Adult/Teen's Zone: Reminders When Talking to People with Hearing Loss

1) Get the person's attention before you speak.

2) Do not put obstacles in front of your face. This includes coffee cups, hands, pencils, etc.

3) Do not have things in your mouth. This includes gum, candy, etc.

4) Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Speak slowly, but naturally. Do not shout.

5) Use facial expressions, gestures, mimes, and whatever else helps make your message visible.

6) If you are not understood, try to say the same thing using different words. If that doesn't work, writing a few key words may help the person with hearing loss understand. If that doesn't work, write the whole sentence.

7) NEVER EVER say "It is not important."

8) When you change the subject, be sure the person with hearing loss knows what the new subject is.

9) Do not stand with your back to a source of light.

10) When in doubt, ask the person with hearing loss what you can do to improve communications.

blogger: Sarah Helmel, M.Cl.Sc., AuD, RAUD
Registered Audiologist

Adult/Teen's Zone: Wireless Communications

Many hearing device users with hearing impairment would like to connect wirelessly to listen to their favorite electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, music players, and televisions. This is possible now with the new BLUETOOTH technology available from many leading hearing aid manufacturers.

This technology enables the sound from devices such as music players, televisions, cell phones, and computers to be transmitted wirelessly transparently through to the hearing devices either binaurally (through both hearing aids) or monaurally (through one hearing aid). This means that the digital audio signal provided from these sources remains clear and a high-fidelity sound is maintained for the hearing device user. The audio signal does not undergo the degradation that would typically occur if the signal had to pass through the air and over a distance to the hearing device wearer. For example, if a person with hearing impairment is wearing hearing aids and talking on his/her cell phone, he or she using this technology would simply push a button on the hearing device when a call comes in and the call would be transmitted directly through their hearing devices wirelessly. Also, one would not have to hold the cell phone up to one's ear to talk. One could simply talk into the microphone of the cell phone or into the microphone of the BLUETOOTH device on the hearing device to talk, whichever is easiest. As such, cell phone use becomes handsfree, heard more clearly, and heard through both hearing devices binaurally if desired.

Getting a clear audio signal is of utmost importance to a person with hearing impairment wearing hearing devices for ease of understanding and to help facilitate easier communication. This is what makes this interesting to the person with hearing impairment as does the fact that the technology is wireless aka. cord free!!!! When you have hearing impairment you are working with a damaged auditory or hearing system so the "cleaner" the audio signal coming in through the hearing aids and the less messy cords to deal with the better!!! This is why people love this technology! At this point, this wireless BLUETOOTH hearing aid device technology for pairing to various electronic communication/audio devices seems to be most useful/beneficial for people whom have more significant hearing impairment aka. moderate to severe-profound hearing loss and for those whom are active, and technologically savvy.

blogger: Sarah Helmel, M.Cl.Sc., Au.D, RAUD
Registered Audiologist

Adult/Teen's Zone: Gaining Communication Access

For most people with hearing loss, including teenagers, the primary communication challenge is gaining access to what is being said. This access assumes that the person has the speech and language abilities to understand the message once access is provided. If deficits exist to access this information, the language that is communicated must be modified to a level that can be accessible to the receiver. Without full access, people with hearing loss are at a distinct disadvantage by needing to rely on only partial information to derive correct meaning from the message being delivered.

Ways to obtain full communication access are through listening and visual cues. For instance, hearing technology can maximize audition, visual displays can verify content of messages, and sign language can provide full visual interpretation of the message. Using these sources helps one access information just as well as one's normal hearing peers. Basically, it makes it more fair and helps "level the playing field" with one's normal hearing peers. It does not provide an advantage over normal hearing people. People with hearing impairment can not be expected to be held accountable for information to which they do not have access.

The real barriers are in assuring that accommodations are available readily when needed. This applies to students, people in the workplace, and socially.

For example, for students, making sure all information is accessible is often difficult for teachers. Teenagers, in particular, more than anything want to fit it. They do not want to be noted for their hearing loss. They don't want to draw attention by requesting accommodations such as asking for repetition or clarification. Therefore, when a student with hearing loss requests a specific accommodation, recognize the courage that it may have taken to make the request and accept the responsibility to comply in return.

Some tips for teachers for monitoring students with hearing impairment are as follows:

1) Check in with the student with hearing loss frequently to determine if they are understanding. Conduct the checking in a way that does not single out the student as being different.

