‘I never realised I had severe hearing loss until this symptom’

Emergency Medical Technician Zoe Cox hadn’t realised she’d spent most of her life relying on lip-reading until the pandemic started. With everyone wearing masks, the symptoms of her hearing loss s uddenly rose to the surface and she was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in 2020. While trying to navigate her life-changing diagnosis alongside her demanding career in the London Ambulance Service , Zoe found a vital support in deaf paramedic Richard Webb Stevens. The two medics shared a heartfelt reunion to mark Deaf Awareness Week 2026. Zoe now wears hearing aids to help with her severe hearing loss and looking back, she recognises some symptoms were already obvious in her school days. She had spent her entire life relying on lip-reading, paired with other visual clues like body language and regularly got in trouble at school. When she was finally diagnosed, Zoe found solace in sports where her lack of hearing didn’t matter much. She excelled in football and then moved onto rugby where she earned her first cap with England Deaf Women’s Rugby Union in 2024. Despite her success on the pitch, she was worried her diagnosis would threaten the job she loved in the ambulance services. But Richard, a paramedic of 27 years, gave her hope and guidance for the future. Richard was born with profound hearing loss and had even been rejected from the British Army for the condition. He went on to become the first deaf paramedic in the UK to work on London's air ambulance and he now serves as a motorcycle paramedic. Zoe told her mentor in their reunion: “You’ve not only been a constant source of reassurance and strength, but also a true role model for the deaf community – showing what’s possible with compassion, dedication, and leadership. “Your understanding, guidance, and encouragement – both professionally and personally – have made a lasting difference, and I’m truly grateful.” She also presented him with an extra special gift; the first rugby shirt she wore playing for England’s Deaf Women’s team. She’s since gone on to win five international caps for the team while also keeping her career close to heart. Richard shared: “I’ve seen Zoe thrive in the ambulance service and in her rugby. I’m hugely proud of her – she’s achieving so much. “She is an incredible ambassador for the deaf community and the ambulance service. And I am overwhelmed by her gift to me – I’m a massive rugby fan so this is perfect.” In 2022, Richard was awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal for distinguished service. The award recognised both his dedication to his patients and the inspiration and support he had provided people in the deaf community to pursue roles in emergency services. When Richard first joined the motorcycle response unit, he discovered the in-helmet earpiece used by the service was incompatible with his hearing aid. He went on to meet with designers, audiologists and hearing aid companies to create a new, compatible design that has now been taken up by police forces, medical and military professionals globally. He has also endeavoured to make 999 more accessible to deaf patients by supporting the launch of a BSL app, allowing people that need the accommodation to be instantly connected to a video call with a BSL interpreter to provide life-saving help.