Guildford Hard of Hearing Support Group
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A Rare Opportunity, Right Here in Guildford
Managing Hearing Loss
Course 2026
Face-to-face. Expert-led. Limited to six sessions a year.
Genuinely face-to-face lipreading tuition is becoming rare. Most “hearing loss support” today is a leaflet, a helpline, or a video call. This is neither. Over six fortnightly sessions, you’ll sit in a room with experienced tutors and other people who understand exactly what you’re going through — learning a skill that can only really be taught in person.
“Becoming increasingly hard of hearing, I have found it very comforting to meet others in the same situation. The lipreading classes are fun and I have received invaluable technical support regarding hearing aids. Thank you.”
— Course participant
Lipreading is one of the hardest communication skills to learn from a screen or a book — it depends on watching a real face, in real light, at real speed, and practising with people who’ll patiently repeat themselves. That’s exactly why this course exists, and why it’s run the old-fashioned way: in a room, together.
Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis, are adjusting to a hearing loss that’s crept up over years, or simply want to communicate with more confidence, this course gives you something increasingly hard to find — sustained, face-to-face teaching from people who understand hearing loss from the inside.
What You’ll Learn
- Real lipreading skills, built session by session — not a quick trick, but a genuine ability you’ll keep for life
- Hands-on guidance on hearing aids and assistive technology, from people who actually use them
- Confidence for the situations that matter most — parties, restaurants, family gatherings, travel
- A clear understanding of your audiogram and what NHS and private support is actually available to you
- The apps and alerting devices that quietly transform daily life
- Practical, expert guidance on staying safe and well with hearing loss
Session Schedule
| Date | 2.00 – 3.00pm | 3.30 – 4.30pm |
|---|---|---|
| 21 September |
Welcome & Orientation Start here, properly. The real difference between hard of hearing, Deaf and deafened, plus an introduction to tinnitus — and what this course will give you over the weeks ahead. |
Lipreading Basics: Consonants Your first real session. The consonant shapes that form the backbone of every word you’ll ever lipread. |
| 5 October |
Lipreading Basics: Vowels 1 The skill starts compounding. Building your visual vocabulary with the trickiest sounds in lipreading. |
Hearing Tests & Audiograms Making sense of your own results — NHS vs private routes (including local Hear Here clinics) and proper hearing aid care. |
| 19 October |
Lipreading Basics: Vowels 2 Halfway through the hardest part. Expanding your range until lipreading starts to feel instinctive. |
Travel with Hearing Loss Practical, tested strategies for travelling confidently — airports, stations, hotels, and what to prepare in advance. |
| 2 November |
Equipment: Phones & Accessories The tech that actually helps. Captioned phones, loops and the accessories genuinely worth your money. |
Social Confidence The session people ask for most. Navigating parties, restaurants and group conversations with real confidence. |
| 16 November |
Fingerspelling & Revision A new tool, plus everything clicking into place. Fingerspelling as a backup, alongside full revision of your lipreading so far. |
Equipment: Alerting Devices & Apps Small devices, big difference. Doorbells, alarms and the smartphone apps worth having. |
| 30 November |
Wellbeing & Health Look after the whole picture. Ear wax care, falls prevention, and the SMS 999 emergency service. |
Lipreading Practice & Celebration You’ll leave this room different. Final practice, course feedback, and recognition of how far you’ve come. |
Fortnightly Mondays, 2.00 – 4.30pm · Refreshments at 3.00pm · Six sessions, five tutors, one room
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this course gave me practical skills I use every single day. The tutors are warm, knowledgeable and genuinely understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.”
— Course participant
Practical Details
When
Six fortnightly Monday sessions
21 September – 30 November 2026
2.00 – 4.30pm (refreshments at 3.00pm)
Where
Meeting Room, United Reformed Church
Portsmouth Road, Guildford GU2 4BS
In person, every session — no Zoom, no dial-in
Your Tutors
Liz Richardson · Lead Tutor
Celia · Jean · Kay · Martyn
Five tutors, six sessions — a level of one-to-one attention rarely available outside private practice
Information & Booking
Guildford Hard of Hearing Support Group · Registered Charity No. 1073489