Whether you suffer hearing loss yourself, or have a family member, friend or colleague who does – you’re welcome at two monthly support group coffee mornings, in Katikati and Pāpāmoa.

Hearing Support Bay of Plenty’s free support group in Pāpāmoa this year has a new venue – the Mobility Centre, 520 Gloucester Rd – on the last Wednesday of the month, from 10.30am.

The Katikati support group meets the second Thursday of each month from 10.30am, at the Red Cross building on Middlebrook Drive.

Tauranga Hearing support BOP manager Helen Rodgers says the get-togethers are for anyone in the community.

“The mornings are not just for those with hearing loss – it can be for those around them.

“The idea is people can gain tips or strategies in managing hearing loss, or understanding hearing loss for those in their lives who suffer from it.

“Topics talked about include hearing aid care, strategies for better communication, sharing stories, and information about services people can access.”

Helen says for those new to hearing loss – the support groups show there’s a community out there with the same questions, experiences and challenges as them.

“We often find people are fitted with hearing aids but feel they’re on their own after that.

“They discover aids aren’t always the silver bullet – so then they learn how to maximise the devices to assist their hearing in everyday life, manage the environment around them and live with hearing loss.

“So the mornings offer support for all of these situations and stages that people are going through. 

"And when people get together, they feel like they’re no longer on their own in their journey.

“We’ve had people say: ‘Oh, great someone has the same story as me’ about something that happened to them when they couldn’t hear, and they feel relieved.

"So come join us for a cuppa and a friendly chat.”