Louder than Words

Advice & information

Understanding hearing loss in the workplace

May 15, 2020

There are five million working-age people in the UK with some form of hearing loss. That’s around 12 in every 100 employees impacted by hearing loss in the workplace. It takes 10 years on average for somebody working with hearing loss to speak out and seek help. Many people try to hide it for fear of stigma and discrimination. However, deafness and hearing loss do not limit anyone’s ability to excel at their job. In order for staff to thrive,...

Advice & information

Are you accessible to all?

May 6, 2020

It’s Deaf Awareness Week from 4 – 10 May 2020 and we’re shining the spotlight on deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss in the workplace. There’s so much support, information and technology available, it’s never been easier to make hearing loss a priority. However, improving inclusivity for staff with hearing loss may seem daunting if you don’t know where to start. We’re experts at helping organisations become more accessible to the 12 in 100 working-age people who are deaf or have hearing...

Hearing loops

Induction loops: top 10 questions

April 30, 2020

It’s easy to make your business accessible to the three to four million people in the UK who use hearing aids. An induction loop (also called a hearing loop) will instantly transform your customer experience. Here’s a roundup of our most frequently asked questions: What are induction loops? They help hearing aid users to hear more clearly – by amplifying speech while reducing background noise – through the hearing loop setting (also called the T programme). A microphone transmits...

COVID-19 related

Help employees with hearing loss stay connected during Covid-19

April 24, 2020

During the coronavirus pandemic, remote working can pose its own challenges for many people with hearing loss. The increased use of conference calls and online communication platforms can be stressful and exhausting for those struggling to follow the conversation. We’ve put together some remote working tips for employers to help employees with hearing loss: 1. Remote working: the pros and cons. 2. Ten ways to be a good video conference participant. 3. Ten ways to be a good video conference host. 4. A...

Resources

Free resources: Workplace communication and phone call tips

March 31, 2020

Share these good workplace communication tips so they are inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss. Click image below to download PDF: Share these deaf friendly phone call tips. Click image below to download PDF: Get more free resources at https://louderthanwords.org.uk/category/resources/ Get more accessible RNID Louder than Words business accessibility solutions: Communication support Workplace assessments Deaf awareness training British Sign Language (BSL) Training Hearing loop installations Call us on 0333 240 5658 or submit an initial enquiry form.

Advice & information

Five ways to support employees with hearing loss

March 31, 2020

April is Stress Awareness Month, when health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country join forces to increase public awareness about the signs, symptoms and causes of stress. During the coronavirus pandemic, remote working can pose its own challenges for many people with hearing loss. The increased use of conference calls and online communication platforms can be stressful and exhausting for those struggling to follow the conversation. A staggering 12.8 million working days were lost due to work-related...

Case studies

Case Study – Workplace Assessment for Clare Bowdler

February 14, 2020

If you, or any of your colleagues, have hearing loss, you may not realise how easy it is to get support – and that funding is available. Marketing Manager Clare Bowdler has developed hearing loss over the last 20 years. A colleague noticed that Clare was finding it difficult to hear in meetings and suggested a workplace assessment. We caught up with Clare to find out how it has transformed her working life. What challenges did you face at work...

Advice & information

Is hearing loss on your agenda?

February 4, 2020

Often referred to as the ‘hidden disability’, hearing loss is far more widespread than most of us are aware. There are 12 million people in the UK with hearing loss and by 2035, we estimate it will rise to around 15.6 million people. Within the workplace, five million people in the UK have some level of hearing loss – that’s around 12 in every 100 employees. Businesses lose £2 billion in revenue per month by ignoring the needs of...

Tinnitus

Tips for managing tinnitus at work

February 4, 2020

What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is a medical condition which is usually described as ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sounds in the ears or head that others can’t hear. Prolonged exposure to loud noise, or even an isolated blast of loud noise, can cause tinnitus. That’s why jobs where sound levels regularly exceed 80-85dB can put employees at greater risk, including factory and construction workers, pilots, dentists, rock musicians, bar staff and motorcycle couriers. Some people aren’t bothered by the condition...

News

Open up your business with Louder than Words

November 8, 2019

Louder than Words is RNID's (formerly Action on Hearing Loss) range of products and services for businesses. We have everything your organisation needs to become more accessible to customers and staff with hearing loss. This new Louder than Words website will help you improve customer service, increase productivity, boost staff morale and meet your legal obligations on equality. Break down barriers with Louder than Words People who are deaf or have hearing loss all too often experience communication barriers when accessing...

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