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Deaf services

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Deaf services promote safety, independence, inclusion and as good a quality of life as possible for people in Highland who are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafened or deafblind.

We work in close liaison with clients, families and partner agencies across the Highland HSCP area, including audiology, Technology Enabled Care (TEC), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and housing associations (for environmental equipment fittings).

Important: Contacts

Main office location

4 Fodderty Way
Dingwall Business Park
Dingwall
IV15 9XB

How to access our services

You can access our services by self-referring (contact our office using details above) or you can be referred by another service or person who will contact us on your behalf.

About the service

Deaf services works to support people who have a hearing loss across Highland. We also work with those with a dual sensory loss. We ensure that there is appropriate guidance and support to families, unpaid carers, and colleagues in partner agencies.

We provide a reablement service for those with any kind of hearing loss, including specialist environmental assessments, and provision of and guidance with:

  • environmental aids
  • Deaf awareness
  • communication tactics
  • practical support
  • emotional support
  • providing carer advice, guidance and support
  • liaising with integrated community colleagues, partner agencies and specialist audiology services

The Deaf service team's range of services includes:

  • assessments for environmental aids and equipment, which can help with hearing alarms (such as a fire alarm), the doorbell, the TV and conversations
  • British Sign Language (BSL) tuition for families who have a child with hearing loss, and NHS Highland staff
  • drop-in service in various locations throughout Highland 
  • training for individuals, services and groups in:
    • Deaf Awareness
    • Sight Loss Awareness
    • Deafblind Awareness
    • accredited BSL courses
    • other bespoke training courses and materials involving hearing and sight loss
    • a link worker service to local care homes, to promote and support good practice in sensory care, and support and guide care staff with the maintenance and care of hearing aids (including batteries and tubing), including the development of communication care plans

Drop-in centres

Clients can drop in at these places with no appointment needed, for:

  • hearing aid batteries (alternatively available at audiology drop-in centres)
  • tubing
  • other NHS hearing aid maintenance 
  • demonstrations
  • help, support and advice - guidance to those with a hearing loss, including referrals to other services
  • trialling of environmental equipment

Aviemore

The Glen Centre (Aviemore)

The last Tuesday of every month - 10am to 1pm

Brora

Brora Village Hub
Muirfield Road
Brora
KW9 6QY

location on Google Maps

The third Friday of every 2 months (January, March, May, July, September and November) - 10am to 12pm

Dingwall

New location from Tuesday 15 July 2025:

Outpatients Department
Ross Memorial Hospital (Dingwall)

The third Tuesday of every month - 10am to 1pm

Dornie

Airdferry Resource Centre
12 Aitemore Road
Dornie
by Kyle
IV40 8FD

location on Google Maps

The third Wednesday of every month - 11am to 2pm

Fort Augustus

Telford Centre (Fort Augustus)

The third Thursday of every month - 11am to 2pm

Grantown on Spey

This drop-in is for a trial period of 3 months.

Grantown-on-Spey Medical Practice

The second-last Friday, every 2nd month - 11am to 1pm:

  • Friday 22 August 2025
  • Friday 24 October
  • Friday 19 December

Invergordon

County Community Hospital (Invergordon)

The third Monday of every month - 10am to 12pm

Inverness

Mackenzie Centre (Inverness)

  • Every Monday and Friday - 10am to 12pm
  • Every Wednesday - 2pm to 4pm

NHS Vaccination Centre
Eastgate Shopping Centre
Inverness
IV2 3PP

location on Google Maps

  • Every Tuesday - 10am to 12pm
  • Every Thursday - 2pm to 4pm

Kingussie

The Wade Centre (Kingussie)

The first Tuesday of every month - 11am to 2pm

Nairn

Nairn Town and County Hospital

The first Thursday of every month - 10am to 1pm

Portree

Tigh Na Drochaid Centre
Bayfield
Portree
Isle of Skye
IV51 9EW

location on Google Maps

The first Thursday of every month - 12pm to 3pm (finishes 2pm between October and March)

Tain

Tain Health Centre

The second Thursday of every month - 10am to 1pm

Ullapool

The MacPhail Centre
5 Mill Street
Ullapool
IV26 2UN

location on Google Maps

Every second Tuesday of every 2 months (February, April, June, August, October, December) - 10am to 1pm

Important: Information in British Sign Language (BSL)

See a list of all British Sign Language (BSL) video content on this website, and on other websites including NHS inform:

British Sign Language (BSL) information

Useful links

Last updated: 30 June 2025

Next review date: 14 July 2025