RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID Midlands' range. It is written for deaf and hard of hearing people. We use the term deaf people to refer to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people throughout this factsheet.

In this factsheet, you can find out:

  • How special equipment can help you.
  • Where you can go to look at and try out equipment in the West Midlands.

How can special equipment help me?

Special equipment can help you in everyday situations, such as:

  • Alerting you to a sound in your home, like your baby crying, or a doorbell ringing.
  • Helping you manage your tinnitus.
  • Getting subtitles on TV and video.
  • Being able to hear the television or radio without turning the volume too high.
  • Amplifying the sound of a telephone conversation.

Choosing equipment can be difficult and you may want to try things out before buying them.

Where can I go to try out equipment?

Many audiology clinics, hearing services centres, and social services departments have equipment for people to try. You normally have to make an appointment with one of these places to try out the equipment. To find out where your nearest place is, contact the RNID Midlands office. See RNID Regional Communications – Midlands Office later on for contact details.

Mobile Advisory Services

These services travel around your area and have equipment for you to look at and try out on board.

NDCS Listening Bus

The National Deaf Childrens’ Society (NDCS) Listening Bus aims to reach deaf children and their families in local areas. It has examples of the latest technologies available for children and adults. Staff on the bus can give you advice about getting and using equipment and give you information about the NDCS Technology Service. To arrange a visit, or to find out when the Listening Bus is in your area, contact:

Su Brindley, NDCS
Textphone: 02476 404821
Fax: 02476 404826
Email: su@ndcs.org.uk 

NDCS helpline: 0808 800 8880
Textphone: 0808 800 8880
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk

deafPLUS Mobile Advisory Service

A deafPLUS Mobile Advisory Service covers the Midlands area. The service can give you information about hearing loss and is staffed by members of deafPLUS, RNID, and NDCS on a rotational basis. To find out if the vehicle is in your area, or to book it, contact:

deafPLUS Midlands, 1 College Walk, Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6LE
Telephone: 0121 472 5488
Textphone: 0121 415 5900
Fax: 0121 415 5943
Email: midlands@deafPLUS.org  

Regional locations

Birmingham

Birmingham Independent Living Centre

An Independent Living Centre is a place where you can get free information and advice about products which can increase disabled or older people’s choices about how they live. You can see and try out products, and explore solutions. Centres provide free information to people in person, by telephone, letter or email. The Birmingham Independent Living Centre is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.15pm and Friday 9am to 3.15pm. You need to make an appointment and you can telephone the centre up until 4.45pm. For more information, contact:

Zaitun Begum, Birmingham Centre for Independent Living, St Marks Street, Springhill, Birmingham B1 2HU
Telephone: 0121 464 4342
Fax: 0121 464 4944

Deafness and Sight Loss Resource Centre

The Centre is located in Chelmsley Wood Library. The Centre has equipment on display for people with a hearing and/or sight loss. A wide range of information from RNID, BID Services with Deaf People and The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) is available to take away. The Centre is staffed by people from these organisations on a rotational basis. For more information, contact:

Paul Elvins, BID Services with Deaf People
Telephone: 0121 246 6176
Textphone: 0121 246 6177
Fax: 0121 246 6125
Email: paul.elvins@bid.org.uk  

Or you can contact Chelmsley Wood Library directly:

Deafness and Sight Loss Resource Centre, Chelmsley Wood Library, Stephenson Drive, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 5TA
Telephone: 0121 788 4396

C & P Hearing Equipment Centre

This family-run business has a wide range of products for you to view and try out. For more information, contact:

Colin Whitehouse, C & P Hearing Equipment Centre, 27 Woodlands Road, Rubery, Rednal, Birmingham B45 9HA
Telephone: 0121 608 1575
Textphone: 0121 628 4771
Fax: 0121 608 1575
Email: sales@cphearingequipment.co.uk

Dudley

Dudley Hearing Impaired Unit

The Unit is a council-run resource and support service. It has a display of environmental equipment, and an information room. It also runs lip-reading classes and a three-day course for new hearing aid users.

