**Deafness, Discrimination, and the Transformative Bond of a Hearing Dog: Alison’s Story**
Alison Wallace’s life dramatically changed one morning when, at just 13 years of age, she awoke to silence. Previously able to hear, Alison discovered she had become profoundly deaf overnight—a devastating and bewildering shift that would shape the course of her teenage years. For Alison, currently 28 and living in Flintshire, this was the beginning of a six-year odyssey in which her hearing would unpredictably return and vanish, leaving her in a state of continual uncertainty. By 2020, her hearing was lost completely and permanently.
Doctors later diagnosed Alison with a rare autoimmune disorder affecting her inner ear, setting her apart from the vast majority of those who experience hearing loss. The psychological impact of losing her hearing during the turbulent period of adolescence weighed heavily upon her. She recalls her confidence evaporating as nightmares became a nightly occurrence and her circle of friends gradually dwindled. Alison describes feeling like a mere “shadow” of her former self.
The outside world, unfortunately, was not always sympathetic. Alison recounted a particularly distressing incident shortly after starting her first job in 2018. Communicating in British Sign Language (BSL) with her support worker in public, Alison became the target of ridicule from a group of youths. One young man mocked her signing before spitting on her—a demeaning affront that left Alison shaken and feeling “dehumanised”. She said while hostility towards deafness was not entirely new to her, such blatant disrespect was especially jarring.
Amid these challenges, Alison’s life was transformed when she discovered Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a UK charity dedicated to supporting people living with profound deafness. In April 2019, Alison was matched with Damson, a specially trained hearing dog. Damson not only alerts Alison to important sounds such as the doorbell, smoke alarm, or alarm clock but also offers a deep well of emotional support that has proven, in Alison’s words, “indescribable.”
With Damson by her side, Alison has found the courage to pursue greater independence. “When I learned I’d been paired with Damson, it was the first true sense of peace I’d felt for years,” Alison shared. Her new companion has given her the confidence to pass her driving test, move in with her partner Maciej Filipiak (whom she met during a dog walk), and secure ongoing employment as a youth development lead for the King’s Trust Achieve programme. The couple are now expecting their first child.
Alison’s journey through deafness was marked by isolation and uncertainty. She explains how, during her teenage years, she struggled to sleep in silence, often relying on background noise like the television to ward off fear. Social isolation deepened as friends drifted away, unable or unwilling to adapt to her new reality. “I lost almost all my friends overnight. Many were uncomfortable with the change, and others didn’t have the patience for communication challenges,” she said. Alison became ever more reliant on her parents for support, at a time when most teenagers seek increased independence.
Education also presented hurdles. On her first day at sixth-form college, Alison says she was bluntly told that “no deaf person goes to university,” and that such a path was not feasible for her. However, thanks to the intervention of a supportive tutor, she pursued a degree in sign language and deaf studies at the University of Central Lancashire—demonstrating her determination to defy expectations and carve her own path.
Today, with Damson’s help, Alison feels empowered to engage with the world more fully. She can sleep soundly, trusting that her hearing dog will alert her to any danger, and she approaches each day with a renewed sense of possibility. Although she continues to navigate challenging days, Alison acknowledges the profound impact Damson has had: “On my worst days, Damson never leaves my side. She makes me believe I can tackle anything—I can’t imagine life without her.”
Alison’s story is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those with profound hearing loss and the resilience required to overcome discrimination and loneliness. It also highlights the invaluable role support dogs can play in enabling people to live fuller, more independent lives. Through personal resilience and the steadfast companionship of a loyal hearing dog, Alison has transformed adversity into hope and opportunity.