urgency and appropriateness.
• Where appropriate, involving patients, families, and voluntary organisations representing the views of hearing impaired people in the review and monitoring of Deafness Research UK supported research projects.
• Undertaking regular evaluation of the information service; including feedback surveys sent directly to deaf and hearing impaired people, their families or friends in order to assess the quality and usefulness of information materials provided.
• Involving users of the information service (deaf and hearing-impaired people, their families, health professionals) in the regular review of information materials to ensure that all information materials are fully accessible and relevant.
• Forging links and partnerships with other organisations working in the deafness and hearing impairment field. (Deafness Research UK is a member of the UK Council on Deafness.)

In addition, the charity's founder and president, Lord Rt. Hon Lord Ashley of Stoke CH, is profoundly deaf and has benefited from a cochlear implant. and five of our vice presidents have personal experience of hearing loss, with four others having family members who are affected.