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Hearing Dogs For Deaf People

This is the only charity in the UK dedicated to training dogs, mainly from rescue centres and similar, to alert severely or profoundly deaf people to everyday household sounds such as the doorbell or telephone and to danger signals like a smoke alarm.

Hearing dogs respond to household sounds by touching their deaf owner with a paw and then leading them back to the sound source. For danger signals, the dogs touch their owner in the same way, but then lie down on the floor in a special position to indicate danger.

Hearing dogs can make an enormous difference to the lives of their deaf recipients by offering greater independence, confidence and security, as well as valuable companionship.

All fully trained hearing dogs are easily recognisable by the distinctive burgundy jackets they wear when out and about working - which also helps to identify the deaf person's otherwise 'invisible' disability.

Visitors are welcome at Hearing Dogs' training centre in Buckinghamshire, by appointment, on Thursday afternoons.

Registered charity number 293358