2)Implement common sense rules of communication etiquette in the classroom. Encourage turn taking in class whereby students should identify themselves, speak loudly, and clearly so that everyone can hear and understand them. When necessary, help by repeating what other students are saying.

3) Repeat public address announcements or provide them to all students in writing.

4) Be conscious of minimizing classroom noise levels and maintaining good lighting.

5) Be an enthusiastic user of FM and other assistive device technology.

6) Use captioning AND audio with videos and films. This is helpful to all students
not just hearing impaired students. Media should never be used if it is not
accessible to all students.

7) When a sign language interpreter is involved in the classroom, respect their
primary role as an interpreter. Work closely with this person especially when
new content is being delivered.

blogger: Sarah Helmel, M.Cl.Sc. , Au.D, RAUD
Registered Audiologist

Parent/Teen's Zone: Coping with Hearing Loss

As your coping skills increase then managing hearing loss does get easier!!

Here are a few tips:

Attitude is Everything: Our children mirror our feelings. If you, as a parent, believe that your hearing impaired teen is capable of doing anything they want in life, then they too will believe it!

A Supportive Family: Every member of the family needs to help out your hearing impaired teen( aka. parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, and close friends). Educate your friends and family about your teen's needs. You may have to remind them to face your teen when talking, rephrase sentences, and to refrain from exaggerated speech. When everyone is on the same team providing guidance and support, your teen will become more confident.

Encourage Your Teen: Don't let your teen make excuses they can't do something. Empathize with them, but don't pity them!

Network: Seek out supports. Find other teens and parents of hearing impaired teens and talk. Compare tips, strategies, and stories. If a teen has hearing impaired friends then he/she can share his feelings and feel part of a group. Join clubs and associations for the hearing impaired. Certain groups offer teen summer programs and club nights that are interactive and fun. Find out what is available in your community. Talk to your audiologist.

Educate: You and your teen will want to learn as much as you can about hearing loss, hearing devices and communication technologies. Encourage the use of closed captioning if necessary when watching television. Encourage your teens to read from newspapers, magazines, books, and search the internet for information so they become more familiar with their world and the resources available to them. Encourage teens to email and instant messaging to allow them to interact with their peers easily.

Be Strong: Fight for what you believe in and don't let people make generalizations about what your son or daughter is capable or not capable of because of their hearing impairment. Hearing impaired teens can do anything a hearing teen can do by using certain strategies and compromising.

Find Hearing Impaired Role Models: Does your teen want to be a physician, lawyer, dentist, chef, or police officer? There are hearing impaired individuals in all these professions and more! Support your son or daughters dreams!!! Don't discourage. Ask your audiologist if they are aware of a professional with hearing impairment that might talk with your son or daughter about their profession.

Advocate: Encourage your teen to advocate for themselves and to be open about their hearing loss and the limitations it causes. Build awareness in the community or at school about hearing impairment. Teenagers are less inclined to make fun of something when they understand it!

Encourage Participation: Teach your teen to be proud of him or herself. Build your teen's confidence with praise, respectful treatment, and kind words. Encourage your teen to joing clubs and sport teams. If your teen is willing to take risks and be a "joiner", he or she will gain the respect of his/her classmates and be treated like an ordinary teenager.

blogger: Sarah Helmel

Teen's Zone: Encouraging Consistent Hearing Aid Use

One of the most difficult parts about having a hearing loss is managing your hearing loss properly. This is even more difficult as a teenager and for parents of teenagers with hearing impairment who are resistant to hearing devices and have very busy lives.

Managing your hearing loss properly means wearing your hearing devices throughout the day, maintaining and cleaning your hearing devices, and having regular checkups with your hearing health professional to ensure your hearing devices are working effectively. Getting to this point where you can accept your hearing loss, the limitations caused by your hearing loss, and as a result, your need to manage your hearing loss and wear your prescribed hearing devices is often very difficult.

Peer groups usually have more influence over a teenager's sense of well being than parents. Therefore, if the teens' friends are aware of the hearing loss and realize that the hearing devices are necessary for optimal communication, then they can be a powerful support group and deflect negative remarks that could be inspired. The first week of wearing the hearing technology is often the most difficult. It could be similar to wearing braces for the first time. Parents can help this transition by providing a special reward to the teenager to congratulate them for making it through this difficult first week. As well, it is important to thank the ongoing support of peers in this process.

