Norman Lamb MP

Minister of State for Care and Support

Department of Health

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

London SW1A 2NS

Date: 10^th October 2013

Dear Norman,

I am writing to request a cross-Government review of lip reading provision in the UK, further to the publication of Action on Hearing Loss’s report ‘Not Just Lip Service’. Lip reading is a vital part of rehabilitation for people with hearing loss; the report highlights the enormous benefits of lip reading and yet constituents tell me it is increasingly difficult to access classes.

Approximately 10 million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, which equates to one in six of the population. Many rely on lip reading to communicate, reading lip shapes and facial gestures to capture and understand parts of conversation that cannot be clearly heard and thereby allowing them to maximise communication. Lip reading also helps users of hearing aids overcome the understandable limitations of such devices.

Currently the best way to learn how to lip read is in a class with a qualified teacher, yet classes are not always available to those who need them. In 2010, there were approximately 450 lip reading classes on offer in England and Wales, enough for less than 5,000 people. In 2011, the number of classes had decreased from this already low level by a further 8%, leading to a 10% drop in the number of learners in England. For those who rely on lip reading, this decline in classes represents a restriction on their ability to learn the skills essential for day to day communication.

In addition to learning to lip read, participants in classes tend to find that they acquire other knowledge, such as additional communication tactics (to support lip reading), knowledge of how to influence the communication environment and increased awareness of assistive equipment and services. This enables people who are deaf or hard of hearing to remain socially active and fulfil their potential in the workplace.  

I hope you will share my concerns that up to one in six people are currently being failed as a result of inadequate lip reading provision and that you will support the setting up of a cross-Government review to address key questions and help meet demand.  Please join me and Action on Hearing Loss to ensure lip reading support is on the Department for Health’s agenda and sufficient funding is in place to increase access to services.

Yours sincerely,