Supporting Deaf Communities: How EAR4U Empowers People with Hearing Loss

or millions of people across the UK, deafness is a daily challenge—one that can be isolating, frustrating, and deeply disorienting. Few understand this reality better than Ann Sargent. After losing her hearing in one ear at the age of 33 due to a meningitis-related nerve condition, she found herself struggling in a world that suddenly felt distant and unaccommodating. Now, through her organisation EAR4U, she is ensuring that others don’t have to face the same struggles alone.

Ann with Reporter Naomi discussing her passion for helping others | IMAGE: Kirk Kinsey

Sargent’s journey with hearing loss was unexpected and deeply unsettling. “I remember the moment I realised I was deaf in one ear,” she recalls. “I was speaking to my mother on the phone and could hear nothing when I held it to my right ear. I assumed it was a fault with the handset. But when I switched ears, I heard her perfectly. That was the moment my life changed.”

Initially dismissed by doctors and prescribed rounds of antibiotics and nasal sprays, Sargent was eventually diagnosed with nerve deafness—an irreversible condition. With no guidance on how to adapt, she was left to cope alone, struggling to communicate and maintain her confidence in social situations. Her three young children, unaware of the complexities of her condition, instinctively began speaking louder to get her attention, a habit they still carry today.

Years later, a consultation with a new GP introduced her to the Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), a device that changed her life dramatically. “It’s not a magic cure,” she explains, “but it allows me to hear more clearly, especially in noisy environments. More importantly, it gave me back my confidence.”

Determined to ensure that no one else had to face the same confusion and isolation, Sargent founded EAR4U in 2008. Every Monday, from 10am to 1pm, she hosts informal drop-in coffee sessions in Ruislip Manor, where individuals affected by deafness can seek advice, share experiences, and find a sense of belonging. She also serves as secretary for the BAHA support group at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in London.

“Deafness can be incredibly isolating,” Sargent says. “Imagine being in a room full of friends and still feeling completely alone because you can’t keep up with the conversation. That’s the reality for so many people.”

Her work has already changed lives. One young man named Bob, whose mother discovered EAR4U through a café flyer, recently underwent cochlear implant surgery in both ears. Now, he is preparing for a major milestone: his wedding.

“Stories like Bob’s show that there is hope,” Sargent says. “There are solutions, but people need to know where to find them.”

For those struggling with hearing loss, Sargent encourages taking the first step: acknowledging the issue and visiting a GP for a hearing test. It’s a small action that could lead to a life-changing transformation.

EAR4U stands ready to listen, just as Sargent wishes someone had listened to her all those years ago.