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Hearing loss: How do you identify yourself to others?
As a long time member of the hearing loss group, and part of the entire dDeaf community, I find that many people have very definite ideas as to how they identify themselves: deaf, Deaf, hearing impaired, hard of hearing, stone deaf, can't hear really well or some other term. I find myself changing my self-identification based on whom I'm talking. If it's a culturally capital "D" Deaf person, I say I'm hard of hearing; to hearing people, I say I'm hearing impaired or oral deaf (because they know what that means: I speak); and to my hearing loss peers, I say I'm deaf (because I am). It's a constant dance when I'm around Deaf people. The ASL community has many issues with deaf people who communicate orally and believe everyone should sign. But that's not how many people come into the hearing loss andor deaf world. I'm curious to know what others do. There is no right or wrong here.
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I say: "I am Hard of Hearing, near Deaf. Please look at my face when you want me to know what you are saying. Please don't speak loudly, just more distinctly. I will understand if you don't think it's important that I understand what you are saying when you make no effort to have me understand you. Please understand that if I need critical information from you, I may demand that you respect the parameters." So far, it works in most situations. I don't get pity, but most people want me to understand so will speak to my face. Then, I relax and am able to keep up even when folks forget.
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2 ReactionsYes, Mary. We inhabit a land existing between the Hearing Community and in the Deaf Community. I constantly advocate for being part of the diverse layers of HoH community and we are a large community, at that.
I agree that the younger folks are more open just as they ten to be more open to nonbinary gender identification, cultural/racial diversity... I love strong women who aren't afraid to state their reality!
Once, after my disclosure of my HoH status and how I would best understand, a woman who had been speaking away asked me what I thought about what she was talking about (without any respect for the parameters I'd stated for my hearing/understanding) and I said, "Oh! I had no idea you wanted me to know what you were talking about, you didn't look toward me, you talked spitfire fast and you didn't enunciate. Surely you don't want my opinion at all...." Open mouthed, she said how sorry she was that I was HoH. I laughed so hard at that... and said, "Really? if you thought what you were saying was important or worthy, you would have helped me understand. I am sorry that you don't think enough of what you were saying, to make it clear!"
I met a young woman wearing a T-shirt that said "I'm Deaf, You're Dumb!" Really struck a chord with me.
@imallears, which Assisted Listening Devices have you tried?
I'm completely deaf in my right ear, and 30% deaf (loss is mostly in high tones, no hearing above about 3500 Hz) in my left. I've been using a Bellman Domino Pro device for 6 years. It has a transmitter unit that I can put on the other side of a table I'm at (after telling people what it is and asking permission), and a receiver device that receives sound from the transmitter and also has its own mikes. I can aim the receiver unit at people who are talking. With it, I feel that 98% of the time, I can hear as well as if I had no loss at all, using an earphone connected to the Domino Pro.
It's a godsend when I'm at a noisy restaurant, and when I'm driving with my wife, with my deaf ear toward her. I can hear people much further away than I can with my hearing aids (a dual bi-cros unit). For most daily use, I use my hearing aids (and have for 50 years, since I was 18), but I use the Domino Pro for meetings, restaurants, speeches and other events where there's no mike, and other things outside of my house.
Do you (or anyone else reading this message) have experience with other (less capable) Bellman products, or with the Comfort Audio Duett, Conversor Pro, Williams Sound, or other Assisted Listening Device? I studied up on them when I got my Domino Pro. It was clearly the best one, but it's also the most expensive, by far. The Conversor Pro seemed second best, but I don't have any experience with it.
I'd appreciate any information you (or anyone else) may have. I've promised to send information for a friend, whose 95-year-old mother might benefit from it.
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1 ReactionThere are several devices that are capable of bringing desired sound right to the ear while bypassing most of the ambient noise in the environment. Years ago, I used a direct audio input microphone that plugged into my hearing aid. It was extremely helpful, but a bit cumbersome as it attached by a cord that I had to manage. Yet, it worked, and it made a huge difference for me in noisy settings. Today many of these devices use wireless BlueTooth technology. My current system is the mini mic 2+ that works with my Cochlear implant. I wish it worked with my hearing aid as well, but I don't have the brand of hearing instrument that syncs with the Cochlear device. It is unfortunate that these connecting devices have to be brand specific as one doesn't just dump a $3000 hearing aid to buy a different brand! Back to the hearing assistive devices: One of the least costly devices is the Williams Sound Pocket Talker. It can be used with a neckloop, headset or earbuds. The neckloop requires your personal hearing devices have telecoils, and is the best way to connect because it works with the personal hearing devices (hearing aid or cochlear implant or both) that have been fitted for your hearing loss. Take that away and what you get is simple amplification....but it eliminates that background noise, so it does help. Learning about this type of technology was life changing for me back in the 90s. It made it possible for me to socialize, return to a teaching job, and enjoy life again. The people I associated with socially were amazed at the difference it made for me. Today's tech can be basic like the Pocket Talker, or much more sophisticated, like streamers and wireless devices. We've come a long, long way. Thanks to advocacy done by groups of people in organizations that share information, educate and advocate. HLAA is one of the best! hearingloss.org If you are not aware of HLAA, become aware. Add your name to the list of people who are effecting change for all of us. Numbers matter when it comes to legislation and research.
Specific information like this is so helpful! I asked my ENT doctor and audiologists if there wasn’t some way to help a me hear my cell phone callers, they all said no. For $3 my daughter bought me a cell phone hand set at a yard sale which I plug in to my Apple cell phone and I can hear my callers! An inexpensive gadget you just plug in to your phone! Now I have several and one in my purse.
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1 ReactionCurious to know what the name of your device is? Wow! so much education is needed when the ENTs and audiologists can't help us with questions and solutions like this. I used a basic neckloop with my Iphone 5, but when I graduated to the iPhone 6 I had to buy a special adapter to use the neckloop since the input jack is not standard anymore. (All the efforts to make things smaller and lighter sometimes backfire.)
@bobbiefriend , what is the name of the handset you are referring to? Another option is if you have a cell phone bought in the last 2 years, all of the main hearing aid manufacturers now have Apple and Android compatible phones so that you download an app on your phone and when phone rings, it goes directly to your hearing aid, similar to a hearing loop. I've been using my Starkey hearing aids and Apple iPhone for almost 2 years and the clarity of the call is phenomenal. I used to avoid my cell phone or put in on speaker phone to clearly hear callers. I also get to stream music directly to my hearing aid for when I am walking and clarity is also great. If you have old phone, your handset sounds like the way to go. But next time you go to audiologist, ask about the Apple and Android compatible phones.
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1 ReactionThe name in the logo on my handset is Native Union. The Apple store doesn’t sell them.
I like to introduce myself with a little humor “I have a severe hearing loss, so I may reply to a comment said earlier or just add something out of no where “.
I also have a magnetic badge that has my name and “ I have a hearing loss, please speak directly to me so I can read your lips”. I find I wear that a lot especially when shopping, doctor appointments ?
I find it’s easier to explain my loss immediately so others will understand. I like to remind myself, to be grateful for what I can hear!
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