Hearing Impaired Unit Dudley, Social Work Team, Wellington Road, Dudley DY1 1RB
Telephone: 01384 813462
Textphone: 01384 230024
Fax: 01384 813464

Hereford and Worcestershire

Deaf Direct

Deaf Direct has equipment on display for you to have a look at in both Herefordshire and Worcestershire. For more information, contact:

Carol Nash, Deaf Direct Worcester, 13 Castle Street, Worcester WR1 3AD
Telephone: 01905 746301
Textphone: 01905 746300
Videophone: 01905 746303
Fax: 01905 746302.
Email: worcester@deafdirect.org.uk

Charlotte Firstbrook, Deaf Direct Hereford, Kemble House, 37 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AR
Telephone: 01432 357741
Textphone: 01432 357747 
Fax: 01432 357743
Email: charlottefirstbrook@deafdirect.org.uk 

Sandwell

Sandwell Independent Living Centre

An Independent Living Centre is a place where you can get free information and advice about products which can increase disabled or older people’s choices about how they live. You can see and try out products, and explore solutions. Centres provide free information to people in person, by telephone, letter or email. The equipment service for deaf people is based within the Sandwell Independent Living Centre. The service has equipment for you to view and try out. It can also assess you to find out what kind of equipment would be most useful for you in your home. The service can give you advice and information on equipment and can arrange for equipment to be installed in your home if appropriate. You have to make an appointment to view equipment, and priority is given to you if you live in the Sandwell area. For more information, contact:

Lynn Taylor, The Independent Living Centre, 100 Oldbury Road, Smethwick, Sandwell B66 1JE
Telephone: 0121 558 5555
Textphone: 0121 565 7972
Fax: 01215657978

Shropshire

Shrewsbury Disability Resource Centre

On the third Monday of every month, the Centre has a drop-in session for people who want to look at equipment to help with hearing loss. Someone from the sensory impairment team is on hand to give you advice and information about the products. The sessions run from 10am to 4pm. For more information, contact:

Sensory Impairment Team, St Michaels House, St Michaels Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 2HG
Telephone: 01743 255 702
Textphone: 01743 255 705
Fax: 01743 255 885

Drop in sessions are held at:
Disability Resource Centre, Lancaster Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3JN
Telephone: 01743 444599
Textphone: 01743 444569
Fax: 01743 461349

Staffordshire

Queen's Hospital Audiology Department

There is a display of environmental equipment for you to view and try out in the audiology department. There is also information available about the products on display. This service is available on an appointment basis with the department’s hearing therapist.

Audiology department, Queen’s Hospital, Belvedere Road, Burton upon Trent, DE13 0RB
Telephone: 01283 566333 extension 5188
Fax: 01283 593041

Wolverhampton

Neville Garratt Centre for Independent Living

An Independent Living Centre is a place where you can get free information and advice about products which can increase disabled or older people’s choices about how they live. You can see and try out products, and explore solutions. Centres provide free information to people in person, by telephone, letter or email. The Neville Garratt Centre has a display of equipment for people with sensory impairments. There are weekly drop-in sessions on:

  • Tuesday from 10am to 12pm.
  • Friday from 10am-12pm, and from 2pm-4pm.

The centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4.30pm, and on Friday from 9am to 4pm. For more information, contact:

Rachael Murphy, The Neville Garratt Centre for Independent Living, Wolverhampton Social Services, Bell Street, Wolverhampton WV1 3PR
Telephone: 01902 553666
Textphone: 01902 553677
Fax: 01902 553643

Further information from RNID

If you want to find out more about some of the subjects covered in this factsheet you may want to look at our leaflets Equipment for deaf and hard of hearing people and Sound and subtitles – making the most of audiovisual equipment.

The RNID Information Line offers a wide range of information on many aspects of deafness and hearing loss. You can contact us for further copies of this factsheet and the full range of our information factsheets and leaflets.

RNID Information Line, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL.
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk  

RNID Regional Communications – Midlands Office
If you live in the Midlands and you’re looking for information in your local area, we may be able to provide the answers. Our team can offer you:

  • information about local events, exhibitions and conferences
  • details of RNID services and other useful contacts in your local area, such as social groups
  • a speaker for a local group or committee regarding any issues relating to deafness, such as specialist equipment, tinnitus, or communication
  • details of regional and national campaigns and how you can be involved
  • talks to professional organisations about how to make your services more accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

RNID Midlands Office, 1st Floor, Monaco House, Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7AS
Telephone: 0121 622 5662
Textphone: 0121 622 4354
Fax: 0121 622 5174.