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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (1640)Comment receiving replies
I'm realizing that my hearing disability is as real as person whose challenges are less visible. I wear hearing aids. I now introduce myself as hearing impaired and ask that the speaker speak slowly (rather than more loudly) since that is key to my understanding. Also I'm comfortable reminding people to kindly face me. People forget, but they are generally ever so willing.
Re: t-coils, I'm a great fan of live theatre and I find that smaller theatres often have only sub-standard headphones. I make a point of asking that the theatres get both t-coils and closed caption boxes (and eventually Auracast). Did you know about these closed caption boxes? You can go to many big movie houses and Broadway type theatres in major cities where they can lend you a closed caption box. They're not ideal but they make the impossible possible. Be sure to ask about this.
Replies to "I'm realizing that my hearing disability is as real as person whose challenges are less visible...."
@jdalylew I appreciate what you have shared and like you, speak up and am not shy about telling someone I am hard of hearing/wear hearing aids/etc. We all need to be advocates and not embarassed about having hearing loss. We all need to speak up, educate and advocate.
For terminology sake, a telecoil (tcoil) is what is installed in your hearing aid or cochlear implant (which basically all come with a telecoil, now why don't hearing aids??? why do we have to ask for it or insist on them having a telecoil??)
What is installed in faciilty or meeting space, church, theater, performance space, etc is a hearing loop. Check this excellent website out for great information about all things realted to hearing loss and a great link to information about hearing loops, http://www.CenterForHearingAccess.org.
There is good advocacy and education information here too to give to a facility or your AuD or others.
If you are getting new hearing aids make sure they have a telecoils and are Auracast ready.
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@jdalylew The ADA has been a constant source of frustration for me along with all the others in this country that suffer hearing loss.
They have done nothing to demand venues install telecoil and as promising as Auracast appears to be without ADA pushing to have it installed in all areas where it could be useful for those of us with hearing loss it will have no impact.
Unlike restroom accessibility for those that are handicapped which has forced restaurants to comply or be sued they remain silent for those with hearing loss.
Restaurants are actually getting noisier rather than quieter and decibel levels have only been increasing. The ADA has been silent. My question is why. If anyone has an answer please let me know.