About Us

Kirsty has Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss with a 40 percent deficit, while Bronwyn was born with congenital nerve deafness, which means she suffers 80 to 90 percent hearing loss.

They explain it’s important that people who are hearing impaired know what to do in an emergency and also what’s going on when paramedics need to treat them. It’s one reason why they’re learning New Zealand Sign Language.

“Just having the ability to communicate in one of New Zealand's official languages is amazing and opens up opportunities for us to help so many more people in so many different ways,” Kirsty explains.

The first time Kirsty had to use sign language was to help a patient experiencing an immediately life-threatening medical problem last year.

She was the only one on scene who knew sign language and was able to provide the reassurance the patient and their family needed.

“Both the patient and his wife were deaf so the biggest obstacle was communicating what was happening. It was difficult as I am by no means fluent, however the patient’s wife hugged me afterwards and was very thankful she had someone that was able to explain things in what was a really scary and trying time for them,” Kirsty says.

Bronwyn has also used sign language on several jobs and says that even though she only knows a little, it’s always well appreciated.

As part of New Zealand Sign Language Week this year, Kirsty and Bronwyn want to encourage others to learn a few basic words or phrases if they can.

They suggest a good place to start is by learning the alphabet, how to introduce yourself, or simple words such as please and thank you.

One of Kirsty and Bronwyn’s biggest obstacles over the years has been around acceptance.

As Kirsty no longer has hearing aids, some people tend to believe she has no hearing issues.

“I do really struggle with hearing people and heavily rely on watching facial expressions and a bit of lip reading to fill in the blanks - but as long as people speak loud and clear it’s okay.

“Listening to a person’s breathing can also be difficult as the sound is at a frequency where my deficit is. However, technology is amazing now and I have a digital stethoscope that I can change the frequency and volume to allow me to hear what is going on,” Kirsty explains.

Bronwyn says her colleagues are aware that they might have to be her ears in some situations.

“If I can’t hear something well, I ask them to help. At the start, the hardest thing was people didn’t realise that I had to be facing them, or see their lips and facial expressions to understand anything that was being said,” Bronwyn says.

Kirsty and Bronwyn really want others to know that having a hearing impairment doesn’t have to stop you from doing what you love.

“I try not to let this make my role harder as I have always been a person to say ‘anything is possible’,” Bronwyn says.

“Don't let your hearing impairment hold you back from achieving your dreams,” Kirsty adds.

“I remember thinking this was an unachievable goal for me but became inspired to pursue my dreams after reading an article about a deaf paramedic at Wellington Free Ambulance – the paramedic that was my wonderful colleague Bronwyn!”

New Zealand Sign Language Week runs from Monday 21 to Sunday 27 September, and coincides with the United Nations International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September.

If you would like to learn sign language or find out more, please go to http://www.learnnzsl.nz/.