Sophie launches RHID's 'Breaking the Sound Barrier' Initiative

HRH The Countess of Wessex, trustee of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, helped launch their new project.  The Breaking the Sound Barrier initiative is a telephone based hearing check for the whole of the United Kingdom.

The campaign also  hopes to help change people's attitudes to hearing loss and hearing aids.  The appeal was also backed by a host of celebrities, including Sir Cliff Richard, historian David Starkey, TV presenter and author Alan Titchmarch, and broadcaster Claire Rayner.

Sophie has been a trustee of the RNID since 2003. According to the RNID's chief executive, Sophie "is very keen to experience the work first hand".   The Royal National Institute for the Deaf scheme aims to help the four million people in the UK who are losing their hearing but doing little or nothing about it.

By ringing 0845 600 5555, callers can undergo a specially developed five-minute hearing test