With just a few weeks to go before a pivotal election in Scotland, now is the time to urge our local representatives to address a major public health issue that has been overlooked for far too long.
As I write, the needs of the 1.5 million people in Scotland who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus are being neglected, and this must change.
It’s unacceptable that people with hearing loss in Scotland face routine waits of up to 18 months for audiology services, with some forced to wait even longer.
Too often, healthcare services in Scotland also fail to meet the communication needs of deaf people and those with hearing loss, such as providing an accessible alternative to the telephone, or a BSL interpreter for those who need one. This leaves people unable to fully understand or participate in decisions about their own care.
We want Scotland to be a country where the 1.5 million deaf people and people with hearing loss or tinnitus are fully included and treated with respect, dignity and understanding.
In the run up to the election, RNID is urging people to raise these issues with their local MSP candidates. You can contact your local candidates by visiting www.rnid.org.uk or by clicking here.
Regards,
Ruth MacLeod,
Health Policy Advisor, RNID – the national charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Public transport is an essential part of everyday life, but for people who are deaf or have hearing loss – journeys by services like trains, buses or ferries can be a huge challenge.
Inaccessible audio announcements, a lack of deaf awareness amongst staff and no signed information for deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users are all barriers that can lead to stress, missed journeys and seriously affect people’s confidence when using public transport.
That’s why RNID is asking people who are deaf and have hearing loss to take part in a major survey. Whether you use public transport regularly, or avoid it altogether, your answers will be invaluable and help us work with transport providers, policymakers and technology companies to push for real, lasting improvements.
The survey, which closes on the 13th April, is part of a major project funded by the Motability Foundation and can be accessed here: www.rnid.org.uk/transport-survey
Kind regards,
Victoria Boelman,Director of Insight and Policy, RNID
– the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
As we mark Tinnitus Week (2 – 8 February), we know that for many people with tinnitus, it’s not just a hum in the background, but something that can make everyday life a challenge.
Despite tinnitus being more common than most people realise with one in seven adults experiencing it, too many are still left confused, worried or unsure of where to turn for help. Through our new research, two thirds (66%) of people with tinnitus told us it can impact their stress levels, while half (51%) said it makes them feel anxious or overwhelmed.
Thankfully with the right support, lots of people can live well with tinnitus. There are many practical ways to manage each person’s needs, such as talking therapies, hearing aids, or mindfulness.
No one should face tinnitus alone. If you’re finding your tinnitus difficult to manage or you’re worried about someone close to you, we’re here to help. RNID’s free online tinnitus guide at rnid.org.uk/tinnitus offers plenty of helpful information, practical tips and advice to help you live a good, balanced life with tinnitus.
Christmas is a time for connecting with loved ones and enjoying plenty of festivities, gatherings and conversation. However, for those with undiagnosed hearing loss, this time of year sometimes feels like a struggle and can be isolating.
Over the festive period, you may have noticed yourself or a loved one struggling to hear. Perhaps you were turning the TV up louder than others prefer, struggling to follow conversations at Christmas gatherings or frequently asking people to repeat what they said. You or a loved one may have found it harder to hear on the phone, felt like others were mumbling, or your partner may have felt you weren’t listening.
As we enjoy the quieter days between Christmas and New Years celebrations, if any of these habits feel familiar, it could be time to check your hearing.
Thankfully, it’s very simple to look for signs of hearing loss in yourself or loved ones and to do something about it.
Our free 3-minute online hearing check at rnid.org.uk/check can be the first step on your journey to find out if you should see someone about your hearing and get our advice on what to do next.
Kickstart your new year in the right way and keep everyone part of the conversation!
As we mark Volunteers’ Week (2–8 June 2025), I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate the outstanding volunteers who contribute towards the work of RNID – the national charity supporting 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Every day, through our community activities across the UK, around 300 incredible RNID volunteers take part in a diverse range of activities.
Whether it’s offering hearing aid maintenance and advice on hearing loss and tinnitus at RNID Near You drop-in sessions – or acting as ambassadors by giving talks to local groups and organisations, raising awareness of our work. These activities simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of volunteers who generously give their time to support others.
Over the past year alone, RNID volunteers gave more than 16,000 hours of their time, helping us reach over 47,000 people across the UK. It’s a remarkable achievement.
That’s why this Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise everything our volunteers do and say a huge ‘thank you’. Your time, passion and dedication mean the world to us and make a real difference to people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
The May bank holidays are upon us and train stations are buzzing with travellers and day-trippers. However, for millions of people who are deaf, or have hearing loss, using public transport can be a challenging and stressful experience.
Imagine being on a platform. Passengers suddenly start leaving and you’re not sure why. Or you’re on a train that stops unexpectedly between stations, and you seem to be the only person in the carriage unaware of what’s going on. What should be a relaxing journey can quickly become an anxious and isolating experience. Deaf people often rely on fellow travellers for help.
To mark Deaf Awareness Week (5–11 May), RNID – the national charity supporting the 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus – has highlighted concerning research showing that the public are often unwilling to assist deaf people when navigating public transport. Whilst many people do want to help – they’re often held-back by uncertainty around how to communicate.
The good news is that RNID’s ‘It does matter’ campaign offers free tips and videos with basic BSL phrases to help people become more deaf-aware and confident when offering support.
