British Sign Language (BSL) is the language of the British Deaf Community. It is the most widely used method of signed communication in the UK. It is difficult to say how many people use BSL as their first or preferred language but estimates suggest around 50,000.

In March 2003, after many years of campaigning, BSL was recognised as a language in its own right.

BSL is a complex language that has developed over time and is not a translation of English. It uses hand shapes and movements, facial expressions and shoulder movements. It is structured in a completely different way to English and like any language it has its own grammar and syntax. Linguists generally agree that BSL is a topic-comment language. For example, the question in English "What is your name?" becomes the sequence "Your name what?" in BSL.

A BSL/English interpreter helps deaf and hearing people communicate with each other.

Deaf people who use BSL as their preferred language and hearing people who speak English use BSL/English interpreters to communicate effectively. The interpreters translate from one language into the other.

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that gives a 'sensation' of hearing if you are profoundly deaf.

Each cochlear implant is made up of two parts: an external part and an internal part. The external part is worn like a hearing aid and has a sound processor. This translates sounds into electrical signals and then sends these to the internal part. The internal part is surgically implanted in your ear. It transmits electrical signals from the sound processor to your hearing, or auditory, nerve. These signals are recognised as sounds by your brain.

Colour blindness is an inability to distinguish between certain combinations of colour. About 8% of males and 0.5% of females have some form of colour blindness. Red-green colour blindness is most common, followed by yellow-blue colour blindness.

To avoid problems for our users, our website does not rely solely on colour to distinguish between objects. For example, all text links are underlined.

CSWs support deaf people in different ways to help them to access information and communicate with hearing people. They can do this in a range of ways, for example by taking notes, lipspeaking or using British Sign Language (BSL) or Sign Supported English.

CSWs are not usually qualified BSL/English interpreters, though more are now training at this level.

Cued speech is a communication system that combines mouth movements with visual 'cues' for the sounds (phonemes) of spoken language. For example, when cueing English, there are eight handshapes for consonant phonemes and four locations near the mouth to distinguish vowel phonemes. A handshape and a location together cue a syllable.

Cued speech is used in many different languages, but common examples include: helping deaf children see and absorb the same phonemic language as hearing children; working with adults who are deaf or hard of hearing; and helping adults with a sudden hearing loss.

The Data Protection Act covers personal data in electronic and manual formats (for example paper files). The key points of the act state that any data (information) collected by an organisation must be done so fairly and legally, and that the information stored about a person must be kept accurate and up-to-date and not kept for longer than is necessary. Also, security measures must be put into place to stop unlawful or unauthorised processing of personal data and accidental loss or damage to personal data.

The Act also gives rights to the individuals as regards to the data stored about them. Amongst other things, individuals are entitled to request a copy of all personal data stored on them and can prevent their details being used for direct marketing. They can also stop their details being used in a way that is likely to cause distress or discomfort.

Someone with a severe or profound hearing loss will describe themselves as deaf. A deaf person will be able to hear little or no sound. They might rely a lot on lipreading, British Sign Language (BSL) may be their first or preferred language, and they may wear a hearing aid.

At RNID, we use the term "deaf people" as general description when talking about people with all degrees of deafness, including deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.

Deafblind people have a combined sight and hearing impairment which causes difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility.

Deafblindness is also sometimes known as dual sensory impairment, dual sensory loss or multi-sensory impairment. Deafblind people may not be totally deaf and totally blind. There are about 23,000 deafblind people in the UK. Some are totally deaf and totally blind, while many others have some hearing and/or vision.

Hearing aids are described as either analogue or digital. They both look very similar on the outside but the way the technology inside processes sounds is different.

Digital hearing aids have a tiny computer inside to process sounds. This makes it possible to customise the aid to suit your hearing loss very precisely. Many digital aids can be programmed with different settings for different sound environments, for example watching television or in a noisy environment like a pub.

The DDA aims to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. The DDA gives people with disabilities equal rights and access to employment, education, property, transport and goods, facilities or services. The DDA says that service providers, employers and similar are not allowed to treat disabled people less favourably because of their disability.

If you believe you have been discriminated against because you have a disability the DDA can be used to challenge this discrimination.

An electronic notetaker is someone who types up a summary of spoken English using an ordinary keyboard or laptop. As a speaker talks the notetaker types this information and the deaf person can read it off the screen. The notetaker and deaf person can either share a laptop or have a laptop each with a connection between the two.

The information on screen is a summary of what is being said but the deaf person will have to have confident language skills. The notetaker will often provide a transcript on floppy disk for the deaf person to take away with them.

Your opinions are very important to us. We have tried to make this website as easy to use as possible, and we take great care to make sure information is up to date and relevant. However, sometimes we miss things or make the odd mistake. We welcome your views, whether good and bad, so please get in touch.

