Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

I recently moved from Colorado to NJ. My Friend Group back in Colorado is now meeting on Zoom. I though,t oh no, more technology, but
it works really well. I can hear some participants better than others. We are meeting later today, and I have new, simple
headphones to see if that is better. I am being evaluated for a CI. Anyway, HLAA could have meetings using Zoom, or Skype is supposed to have captions
now. I have taken sign language, and I like it, but really never advanced because of what everyone is saying, and that is that
there is no one with whom to practice.

I've had a hearing loss all my life and with a sibling with a more severe hearing loss than mine, we owe the lives we have now to our parents. My mother was a teacher and recognized our hearing loss long before the doctors would confirm it. My sister went to an oral deaf school to learn to speak after she got her first hearing aid at 3 1/2 years old (I was 5 when we each got a hearing aid) and I was mainstreamed, and she joined me in being mainstreamed when she reached second grade. We never experienced the kind of bullying I've heard others have experienced, and our parents never made us feel there was anything we couldn't do. We are both retired now, so that gives you the perspective that all this was set in the 1950s which was even more a credit to our parents. Thank you James and Rita Miskimen.

@jkVoloteeember
Thanks I would be interested in the class resource you mentioned.

@asklar02492 We're almost neighbors! I'm in southern NH, and the closest HLAA is in Wakefield, MA. I would go if it was during the daytime, but who wants to drive over an hour to a meeting at night? Not me.
JK

@dollyh I heard about it from an audiologist on Facebook. I will PM her and ask her and get back to you.
By the way, when you use the @, you use the member's Connect name, which for me is contentandwell. Thanks for using it though, it really does help to see in my emails when a response is directed to me.
JK

The online sign language class I took was offered by a local vocational high school called SmithACE for $115. It had some instructor feedback, but no way for the instructor to see you sign and give you feedback on your technique. On web at Smithace.org. The website is hard to navigate (the search doesn't work well until you get close to what you want), so here are the details. On first screen that comes hit "online classes and career training" in the white area midscreen. Then, at left, select "Browse online classes". Then at left select "languages and arts". Then on menu mid-screen select "Languages". You will see list of classes come up. "Discover Sign Language" is the one I took. It took me a lot longer than 24 hours. The phone number for SmithACE is 413-587-1414.

Some Community Education organizations offer ASL either in person or online sign language. In person might help you find people to practice with. Someone else on this site also mentioned tips on lipreading. I'll see if I can find that again and send it.

And there are at least two free or inexpensive websites, Signing Savvy and Lifeprints.com.

So there's another HLAA in Northborough, MA - is that too much further for you? It meets on Saturdays at the Northborough Public Library. I've gone a few times and it seemed helpful, but I settled on a Connecticut group because it was closer.

Hello - I just just joined the Mayo Clinic Connect and within minutes I see a post about a Northborough, MA HLAA chapter! I am very involved in HLAA Central, MA (Northborough) and our blog is http://www.hearinglosscentralma.org. We have a gathering next Saturday, March 16th 2:30 - 4:30 pm.

I have view of the question asked here, but I see the answer that there is a group in Northborough, MA. Amazing! If anyone has questions about our chapter, reply in this group and I will get an email notification. Just getting started - Margaret

@dollyh Hi Dolly. I heard back from the audiologist I know through the Facebook group on Oticon Opn hearing aids. Here is what she said:
LACE. By Neurotone
Listening and Communication Enhancement. You have to do all 16 sessions. Not just one here or there.
There is a charge for the sessions, it appears to be $79. I haven't signed up yet but think I will. I did sign up for email updates.
https://www.neurotone.com/

I also just purchased the book "Smart Hearing: Strategies, Skills, and Resources for Living Better with Hearing Loss" by Katherine Bouton. I haven't gotten far into it yet but if I find it valuable I will mention it on here.
JK

I purchased LACE and found it worthless. Anything written by Katherine Bouton is excellent. 😀