This Deaf Awareness Week is the perfect time to learn how you can make a difference. Visit www.rnid.org.uk/it-does-matter
Yours sincerely,
Teri Devine, Associate Director of Inclusion, RNID
The morning after the general election, 5 July, will be a historic moment for the UK. Whether it is delivered by a re-elected or newly elected Prime Minister, their speech to the nation will be a moment of national significance.
It’s a moment that should be accessible to every voter in the UK, including the 87,000 members of the Deaf community who use British Sign Language (BSL).
The Deaf community has continually been excluded during these key broadcasts from No. 10 because of the lack of a BSL interpreter. RNID has long tried to work with the Government to ensure that access is provided for the Deaf community.
A public service announcement is just that, but by not including deaf people the Prime Minister is removing their right to have the information at the same time as everyone else.
RNID has written to both Sir Kier Starmer and Rishi Sunak offering them the use of our interpreter for their victory speech on 5 July. Their speech to the nation will be the start of a new chapter in our country’s history and they cannot lock the Deaf community out.
I encourage all your readers to join our call and sign our letter to make this election inclusive of everyone at rnid.org.uk
Major new research from charity RNID has revealed the negative attitudes and behaviours that deaf people and people with hearing loss experience on a regular basis.
The research of 8,151 people found that more than a quarter (27%) of deaf people and people with hearing loss are ignored by most people in public settings.
More than two thirds (67%) told us they have experienced negative attitudes or behaviours in the last year, and almost half (48%) said they also experience this from their own family members.
54% said people tell them ‘It doesn’t matter’ when they struggle to understand, which we know can make people feel like they don’t matter. 47% have experienced people shouting at them.
The impact of this can be huge: people tell us they feel excluded, lonely, and disrespected. Often these experiences cause people to withdraw, to avoid others, and even hide that they are deaf or have hearing loss.
We want people across the UK to stand with us and say that the way deaf people and people with hearing loss are treated really does matter. We know the public want to help, so we’re urging people to follow our three simple tips to be more inclusive, and learn some simple BSL phrases for everyday conversation.
“I haven’t heard silence for 8 years” – Jamie Laing
TV personality, podcaster and entrepreneur, Jamie Laing, has been living with tinnitus since 2016. For Tinnitus Week (5-11 February) Jamie has joined forces with RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, to share his story and help RNID raise funds for research to silence tinnitus for good.
Jamie talks about the moment he first experienced the condition, describing it as a sudden and overwhelming sensation. Eight years on, he details the impact of tinnitus on his daily life, highlighting its disruptive nature and the difficulty of finding relief from the persistent ringing in his ears.
Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that are not caused by an outside source. It’s common – around 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus all the time or regularly. The condition sounds different for different people.
Many people describe their tinnitus as a ringing sound, but tinnitus can also be heard as other sounds, such as buzzing, whooshing, clicking, humming, and hissing, to name a few, or even be a combination of sounds.
Jamie Laing said:“I haven’t heard silence for 8 years. The very first time I ever heard tinnitus, I woke up one morning and I got out of bed, and I could hear this ringing noise.
“And I was looking around, thinking where the hell is this noise coming from? Then it suddenly dawned on me that it was inside my own head. For anyone who’s ever experienced tinnitus that is a really scary moment.
“I would spend a lot of time in nightclubs, but I never wore anything to protect my ears. I should have done and everyone should be protecting their ears. My tinnitus sounds like a dog whistle, with a whooshing noise surrounding it as well.
“So it takes me a lot to cry and I was shooting a television show called Hunted, and in it my tinnitus was so bad. People were asking me questions and I couldn’t hear what they were saying because the ringing was so overbearing. It was so loud, and I was like, this is the moment. This is the moment where tinnitus is going to take over.
“The amazing thing is RNID is doing some incredible work, and through this amazing campaign they are raising money which will go directly towards tinnitus research to silence tinnitus for good.”
Franki Oliver, Audiology Manager at RNID, said: “Tinnitus is in fact much more common than many people realise. Around 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus; that’s over 7 million adults in the UK!
“There is support out there with a range of professional tinnitus management options as well as self-management techniques available that can be helpful.
“Thank you to Jamie Laing for sharing his story and raising awareness of tinnitus and how RNID can support people living with the condition.”
· Tinnitus is in fact more common than many people realise. Around 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus. That’s over 7 million adults in the UK.
· Tinnitus sounds different for different people. Many people describe their tinnitus as a ringing sound, but some people hear other sounds such as buzzing, whooshing, clicking, hissing, or even a combination of sounds.
· Tinnitus is known to be more common in people with hearing loss. However, people without hearing loss can also have tinnitus.
· Tinnitus can be caused by loud noise exposure, but this is not the only cause. Tinnitus can be caused by certain ear conditions and other medical conditions. and other medical conditions. Sometimes there is no clear cause.
Have you made your new year resolutions yet? Need one more? Why don’t you sign up as an RNID volunteer?
RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus are looking for volunteers to support our vital work across Scotland.
Last year, our volunteers gave more than 9,000 hours of their time to support people in their communities with practical information and essential hearing aid care. But with one in five adults in the UK being deaf or having hearing loss or tinnitus there is much more to do to make sure everyone in the UK gets support
Volunteering for RNID could involve providing information to local organisations and community groups, helping people get the most out of their hearing aids, or giving a friendly welcome to everyone who passes through the door at one of our support sessions.
Many of our volunteers have hearing loss themselves or in their family, and volunteering with us is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills and experience, try something new and help people in your community.
What are you waiting for? For more information, visit rnid.org.uk/join or contact us on 0808 808 0123.
