Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia1 Self Help For the Hard of Hearing People...

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia 1

Self Help For the Hard of Hearing People

This presentation may be freely used by any SHHH Chapters. It’s available for download from www.nchearingloss.org/programs.htm


Did you know: There are 28 million Americans with a There are 28 million Americans with a

hearing losshearing loss The largest disability and growingThe largest disability and growing 1/3 over age 65 have a hearing loss1/3 over age 65 have a hearing loss ““Invisible” disabilityInvisible” disability You are You are NOTNOT alone with your hearing loss alone with your hearing loss There are many, many ways to improve a There are many, many ways to improve a

hearing losshearing loss


Do I have a hearing loss? Do I:Do I:

turn the television volume louder than others?turn the television volume louder than others? Misunderstand 50 for 15 or 60 for 16?Misunderstand 50 for 15 or 60 for 16? Have trouble understanding people speaking to Have trouble understanding people speaking to

me from another room?me from another room? Miss the punch line of jokes?Miss the punch line of jokes? Seem to hear words but do not understand them?Seem to hear words but do not understand them? Have a history of ear infections, earaches, or Have a history of ear infections, earaches, or

ringing ears?ringing ears?


Test yourself Do you suffer from:Do you suffer from:

Feeling of inadequacies?Feeling of inadequacies? Down in the dumps?Down in the dumps? Isolation?Isolation? Loneliness?Loneliness? Denial?Denial?


Am I:Am I: Accused of not paying attention?Accused of not paying attention?

Can I:Can I: Hear better with one ear than the other on the Hear better with one ear than the other on the

phone?phone? Have I:Have I:

Stopped attending plays and lectures because of Stopped attending plays and lectures because of the strain exerted to hear what is being said?the strain exerted to hear what is being said?

Test yourself (cont.)


How can a hearing loss be improved?

EducationEducation MedicalMedical Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology PsychologicalPsychological SpiritualSpiritual PreventivePreventive ResearchResearch


Education

Learn all you can about hearing lossLearn all you can about hearing loss Listen carefully todayListen carefully today Ask the Senior Citizens Council for Ask the Senior Citizens Council for

information on hearing lossinformation on hearing loss Read all you can about hearing lossRead all you can about hearing loss Ask QuestionsAsk Questions


Medical Find a compassionate, caring hearing health Find a compassionate, caring hearing health

professionalprofessional Get a medical examGet a medical exam Have a hearing test by a certified audiologistHave a hearing test by a certified audiologist Understand your audiogramUnderstand your audiogram Follow recommendations for a hearing aidFollow recommendations for a hearing aid Be familiar with Be familiar with Menière's disease, Tinnitus, Menière's disease, Tinnitus,

ototoxicity and other medical terms.ototoxicity and other medical terms. Good competent medical advice is a mustGood competent medical advice is a must


Assistive Technology What is it?What is it?

Hearing AidsHearing Aids TelecoilTelecoil Personal AmplifiersPersonal Amplifiers FM/Infrared systems put the sound in the earFM/Infrared systems put the sound in the ear Closed CaptioningClosed Captioning ComputersComputers

A little help goes a long way!A little help goes a long way!


Telecoil

A switch that changes a microphone to an A switch that changes a microphone to an electromagnetic inductionelectromagnetic induction

Allows you to use the telephone without Allows you to use the telephone without feedback/squealfeedback/squeal

Connects your hearing aid with other things.Connects your hearing aid with other things. Reduces noiseReduces noise Compensates for distance and poor acousticsCompensates for distance and poor acoustics


Three types of Hearing Assistive Technology

Telecommunications equipment and Telecommunications equipment and peripheralsperipherals

Alerting devicesAlerting devices

Assistive listening devicesAssistive listening devices


Telephones AmplificationAmplification Loud ringerLoud ringer Clear soundClear sound Try them out with an understanding that you can return Try them out with an understanding that you can return

them if they do not workthem if they do not work Some Special Phones for Hearing LossSome Special Phones for Hearing Loss

