Pubs asked to help hard of hearing
Pubs are being encouraged to reach out to deaf or hard of hearing customers as part of Deaf Awareness Week 2010 .
As part of the week, which runs until July 4, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), wants pubs to provide training for staff and put measures in place to help hard of hearing customers, such as induction loops which amplifies speech over background noise.
According to the RNID 71 per cent of members would use a business if it was "deaf aware".
RNID chief executive Jackie Ballard said: RNID's: "Publicans and bar or club managers can make very simple changes to significantly improve the experience of customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and encourage return visits in the future.
"We want Britain's pubs, bars and clubs to ensure staff receive deaf awareness training, provide fully operational induction loops and remove unnecessary barriers, which can affect communication and deter people with a hearing loss."
