"It's like having a little friend around who doesn't judge me."

"Ezra has transformed my quality of life. He brings a sense of comfort, structure and routine every single day." Shares Liz who was partnered with sound support dog Ezra.

She shares her story in her own words:

I’ve been told my hearing loss may have been the result of scarring from birth. Looking back, I realise just how much I relied on lipreading to get by.

I was at school in the 1950s, when education was much more formal. I always sat at the front, where I could see the teacher clearly. Without realising it, I learned to lipread and to concentrate incredibly hard.

The first time I became truly aware of my hearing loss was when I went to drama school at the age of 18. During rehearsals, I discovered I could never hear the prompt when I forgot a line.

After having my children, I worked for 11 years as a drama teacher. Working with small groups meant I could usually see everyone’s faces, and that made all the difference.

My hearing only really became an issue though when I became Deputy Head at an Education Support Centre. The role involved meetings with social workers and other professionals to discuss pupils who had been excluded, or were at risk of exclusion. We sat in a circle, voices came from all directions and people often spoke over one another. That’s when I finally went for a hearing test – when I was told I’d ‘failed’.

By the time I got my first hearing aids, I was in my thirties and had already become aware, particularly at work, that some people thought I was ignoring them, when in reality I simply hadn’t heard them.

As my hearing deteriorated, I gradually stopped doing the things I loved. I stopped going to the theatre, which was especially sad considering my background in drama, because I just couldn’t hear well enough to enjoy a performance.

Social situations became increasingly difficult. I joined a book club, but left soon afterwards. If I went for coffee with friends after my exercise class, several conversations would happen at once. I’d feel left out and isolated and, in the end, would simply drink my coffee and leave. Eventually, I started avoiding those situations altogether.

At home, if my husband Nick was out, I made sure the front door was locked because I knew I wouldn’t hear if anyone came in. When my son arrived, he would let himself in, and the first I knew was when he suddenly appeared in the lounge, giving me quite a fright.

Even walking on my own became harder. I couldn’t hear people, particularly cyclists, coming up behind me, and I avoided the woods near our house because I felt too vulnerable.

We’d known about Hearing Dogs for many years, so after we lost our pet dog, Alfie, I applied for one of the charity’s companion dogs. When I was told I met the criteria for a sound support dog, who would alert me to sounds in the home, I cried. It felt as though someone was finally acknowledging that my hearing loss was significant, exhausting - and real.

From the moment Ezra arrived, he began changing my life. If the cooker timer goes off, he comes to find me, nudges me with his nose, then leads me to the kitchen. Before Ezra, I had to stay there while I was cooking. Now I can get on with other things, knowing he'll come and get me.

Shortly after he came to live with us, he started alerting me when the washing machine and tumble dryer finished – something he wasn't trained to do. I was amazed, and he's done it ever since.

Ezra has also restored my sense of safety. If Nick isn't at home and I happen to nod off, I know he'd alert me if the smoke alarm went off or someone knocked at the door. I no longer feel anxious about being on my own.

He does have a cheeky side. Breakfast must arrive shortly after he wakes up and by three o'clock he's already wondering where his dinner is.