Services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

The Sensory Unit is based at Whitefield Library & Adult Learning Centre and provides advice, information & leisure activities, plus many additional resources for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted, and to their families and professionals working to assist them. The unit is staffed by the Sensory Impairment Officer and the Sensory Impairment Library Assistant both of whom have British Sign Language (BSL) skills and who are able to offer a range of other communication methods.

Staff at the Sensory Unit are able to provide

• Basic computer training
• Offer information on other services to assist Deaf, hard of hearing people and their families
• Provide an extensive collection of books on all aspects of deafness (including : Deaf Culture; sign language; medical topics; education; welfare; English skills, biography and a children's collection)
• Computers for Internet access and word processing
• Scanner
• Web cam
• Textphone
• Induction loop
• Journals and leaflets
• British Sign Language DVDs & videos

Equipment - 'try before you buy'

There's an extensive Resource Collection. This includes many aids to everyday living for both deaf and hard of hearing people including: loop systems; telephone amplifiers; domestic equipment such as alarm clocks with flashing light and vibrating pad; person to person transmitter; Bluetooth neck-loops and text-phones. All equipment is available for people to borrow to try in their own homes.

Batteries for NHS hearing aids

Working in partnership with the Audiology Unit Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, we are able to provide free batteries for NHS hearing aids to residents in the borough of Bury. Bring along your battery book and old batteries to the Sensory Unit at Whitefield Library and Adult Learning Centre, Bury Library, Unsworth Library or to Moorside Community Library and we will exchange them for new ones.

Telephones with amplification

The Sensory Unit accommodates 6 telephones from Action on Hearing Loss and a British Telecom (BT) 'Try Before You Buy' centre with 5 BT telephones. We hold 1 to 1 demonstrations in the Sensory Unit at Whitefield Library & Adult Learning Centre and at the Audiology Unit Fairfield Hospital. If you would like a demonstration please make an appointment by contacting the Sensory Unit at Whitefield Library & Adult Learning Centre.

Other services

New monthly drop-in sessions for people who are hard of hearing

If you have any questions about hearing loss, equipment and services available in the local area, need signposting, want to know how to use the 'T' setting on your hearing aid or want to know what to do next, then come along for an informal chat with one of the professionals at any of the following events between 2.00pm - 4.30pm:

Roadshows at;

• Ramsbottom Library & Adult Learning Centre - Monday 7 January 2013 - first steps to getting a hearing aid
• Bury Library - Monday 4 February 2013 - Tinnitus
• Whitefield Library & Adult Learning Centre - Monday 4 March 2013 - Telephones with amplification

Drop in events for those who are hard of hearing every first Monday in the month Green Room, Adult Care Connect & Direct Textile Hall (next to Bury Library) Manchester Road, Bury BL9 0DG between 2.00pm - 4.30pm starting:

• Monday 3 June 2013 - Is your television turned up too loud
• Monday 1 July 2013 - NHS Hearing Aid Maintenance
• Monday 5 August 2013 - Equipment to help with hearing loss
• Monday 2 September 2013 - Tinnitus
• Monday 7 October 2013 - Telephones with amplification
• Monday 4 November 2013 - Communication tactics
• Monday 2 December 2013 - Equipment to help with hearing loss
• January 2014 - NHS hearing aid maintenance
• Februray 2014 - Tinnitus

For further information please telephone the Sensory Unit on 0161-253-7512 or the Audiology Unit on 0161-778-3670.

Follow the PIPs group on Twitter for events and information.

Online hearing check

You can check your hearing online, at the Action on Hearing Loss web page or if you prefer you can ring Action on Hearing Loss Hearing Check number on 0844-800-3838. Please also see our Internet sites for people with hearing problems web page for more useful links.

BSL Healthy Minds

"Improving the wellbeing of Deaf people through Healthy Minds".

BSL Health Minds is a free service for Deaf people who are feeling stressed, low in mood (depression), very nervous (anxiety), sleep problems or panicky.

For an appointment with BSL Healthy Minds, please contact your GP or you can contact BSL Health Minds directly by email info@bslhealthyminds.org.uk or SMS 07966-976747.

BSL Healthy Minds a therapy service in BSL for Deaf people, funded by NHS North West.

Sensory Unit opening times

• Monday 9.30am to 1.00pm, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
• Tuesday 9.30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5.30pm
• Wednesday Closed
• Thursday 9.30pm to 1.00pm and 1.00pm to 2.30pm (Telephone demonstrations. Please ring to make an appointment)
• Friday 9.30am to 1.00pm, 2.00pm to 5.30pm
• Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm

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