Breaking the silence

From: Guardian, UK - May 24, 2003

For deaf people, a trained dog not only sounds the alarm but combats feelings of isolation. And often, says Justine Hankins, the helper gets a new lease of life, too

Saturday May 24, 2003
The Guardian

Tim Stanley was at his desk in the office where he works as an accountant when he was tapped on the shoulder by a fireman. Tim is deaf and had not heard the fire alarm. This potentially life-threatening experience prompted him to apply for a hearing dog. He now goes to work with Jimmy, a papillon, who is trained to alert his owner to emergency sounds.

Hearing Dogs For Deaf People is celebrating its 21st birthday this year, and launches the first Hearing Dog Week on June 2. The charity places around 125 dogs a year with people who have severe or profound hearing loss. The dogs are trained to respond to everyday sounds such as alarm clocks, doorbells and cooker timers, as well as smoke and fire alarms.

In the x-ray department at Weston general hospital in Somerset, a sign at reception says, "Hearing dog at work". Also at work is Margaret Tovey, a radiographer and owner of Beamish, a hearing dog trainee. She sometimes works nights, often alone, and there would be serious safety implications if she were unable to hear alarms. But Beamish is more than just a personal alarm system. "Deafness is an invisible disability," says Margaret. "It can be very isolating." A hearing dog helps to overcome that barrier.

June Beech lives in Cardigan with her husband, Steve, and her hearing dog, Valentine. Her hearing began to deteriorate a few years ago and she is now profoundly deaf. She became increasingly withdrawn and reluctant to go out without Steve. Now, with Valentine's help, she regularly goes out independently and even took a computer course at college.

But the experience can mean a new lease of life for the dogs, as well as for the recipients. Because breed or size isn't important, many hearing dogs are selected from rescue centres. Training is reward-based, and dogs are taught to lead their owner to the source of the sound. For emergency sounds, the dogs are trained to lie down in a special "alert signal". Around 50% fail the training, but they are all rehomed as pets. You may have noticed that Guide Dogs Only signs are gradually being replaced by the Registered Assistance Dogs logo.

Guide dogs for the blind are a familiar sight, but the public is less aware of the work of other assistance dog organisations. There are five members of Assistance Dogs UK: Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, Canine Partners For Independence, Dogs For The Disabled, Support Dogs, and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. Anyone with a registered assistance dog from one of these organisations should be given access to places where dogs are not normally allowed.

Although the public generally responds positively to assistance dogs, this isn't always the case. Gareth Foulkes, an education officer for the Disability Rights Commission in north Wales, and the recipient of a hearing dog, Hiro, says, "I have been asked to leave pubs and restaurants when the proprietors have objected to assistance dogs. Another area of frequent difficulty is trying to hire minicabs." The DRC prefers what Foulkes calls the "velvet glove" approach to dealing with these occurrences: advice, education and information. But, if necessary, there is always the "iron fist": businesses and services can be prosecuted under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Anyone over 18 who is severely or profoundly deaf could be eligible for a hearing dog. There is, however, one condition: you have to like dogs. "At the end of the day," says Foulkes, "Hiro's like any other dog that provides affection, loyalty and companionship. We enjoy regular long beach strolls and jaunts in the countryside. We go canoeing together, too. So it's not such a bad thing having a working dog's life."

·Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, 01844 348100; Disability Rights Commission helpline, 08457 622633.

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