Long term recognition of consistent hearing device use is very helpful for teenagers. It can help reinforce continued daily wear of hearing device technology and is good for a teenager's self esteem. For example, for each grading period that goes by without resistance to wearing hearing devices could be rewarded with an extra incentive(i.e.choice of music, movie, or meal). Your teenager is doing something extra that most of his other classmates don't have to contend with and his courage, commitment, and perseverance to his own future success is worthy of recognition and praise!

As rewards and enticements are useful methods to help maintain a teenager's commitment to managing their hearing loss, discipline is often necessary too. It is important for parents to make it clear from the start how much you value the teenager wearing the hearing devices, keeping the devices in good condition, and the consequences for willful neglect or damage of the hearing devices.

blogger: Sarah Helmel

Adult/Teen's Zone: Communicating better at the Doctor's Office- Strategies

Strategies to help cope with the limitations placed on you by your hearing loss at the doctor's office....

SITUATION: Going to the doctor can be a stressful event, especially when you have medical concerns. The names of different conditions and medications are difficult to understand and usually have complicated spelling. Your health and wellness are important, therefore you want to be sure you are getting good care and all your questions answered. Doctors and other health care professionals may ask you questions while looking at your chart or when they have their back to you. This can make it difficult to answer the questions being asked.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1) Remind your doctor or other health care professional that you have a hearing loss. Explain that sometimes you have difficulty understanding.
2) Bring paper and pen with you. Write down questions that you have about your health and wellness.
3)If the doctor has a diagnosis and treatment plan for you, have the doctor write it down for you.
4)If you do not understand your doctor, ask questions until you understand.
5) If a follow-up appointment is needed, ask the scheduling department to write down the date and time for you.

Blogger: Sarah Helmel

Adult/Teen's Zone: Two Hearing Aids are Better Than One

What are the advantages of getting two hearing aids over one hearing aid?

1. Better understanding of speech:
By wearing two hearing aids rather than one, selective listening is more easily achieved. This means that your brain can focus on the conversation you want to hear. Research shows that people wearing two hearing aids routinely understand speech and conversation significantly better than people wearing one hearing aid do.

2. Better understanding in groups and noisy situations:
Speech intelligibility is improved when wearing two hearing aids. Some advanced binaural technology tends to perform better in noise than older technology.

3. Better ability to tell the direction of sound:
This is called localization. Localization allows you to hear from which direction a sound is coming from (i.e. someone speaking to you, traffic, etc.)

4. Better sound quality:
“Stereo” hearing allows you to get the most natural sound quality. By wearing two hearing aids, you increase your hearing range from 180 degrees to 360 degrees with two hearing aids. This greater range provides a better sense of balance and sound quality.

5. Smoother tone quality:
Wearing two hearing aids generally requires less volume than one. This can result in less distortion, better reproduction of amplified sounds, and less battery drain.

6. Wider hearing range:
A person can hear sounds from a further distance with two ears rather than just one. A voice that is barely audible at 10 feet with one ear, can be heard up to 40 feet away with two ears.

7. Better sound identification:
Often, with just one hearing aid, many noises and words sound alike. But with two hearing aids, as with two ears, sounds are more easily distinguishable.

8. Keep both ears active:
Research has shown that with only one hearing aid, the unaided ear loses its’ ability to hear and understand speech. This is clinically called the auditory deprivation effect. Those wearing two hearing aids keep both ears active.

9. Hearing is less tiring and listening is more pleasant:
More binaural hearing aid wearers report that listening and participating in conversation is more enjoyable with two hearing aids, instead of just one. This is because they do not have to strain to hear with the “better” ear. Thus, binaural hearing can help make listening more relaxing.

10. Feeling of balanced hearing:
Binaural hearing results in a feeling of balanced reception of sound, also known as the stereo effect. Monaural hearing creates the feeling that sound is only being heard in one ear, even when there is some hearing in the unaided ear.

11. Greater comfort with loud sounds:
A lower volume control setting is required with each of the two hearing aids, resulting in more tolerance of louder sounds.

12. Reduced feedback and whistling:
With lower volume control setting, the chance of hearing aid feedback is reduced.

13. Improvement in tinnitus:
Approximately 50% of people with ringing in their ears report improvement when wearing hearing aids. If they have a hearing aid in only one ear there will still be tinnitus in the unaided ear.

14. Client Satisfaction: Research with more than 4000 people with hearing loss in both ears, demonstrated that binaurally fit subjects are more satisfied than people fit with just one hearing aid.


Adapted from S. Kochkin HIS seminar, 1997

Blogger: Sarah Helmel