§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for improving rehabilitation services for hearing-impaired people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe report of a sub-committee of our Advisory Committee on Services for Hearing Impaired People, which was appointed to consider the rehabilitation of adult deaf people, has recommended that a new class of worker—the "hearing therapist"—should be created within the National Health Service. The recommended functions of the post are primarily to assist adult deaf people to improve their communication skills and to act as a co-ordinator of other means of help. The report has been widely circulated and comments on it have been generally favourable. We have now decided, therefore, that health authorities should be given the opportunity to create two or three posts for hearing therapists in each region during the next four years. We are making special funds available to enable health authorities to recruit and train staff for this work.
A health circular is being sent to English health authorities giving details of the arrangements and inviting them to submit proposals for the creation of posts. It is our aim during the development period to attract candidates who have had previous experience of working with hearing-impaired people. The Inner London Education Authority proposes to mount a one-year training course for hearing therapists at the City Literary Institute to commence in September 1978.
The introduction of hearing therapists into the National. Health Service represents a further step forward in achieving, as soon as possible, the Government's goal of a comprehensive service for the deaf and hard of hearing.