Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri has spoken out about the challenges of living in a world designed for hearing people, describing it as feeling like being trapped in an invisible box. Her comments come as new research from the hearing loss charity RNID reveals that nearly a quarter of the public would avoid interacting with a deaf person if they anticipated difficulty in communication.
Alarming Statistics on Avoidance
The survey, conducted to coincide with Deaf Awareness Week (4-10 May), found that 23 per cent of respondents would shy away from conversing with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss if they expected communication challenges. Furthermore, 32 per cent admitted to worrying about saying or doing the wrong thing when engaging with deaf or hearing-impaired individuals. More than two in five (43 per cent) expressed concern about appearing patronising during such interactions.
Despite increased representation of deaf individuals on popular television programmes like Strictly and The Great British Bake Off, these figures highlight persistent societal barriers. The charity supports 18 million people across the UK living with deafness, hearing loss, or tinnitus.
Ghouri's Personal Experience
Ghouri, who was born deaf and participated in the 2024 series of Strictly, is a vocal advocate for RNID's It Does Matter campaign. The initiative provides simple communication tips and videos teaching basic British Sign Language (BSL) phrases. She stated: "Being deaf in a world made for hearing people can feel like being in an invisible box. With a few simple changes, we can include everyone."
She added: "Nobody should struggle doing everyday things like shopping, visiting the doctors or socialising. It's time to smash the invisible barriers and build a society where everyone is included. I was born deaf, so I'm familiar with everyday challenges people with hearing loss face. How you're forced to adapt, just to survive modern life. Things have moved on since I was younger, but this research shows there's still a way to go."
Public Willingness to Learn
Encouragingly, the research also indicated a desire among the public to improve communication. Over two-thirds (69 per cent) of those surveyed believe that knowing how to communicate with deaf people and those with hearing loss is everyone's responsibility. Additionally, 78 per cent expressed willingness to learn simple ways to communicate more effectively.
Crystal Rolfe, RNID's director of health, commented: "This research is a stark reminder that we still live in a society that shuts out deaf people and those with hearing loss. Often this is unintentional, but for deaf people it means everyday activities and interactions can be full of invisible barriers – from visiting the shops to catching public transport. Negative experiences build up over time and have a significant impact, making people feel lonely and isolated, hitting their confidence."
She continued: "But there is hope. The research also confirms what we already know: that people do want to communicate better and recognise the importance of including everyone in the conversation, but may lack the skills and confidence. This Deaf Awareness week is the perfect opportunity to be more deaf-aware. By making small changes to how we communicate, we can break down the everyday communication barriers. Together we can ensure everyone is included and has the opportunity to thrive."
People can sign up for RNID's communication tips, including videos of simple BSL phrases, by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/it-does-matter.
