Community engagement – Hearing and brain health.
Hearing loss is one of the highest risk factors for dementia. In older adults, hearing loss is also associated with loneliness and increased social isolation. Many people with hearing loss will face barriers when accessing information, community groups and services as often the content and built space is not suitable for them. Increased public awareness of hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia, and the benefits of treatments including hearing aids or cochlear implants, can help people stay connected and protect their health and wellbeing.
We have been aiming to raise awareness of the links between hearing and brain health through community engagement.
This project was funded by the Public Engagement with Research Unit (PERu) at University of Southampton.
Project lead: Kate Hough
What we did
- Building connections and trust with local community groups.
Approach:
– Reach groups through existing networks.
– Connect with a diverse range of community groups.
– Be open and friendly.
– Get involved with the group’s activities. There were quizzes, games, bingo and even singing!
2. Co-design activities
Activities were co-designed with community group leads and members of our PPIE group.
Outcomes:
•Information session and a quiz
•Arts and craft to express yourself
•Design a room suitable for people with hearing impairments.
3. Running the activities
Some of the activities..
•Clay Modelling Arts and Craft Activity at the Hard of Hearing club. Members of the group were asked to make something with the clay that represented their experience of deafness and brain health.
Interactive, information workshop. Members shared what they knew about hearing and brain health, what they would like to know and their personal experiences.
What went well?
Built new partnerships with community groups.
Bridge the gap between the university and the community – We produced two short movies showing members of both the hard of hearing group and our PPIE group sharing their experience of deafness. Check them out here.
Raised awareness of hearing and brain health by sparking conversations with older members of our local community.
What’s next?
We now want to extend our reach to less well served communities in Southampton.
We are looking to connect with local groups and communities in and around Southampton. We aim to raise awareness of hearing and brain health and dementia. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved via email K.L.hough@soton.ac.uk.
Engaging with our local community
On Thursday 19th October 2023, Kate had a great conversation with Greg Dickson live on air on Fiesta FM all about hearing. The conversation was later played as part of the Community Hour on Awaaz FM. Click on the link below to listen to the interview.
Great to visit the Eastleigh Nepalese Gurka Association (ENGA) Elders Group in October 2023. They were such a welcoming group. Click here to watch the video recording of the session with chair of the group, Kamal Purja, translating.
In November 2023, Kate had a video interview with Dr Kellyn Lee, founder of the Dementia Care Hub. Kate discusses hearing loss, particularly in the context of dementia.
In February 2024, Kate talked, alongside Duncan Salkeld from Alzheimer’s Society, at a coffee morning organised by Unpaid Carers Support Southampton.
Kate has been getting to know members of the Vedic Society Temple to continue to raise awareness around hearing and brain health.
In March 2024, Kate ran at session for around 50 people at for a group called Connect (55+) to encourage conversations and raise awareness of hearing and brain health.