Clarity Clarity (available on the web and at Radio Shack)(available on the web and at Radio Shack) Ameriphone (available in catalogs and the web)Ameriphone (available in catalogs and the web)

Text Telephones (TTY)Text Telephones (TTY) CapTel (check availability at www.ultratec.com)CapTel (check availability at www.ultratec.com)


Alerting Devices

Fire alarmFire alarm Telephone RingerTelephone Ringer Door bellDoor bell Weather alertWeather alert Smoke/Carbon Monoxide DetectorsSmoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors Motion DetectorMotion Detector Alarm ClockAlarm Clock


Assistive Listening Devices

““Binoculars” for the earsBinoculars” for the ears Increase loudness of specific soundsIncrease loudness of specific sounds Bring sound directly into the hearing aid or Bring sound directly into the hearing aid or

earear Minimize background noiseMinimize background noise Reduce effect of distance between HOH Reduce effect of distance between HOH

person and sound sourceperson and sound source


Assistive Listening Devices (cont.)

Override poor acousticsOverride poor acoustics Used in large areas, one-on-one, restaurants Used in large areas, one-on-one, restaurants

and for television viewingand for television viewing FM receiversFM receivers Infrared receiversInfrared receivers Inductive loopInductive loop


Assistive Listening Devices (cont.)

Can be used for social, educational, Can be used for social, educational, entertainment, home/personalentertainment, home/personal

Americans with Disabilities requires that Americans with Disabilities requires that these devices will be available in certain these devices will be available in certain public places like museums and theaters.public places like museums and theaters.

Not required in churchesNot required in churches It’s up to you to learn how to use them and It’s up to you to learn how to use them and

to ask for themto ask for them


Spiritual Seek spiritual help from our Creator in Seek spiritual help from our Creator in

living life to its fullest in spite of our lossliving life to its fullest in spite of our loss Accept our hearing lossAccept our hearing loss be all we can be with what we havebe all we can be with what we have

Make sure our houses of worship are Make sure our houses of worship are meeting our needs to hearmeeting our needs to hear


Preventive Get Sound AdviceGet Sound Advice

Rock concerts and firecrackers are too loudRock concerts and firecrackers are too loud Boom cars and snowmobiles are too loudBoom cars and snowmobiles are too loud Chain saws are too loudChain saws are too loud Wood shops are too loudWood shops are too loud Lawn mowers and motorcycles are too loudLawn mowers and motorcycles are too loud

Use ear plugs and help reduce noise pollutionUse ear plugs and help reduce noise pollution


Research What can we do for research in hearing What can we do for research in hearing

loss? loss? Will temporal bones for researchWill temporal bones for research Participate in research activitiesParticipate in research activities Support research effortsSupport research efforts

So many good things happening in hearing So many good things happening in hearing research that people with good hearing will research that people with good hearing will want our gadgets to hear better!want our gadgets to hear better!


Coping Strategies

Be honestBe honest Resist the urge to bluffResist the urge to bluff If background noise is a problem, eliminate If background noise is a problem, eliminate

it or find a quieter place to talkit or find a quieter place to talk Carry a pad and pencilCarry a pad and pencil Ask people to face you when they speakAsk people to face you when they speak Ask speakers to remove gum or obstacles Ask speakers to remove gum or obstacles

from their mouthsfrom their mouths


Organizations

Self Help for the Hard of Hearing PeopleSelf Help for the Hard of Hearing People www.hearingloss.orgwww.hearingloss.org Call 738-2796Call 738-2796 Get on the mailing listGet on the mailing list

AARPAARP National Institute on Deafness and Other National Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication DisordersCommunication Disorders National Institute on Aging Information CenterNational Institute on Aging Information Center


Remember

You are not alone!You are not alone! There is help!There is help! Be persistent and assertive in receiving helpBe persistent and assertive in receiving help A hearing handicap can be overcome!A hearing handicap can be overcome!

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia1 Self Help For the Hard of Hearing People...

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