Living well with hearing or sight loss
Last reviewed: June 2026
Many of us find our hearing or eyesight is not quite what it was as we get older. It can be frustrating, and at times isolating. But losing some hearing or sight does not have to mean losing your independence, or the things you enjoy. With the right check-ups, equipment and support, most people carry on living full and active lives, and there is a great deal of help, much of it free, both here in Derbyshire and nationally. Here is where to start.
Looking after your hearing
If you are finding it harder to follow conversations, or you have the television turned up louder than you used to, do get your hearing tested. It is free on the NHS. You can ask your GP to refer you, and some high-street hearing centres offer free NHS hearing tests directly.
If you need them, NHS hearing aids are free, and so are the batteries and any repairs. Modern aids are small and discreet, and they can make a world of difference to everyday life. And if you have ringing or buzzing in your ears, known as tinnitus, there is help and support for that too, so do mention it.
Looking after your eyesight
Regular eye tests matter, because they pick up conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration early, when they are most treatable. If you are 60 or over, your NHS sight test is free, and we have a separate guide on help with NHS health costs.
If an eye specialist finds that you have significant sight loss, they can certify you as sight impaired or severely sight impaired. Registering with the council, which is voluntary and confidential, can open up a range of help, including a half-price TV Licence, help with your Council Tax, a tax allowance, and an automatic Blue Badge if you are severely sight impaired.
Help close to home
Derbyshire has a specialist Deaf and Sensory Team within the council, with workers who can assess your needs and arrange support and equipment, whether you have hearing loss, sight loss, or both. You can reach them through Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.
For sight loss in particular, Sight Support Derbyshire is the county's main charity for people with a visual impairment. They offer a helpline, rehabilitation and mobility training, home visits, equipment you can try out, including a mobile resource centre that tours the county, low vision assessments, and social activities. They also have staff at the eye clinics at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and at Royal Derby, to support people who are attending appointments there.
Equipment and aids that help
There is a huge range of gadgets that make daily life easier. For hearing loss, that might be an amplified or big-button phone, a flashing or vibrating doorbell, a listening aid for the television, or a smoke alarm with a flashing light or a vibrating pad. For sight loss, there are magnifiers, talking clocks and watches, liquid level indicators for pouring safely, good task lighting, large-print and high-contrast items, and talking books and audio newspapers.
The council's sensory team and Sight Support Derbyshire can show you what is available and help you find what suits you. And everyday technology like a smartphone, a tablet, or a voice assistant such as Alexa can be a real help too.
Help with the costs
Sensory loss can bring extra costs, and there is financial help to meet them. Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, can help if your hearing or sight loss means you need help or someone to keep an eye on you day to day. Being registered as sight impaired can also bring useful concessions and a Blind Person's tax allowance. It is well worth a free benefits check, and we have separate guides on Attendance Allowance, the Blue Badge and getting a benefits check.
Staying connected
Losing some hearing or sight can make people withdraw a little, often at the very time when keeping in touch matters most. Please try not to let it. Local groups, including those run by Sight Support Derbyshire, are a friendly way to meet others who understand exactly what you are going through. If some regular, friendly contact would help, that is something we at BrightLife are here for, through our befriending service. And there is emotional support out there too, including counselling, if adjusting to sight loss feels hard at first.
Where to get help, locally and nationally
Close to home, across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire:
- Call Derbyshire, on 01629 533190, for the council's Deaf and Sensory Team.
- Sight Support Derbyshire, for sight loss support, equipment and activities.
- Your GP, optician and the NHS audiology service, for checks and hearing aids.
Across the country:
- RNIB, on its free Helpline 0303 123 9999, for advice and support with sight loss.
- RNID, for advice on hearing loss and tinnitus, at rnid.org.uk, or call or text 07360 268988.
- Citizens Advice, for a free benefits check. For Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, call 0808 250 5702, and for the Chesterfield Borough area, find your local office at citizensadvice.org.uk.
- Independent Age, on 0800 319 6789, for free advice and factsheets.