Information Line (Freephone)
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.
Members' Annual Survey
In 2005 we introduced an annual survey of our members. We send the questionnaire with our magazine, One in Seven, to approximately 22,000 members. The survey is an important way of finding out from our members what is most important to them. It also gives us an insight into the general issues affecting people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The information we gather helps us to tailor our service and policy development and target both our campaigns and the provision of services more closely. In addition, we use the findings to inform our responses to government consultation documents.
2009 Annual Survey
These are the main findings from the fifth annual survey of members. The questionnaire was sent to members in the summer of 2009. The main report can be downloaded now.
Loop systems
- Respondents are much more likely to use a loop in a public place than in the home: 85% of respondents use them in public places while only a third use them in the home.
- Over two fifths of respondents said that they would go out of their way to visit a shop or service with a loop, and almost three quarters said that deaf aware staff would make them more likely to use a particular service.
- However, there are frequent problems. 86% of those who use loops in public places have experienced problems at least some of the time.
Communication support
- The use of communication support is not common among respondents, with around one-tenth using it in the year prior to the research.
- From the 88% who haven’t used communication support, nearly two-fifths (38%) said they don’t need help, a quarter are supported by friends or family and a similar proportion don’t think the support would be useful.
Television on the internet and ‘catch-up television’
- A third of respondents have watched television on the internet and/ or through catch- up services.
- Of those who have watched catch-up television, over half (58%) have had a problem with subtitles.
Pension Credit
- Awareness of Pension Credit is reasonably high, with three-quarters of respondents aged over 65 saying they had heard of it. However, less than a fifth (17%) have made a claim.
Legal and advice services
- Nearly half the respondents have come into contact with legal or advice services in the past three years.
- The majority (79%) have had no difficulties with accessing services in relation to their hearing loss, although 10% thought the staff were not deaf aware.
Contacting local councillors, parliamentarians or assembly members
- A third of respondents have contacted their local elected representative, with most having no difficulties.
- The most common complaint among those who did experience difficulties was the lack of deaf awareness of the councillor, parliamentarian or assembly member.
Volunteering
- Over half of respondents have volunteered within the past five years.
- A high number of volunteers had experienced problems related to their hearing loss. Over 60% have had difficulties communicating with other people, almost a third said staff or volunteers were not deaf aware and a quarter found that a loop system was not available.
Download the Annual Survey 2009 report
2008 Annual Survey
In our 2008 survey we asked members about:
- The quality of audiology services
- Obtaining information when traveling by public transport
- Subtitles and background noise on television
- Services provided by RNID
Download the Annual Survey 2008 report [PDF 424Kb]
2007 Annual Survey
In our 2007 survey we asked members about:
- Their views of the One in Seven magazine.
- Satisfaction with RNID membership.
- Priorities for RNID campaigns.
- Members' priorities when receiving hearing aids.
- Participation in health and wellbeing activities.
- Access to technology
Download the Annual Survey 2007 report [PDF 1MB]
2006 Annual Survey
In our 2006 survey we asked members about
- Their experiences of and attitudes towards the Disability Discrimination Act
- Take-up of and attitudes towards disability benefits
- Waiting times for digital hearing aids
- Attitudes towards the provision of digital hearing aids
- Use of different types of transport
- Members’ perceptions of community safety
- Access to technology and learning resources
Download the Annual Survey 2006 report [PDF 165KB]
2005 Annual Survey
In our first survey in 2005 we asked members about
- Their experiences of membership of RNID
- Views of the membership magazine One in Seven
- Participation in leisure activities and use of free time
- Experiences and views of signed and subtitled media
- Perceptions of general health