Contact information and links to feedback forms can be found throughout the website.

Glue ear is a condition in which a sticky, glue-like fluid builds up in the ear. It is an extremely common condition that affects mainly young children aged between two and five years old.

In most children, glue ear clears up on its own. However, up to 5% of children get persistent glue ear which, if left untreated, causes long term hearing loss.

This method of communication is used to communicate with deafblind people. It is based on BSL. By placing their hands over the signer's hands, the deafblind person can feel how the signs are formed.

Some people with Usher syndrome use hands-on signing as they may visually impaired.

A hearing aid uses a built in microphone to make sounds louder so that you are able to hear more comfortably. Hearing aids are battery-operated and are usually worn in or around your ear. They are available in different shapes, sizes and types. In the UK, you can either get a hearing aid free from the National Health Service or buy one privately from a registered hearing aid dispenser.

A loop system helps hearing aid users to pick up sounds at a distance. Induction loops are often found in banks, post offices, theatres and churches. The loop system transfers sound directly to your hearing aid, cutting out most background noise.

To use a loop you need to put your hearing aid onto the "T" setting. If the loop is not switched on you will probably hear a buzzing or humming noise. You should ask for the loop to be switched on: remember, this is your right under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

A neckloop can be used with the "T" (telecoil) setting on a hearing aid to help you listen to your television, hi-fi or radio, or take part in conversations.

The neckloop is a wireless piece of equipment worn around the neck. A small amplifier connected to the TV or hi-fi amplifies the sound, which is picked up by the neckloop and fed directly to your hearing aid.

Newborn hearing screening is a way of screening newborn babies for deafness within the first few hours, or days, of life. It used to be known as Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS).

Newborn hearing screening is being introduced in the UK in stages and is expected to be available in all areas by the end of 2005.

Palantype is a method of machine shorthand used to provide a verbatim (word for word) transcript of meetings. A palantype operator records speech on a special keyboard which then appear on a monitor or screen for the deaf or hard of hearing person to read.

The operator records how words sound rather than how they are spelt. The computer changes these coded word sounds back into English and this is what appears on the screen for the deaf or hard of hearing person to read.

There are not many Palantype operators, so you should book one well in advance of when you need them.

We sometimes share information with other departments within RNID or external organisations. If you provide us with information about yourself we will not give that information to any people or organisations unless you have told us you are happy for us to do this.

All data will be handled and stored according to the Data Protection Act.

RNID SpeedText® is a real-time, electronic notetaking service that uses two laptop computers. A specially trained operator types a transcript of what is being said onto one of the laptops. This text is shown on the laptop the deaf person is using.

If you want to book an RNID SpeedText® operator you need to contact RNID. You should book as far in advance as possible.

RNID Typetalk is the only national telephone relay service which allows deaf, deafblind, deafened, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people to communicate with hearing people anywhere in the world.

RNID Typetalk is run by the RNID and funded by BT, and brings the benefits of the telephone to individuals and employees with communication difficulties.

A screen reader is a program that reads out a computer display for the visually impaired people or those who do not have access to a monitor.

A screen reader can be used with other equipment to produce a Braille or voice output. Some screen readers can be customised by the user to help them navigate websites. For example, the screen reader might be set to only read out links on a page.

This is a language of hand shapes, facial expressions and movements that are used as a form of communication by some deaf and hard of hearing people.

Contrary to popular belief sign language is not international. Sign languages are as diverse as spoken languages. Deaf people in different countries do not use the same sign language, but some sign languages have a similar structure. In the UK there are around 50,000 British Sign Language users.

Most hearing aids have a "T" setting for the telecoil. This lets you use special listening equipment, such as a "loop system" or a telephone that is "hearing aid compatible".

Many public places will display a sign so that you know they have a loop system installed. However, sometimes the loop system might not be turned on even though it should be. If you think the loop system is turned off you should ask a member of staff to turn it on for you: this is your right under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

This is a loop system that helps deaf people who use a hearing or loop listener to hear sounds more clearly. A loop system uses a cable that circles the listening area and a loop amplifier to reduce or cut out background noise.

To pick up the signal from a loop system you will need to switch your hearing to the "T" setting.

A textphone can be used to receive and make phone calls. Textphones have a small display screen and keyboard so you can type what you want to say and read what is being typed in reply. Some textphones have a voice telephone handset and others can be used with a separate voice telephone.

If you are severely or profoundly deaf you may want to use a textphone.

Using a video interpreter is just like using any kind of interpreter, except that they will appear on a video screen, rather than in person. Video interpreters provide communication support between deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users and hearing people.

Video interpreting is not a replacement for having an interpreter there in person. But if you have access to the equipment - a videophone and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) phone line - then an interpreter can be booked for short one to one meetings at very short notice.