A NEW support group for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in the Tavistock area is to be launched at a special meeting in the town this month. Hear Me Now hopes to educate and provide social opportunities for those affected by deafness, their families, partners or carers in Tavistock and the surrounding area. June Wildman, chairman of the new group, said the setting up of Hear me Now had been sparked by personal experience. ?I actually became deaf overnight with a virus infection a couple of years back ? I am now completely deaf in one ear and I have about 40% hearing in the other ear,? said June, who following her diagnosis met up with a friend who was also deaf. ?We were talking about the fact that both of us had had problems finding out anything about facilities for the deaf in Tavistock ? we decided we should do something about it.? June said so far they have been in contact with about 25 people in the Tavistock area who suffer from loss of hearing. They have formed a small committee to guide the new group, which will work with the RNID, Devon Social Services and the Living Options organisation. They hope Hear Me Now will provide a forum whereby people with similar problems can share their experiences and support each other. ?Deaf people can feel very isolated and if you live by yourself it can be extremely isolating,? said June. ?We hope everyone will exchange views, support each other and inform each other of what?s available that can help.? The group will hold its first public meeting on Thursday January 26 at the Anchorage Centre in Plymouth Road, between 10am and noon. Nicola Way from the RNID will speak at the meeting and there will be opportunities to socialise. All people affected by deafness in the area are very welcome to attend this meeting and further meetings, which are planned for the fourth Thursday of every month at the Anchorage Centre. For further information, call June Wildman on 01822 617726 or e-mail j.p.wildman@ ntlworld.com or the vice-chairman, Janet Dashper, on 01822 614957.
