The Hearing Impaired Support Scheme (HISS)

HISS is a registered charity which was set up in 1990. It works within the NHS organisation area of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, which includes all of Bristol and parts of South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It aims to provide advice, guidance and support for the hearing impaired community who have hearing aids supplied by the UHBW Audiology Department

HISS volunteers are trained in many aspects of hearing impairment, including practical management of hearing aids, communication tactics and knowledge of local and national organisations concerned with the hearing impaired.

The Audiology Department refers patients to HISS who would benefit from the support that HISS provides. Generally, these patients are elderly people with mobility problems or people with disabilities that inhibit their means to attend Audiology clinics.

The plastic tubing used in hearing aids deteriorates over time and will require replacing every 6-12 months. Without this essential maintenance, a wearer will find their ability to hear reduces over time to a point where the aid becomes unusable. Wearers who cannot attend regular clinics often suffer isolation due to this simple service being missed. HISS volunteers, most of whom are experienced hearing aid users, visit clients in their homes to carry out routine maintenance and cleaning of their hearing aids.