DEAF people face a tide of ‘unintended but active’ discrimination, it has been claimed.

People who are hearing impaired have spoken of their frustration at what is often a hidden disability, leading people to consider them ‘daft, not deaf’ if they mishear words.

But help is at hand in the form of lip reading classes, designed to help people interact more easily, and also increase confidence.

The classes are run by Elizabeth Messer, a former language teacher who suffered hearing loss herself until she was fitted with a cochlear implant.

Many of the people who attend the lessons have their own stories of being left confused in social situations or while out shopping.

Jane Rowe, 76, attended a talk and was told the venue had a hearing loop.

“We sat two rows back from the front,” she said. “But the speaker did not have a microphone so my husband – who is also hearing impaired – and I could not hear a thing. We didn’t like to put our hands up and make a fuss – it wasn’t the speaker’s fault.”

Joy Piper said she finds cinemas ‘frustrating’.

“There are very few subtitled viewings offered, if any, at Cineworld in Weymouth and they are poorly publicised or at unsociable hours. It is this sort of issue we face – maybe unintended but active discrimination against the hard of hearing.”

For Denise Griffiths, 75, the frustration comes when she mishears something said to her in shops.

“Maybe you respond to something you think they said rather than what they said, but they look at you as if you are daft, not deaf. It’s very hard to tell people you are hearing impaired.”

But all of them say attending classes has helped give them the confidence to challenge attitudes.

Jane wrote to the venue to tell them of her experience and Joy has written to Cineworld hoping to encourage a change in policy.

Elizabeth said being deaf can be ‘an isolating experience’ and hopes her classes, which are attended by people of all ages, provide a social setting as well as important skills.

For some, deafness can come on gradually. For others it can be very sudden, brought on by a virus.

“Often the hardest part if admitting you have a problem,” said Elizabeth. “People will blame it on TV presenters not enunciating as much as they used to, or on music being too loud in shops and restaurants. Coming through the door is the first step. We are not a hospital or a school, we are a friendly place, and if you are sitting there worrying about your hearing, the best thing really is to do something about it.”

The classes are run on a not-for-profit basis and take place at 12.30pm every Monday at the Frank Reynolds community centre in Broadwey.

Anyone who would like more information can call Elizabeth on 07786024179 or email elizabeth.ian.messer@gmail.com

Film choices

The Dorset Echo looked at films available with subtitled screenings at Cineworld Weymouth. Of the top five films being shown in UK cinemas currently as ranked by Box Office earnings - The Girl on the Train, Bridget Jones's Baby, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Deepwater Horizon and The Magnificent Seven - just one option was being shown at Cineworld Weymouth with subtitles. There was just one time and date available for Deepwater Horizons at the time of checking, and the film can only be viewed in 2D if viewers also want subtitles.

A spokesman for Cineworld said: “We work hard to meet the needs of all our customers, which includes providing films and services for people with hearing impairments. We show a range of films with subtitles which are advertised on our website and we provide services to improve the experience of customers with hearing impairments, including the availability of infrared headsets in all our cinemas and Type Talk calls on our telephone booking service.

“We welcome customer feedback and take this on board. We will also continue to work closely with the CEA (Cinemas Exhibitors Association) to ensure that we offer the best possible cinema experience to customers with hearing impairments.”