'Over to you' project

Over to you was a one-year project which looked at the experiences of deaf young people of their audiology service.

This project was completed jointly by NDCS, in partnership with the audiology services based in the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and City & Hackney. From April 2010 to January 2011 we met with 100 deaf young people aged 12 to 18.

Click on the buttons below, or scroll down to find out more.

We asked the young people about their experiences of audiology services. One area we looked at included transition from children's to adult services. Some young people didn’t know what this transition would involve and needed some explanation.

NDCS wants to make sure you and your child are ready for the move from children’s audiology/cochlear implant services to adult services.

If your child is due to make the move soon, why not ask your current audiology service these questions:

• Where is the new service?
• What are the opening times of the service?
• Who are the main contacts?
• How will your child make an appointment?
• Any other questions you have.

For further information about the project, please email projects@ndcs.org.uk

For more information about transition, have a look at the transition area of our website here.

To read our report on the project, click here and download the document at the bottom.

The project was set up to improve deaf young people’s experiences of audiology services. As part of this project we increased the skills, knowledge and understanding of audiology of the deaf young people taking part in the activities.

In the report (click on the link below to download) you will read about what the project did, what was achieved and what lessons can be learnt to help professionals working with deaf young people within audiology. Some of the key messages from the project include:

• Young people in the project were happy with their audiology services
• Young people are happy to share feedback on their service and welcome the opportunities
• Age-appropriate information and targeted support is vital
• More guidance on deaf awareness and talking about issues around being deaf is needed
• Deaf young people want involvement and greater awareness of making the transition from children’s to adult services.

We hope that the key messages and recommendations within the report are used by those wishing to develop their work with deaf young people and/or take forward the inclusion of volunteers within their service.

For questions about the project, please email projects@ndcs.org.uk

We ran a number of exciting events as part of this project and spoke to lots of young people who had different levels of deafness from mild to profound with some using hearing aids or cochlear implants and some with both.

We would like to thank all the young people who took part in the project and wanted to share with you some of what young people told us about what audiology meant to them:

"To do with deafness and hearing aids"

"Where they mend my ears"

"New moulds for my hearing aids"

All these responses are right! Why not have a think about what you think audiology means to you and write it down. If you are not sure, ask your audiologist when you next see them.

Top tips were given from other deaf young people:

• Be yourself, don’t be worried and do everything you want to do
• Don’t be put down – be proud of who you are
• You are more capable than people think

For more information, you can download this booklet below and also have a look at www.buzz.org.uk for more information about deafness.