How to become a hi.SS Volunteer

We are always on the look out for people who would like to start volunteering with hi.ss. It is an invaluable service for those that use it and a rewarding experience for the volunteers who are able to help those in need.

What we look for in Volunteers

1) People who can empathise with those wearing hearing aids and appreciate the issues and difficulties associated with wearing hearing aids. This can be through wearing hearing aids yourself or by being closely related to someone who is aided eg. parents, spouse, sibling. We want people who have an interest in helping those with hearing aids.

2) Have good mobility. Traditionally we have specified that volunteers should be able to drive, for volunteer convenience.However if you are happy walking or cycling to patients then that is fine, because we always agree with the volunteers the area/s where they are happy to visit. (We will not ask you to go right across Bristol and the surrounding areas to visit patients, typically volunteers visit patients that live locally to them.)

3) Enthusiasm, a friendly patient manner and a willingness to learn a little more about hearing aids.

How Much time will it take?

This can vary, however it is likely to be about a couple of hours a week. It really depends on the patients, sometimes it might be little more, sometimes it might be less.

What Does it involve? What is expected of me?

A volunteer can be asked to visit a patient by an audiologist, the patient themselves, a family member, a carer, a neighbour, a GP or other medical professional.A hi.ss volunteer will visit the Patient in their own home and try to help them resolve any problems they might be having, either through advice, instruction or by doing a basic repair. The role of the volunteer is to help to do the jobs that do not require a trained audiologist. If the volunteer is not able to solve the problem they will contact the audiology department and we will take over.

Typical Volunteer roles include:- helping to fit a new earmould, retubing moulds, checking on a patient's progress and giving advice and instruction as required.

Prior to visiting the patient you would be given a brief summary of why you are visiting the patient and a brief background about the patient's hearing loss and hearing aids.

What Training will I Receive?

You will be given full training and a tool kit with everything that you need in it.

Expenses?

These will be covered by hi.ss.

How Do I apply?/ Get Further Information?

If you give the audiology department a call and request to speak to Jill Field (hi.SS chairman and Chief Audiologist)

Southmead Audiology Department No:- 0117 323 5151

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