Deaf Awareness Week runs from Monday 3 to Sunday 9 May to raise awareness of the issues.
Hear the stories of local deaf people – their highs and lows, living with hearing loss, accessing services and more.
Lucy felt that her life began again when her hearing dog Cazzie came to live with her six years ago.
Lucy said: “My life was very different before I had Cazzie. I didn’t like going outside, I couldn’t hear people behind me, they would become frustrated and sometimes push me. I felt lonely and isolated.
“Now, life is brilliant. I love people coming up to me now and talking to me, I feel like a human being again.”