27th June 2012

BRIDPORT: Opportunity for those with busy lives to learn to lipread

A MEMBER of Bridport Deaf Club and a volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss believes it is important to learn lipreading before you or your partner or friends lose your hearing completely.

For the deaf it is essential, but for those starting to lose their hearing and for those closest to them, it is something to seriously consider to help both parties communicate.

As a result Ruth Bizley is looking to expand her current daytime lipreading classes to enable working people to learn in the evenings.

Ruth has had a progressive hearing loss since childhood and has worn hearing aids for most of her life. She therefore knows as well as anybody the problems of losing your hearing.

“You may feel excluded from everyday activities and conversations, and may find it difficult to cope with some situations. You may well also feel frustrated when trying to communicate with people around you.”

Six months ago she was fitted with a cochlear implant which is progressively helping her to hear more, and to understand speech more easily.

Ruth makes the point that it is important not to wait until you lose your hearing or other loved ones do.

“Lipreading classes are for anyone who has lost their hearing, whether it’s a mild loss or a more severe one. They are also open to partners and friends of people with a hearing loss, or those who work with people who have lost their hearing.

“Lipreading, which is based on recognising lip shapes, is an essential life skill for people with hearing loss. Joining a class is an ideal way to meet people in a similar position.”

Ruth trained as a lipreading teacher at the City Lit in London, and qualified in 2011.

She currently runs two hour classes in Bridport, Lyme Regis and Exeter in the daytime, but is aware for the need for evening classes to allow people who are unable to attend during the day.

She is anxious therefore to hear from anyone who would be interested in attending such an evening class.

“Joining a class is an ideal way of meeting people in a similar position, and you will pick up a lot of tips and practical information to help cope with hearing loss.

“The lessons which are informal and friendly, will help you recognise different lip shapes and which words look alike on the lips; you probably won’t realise that lipreading is indeed helping your hearing.”

Classes will cost £40 for ten lessons, and it is hoped to run ‘taster’ lessons at the beginning of September prior to the new term.

Ruth would be happy to offer more information on the classes, and hear from people particularly interested in an evening class, and can be contacted on [email protected]

If contacting her by her mobile 07855 340517 please use text only or you can also call her on 18002 01297 442239.