Hearing health

Hearing health for people with learning disabilities and autistic people

The Audiology, Learning Disability and Autism Project: ALDAP.

Project background

Hearing problems are common for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Having a hearing loss affects communication skills, quality of life, mood, relationships, education, and work.

It is vital that autistic people and people with learning disabilities have access to hearing services (audiology) to improve their hearing outcomes.

We want to find out how to improve the accessibility and quality of hearing care.

We want to talk to people about their experiences of accessing hearing services. We will hold interviews and focus groups with:

autistic people
people with learning disabilities
family members and carers
audiology professionals (to understand the challenges they face in providing these services).

Get involved

Meet the team

We will also:

Evaluate the resources, methods and technologies used by audiologists when working with autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Develop a library of resources for audiologists, autistic people, and people with learning disabilities.

Get involved

Have you used or tried to use hearing services? We are looking for people who have to take part in our project through online interviews and focus groups.

Choose the group that best describes you to find out how to take part:

Meet the team

Each part of the project is led by a different person.

Meet the researchers working on the different parts of the project.

Siobhan Brennan

Hi, my name is Siobhan.

I work at the University of Manchester, as a lecturer and at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals as a Clinical Scientist in Audiology. I work mostly with adults with learning disabilities and adults with dementia and I also do hearing tests for newborn babies.

I am working on the part of the project speaking to hearing professionals.

If you would like to ask me any questions about this project, you can send me an email: siobhan.brennan@manchester.ac.uk.

Shanice Thomas

Hi, my name is Shanice.

I am a researcher at the University of Manchester. Before this, I worked on a project into new roles in learning disability and autism healthcare services. I also researched and volunteered with people facing food poverty.

I enjoy playing tennis, and I love animals.

I am working on the part of the project speaking to autistic adults and children, their parents and guardians.

If you would like to ask any questions about the project, you can send me an email: shanice.thomas@manchester.ac.uk

Marianne Day

Hi, my name is Marianne.

I work at the University of Manchester, as a researcher. Before that I was a teacher. I taught children and adults with learning disabilities. I enjoy walking, singing, swimming, and reading.

I am working on the part of the project speaking to people with learning disabilities, and carers or family members of people with learning disabilities.

If you would like to ask me any questions about my research, you can send me an email: marianne.day@manchester.ac.uk.