Speech to Text Reporter Shortlisted for National Award

Story from Bedford Today.

A woman who translates speech for people with hearing difficulties has been nominated for a national award.

Jean Gough, of Fakeswell Lane, Lower Stondon, has been shortlisted for the Communication Professional of the Year category in the Signature Annual Awards.

Mrs Gough, 53, is a speech to text reporter who helps people who have hearing difficulties or people who have lost their hearing at a variety of social and work situations.

They can include weddings, conferences, meetings, and training courses. She uses a stenograph machine to transfer what people are saying into a text format so that somebody who cannot hear what is being said is able to see it instead.

Mrs Gough said: "My job is to basically do the listening for people who can't. I feel very honoured to be shortlisted for this award, but job satisfaction is enough for me on its own this is just icing on the cake.

"I get a real sense of achievement from doing what I do. It is very rewarding to know you have helped somebody participate in a group activity that normally they wouldn't be able to. I am looking forward to finding out if I have won, but I am not expecting to at all."

The awards that are run by national charity Signature, which promotes communication between the deaf and hearing, will be announced at a glittering ceremony in November.

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