1. < Hearing Loss

Need for advocating now for hearing loss

Posted by arrowshooter @arrowshooter, Aug 19, 2020

We need to advocate for ourselves NOW.

I am an advocate for hearing loops and I just communicated with my local bank about assistive systems for people with hearing loss. The bank officer was polite and listened but was generally uninterested because THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. This little bank has about 10 locations and no one has complained about using the drive-up windows with the speaker systems that are very difficult to understand especially if there are other cars running and traffic going by. We talked about counter-top loop systems to use in the lobby and he said no one has ever complained about not being able to hear.

During this COVID pandemic we are experiencing more situations that make it more difficult to communicate (masks, plastic shields, speaker systems, etc). People assume their systems are OK as long as no one ever complains. Asking for some to repeat or speak louder/slower is not a complaint. It is just accepted practice. As people with hearing loss we expect to have trouble communicating so that trouble becomes common practice to us. We deal with it or around it.

Of course there is a danger that if we complain now our complaints will be dismissed as "caused by masks or plastic shields". Those things only make a bad situation worse for us. We have to dispel the common notion that hearing aids restore everyone to normal hearing.

As I write this post I think of the explosive thread on this forum about the medical professions reluctance to accommodate people with hearing loss. The medical care people are only one group who ignores people with hearing loss. But the disregard of people with hearing loss is universal.

Maybe we are the ones at fault.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

barbb | @barbb | Aug 21, 2020
In reply to @julieo4 "Glad you're on the bandwagon! Now, I wish I knew where everyone lived!" + (show)
@julieo4

Glad you're on the bandwagon! Now, I wish I knew where everyone lived!

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@julieo4 Julie, is there an unspoken or even written rule about not knowing where someone lives? Why is that information primarily not mentioned here? It definitely could be helpful at times.

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Aug 21, 2020

I don't think there is any rule on this, but people have the choice to not disclose more information than they wish to, It's a confidentiality thing. . It would be interesting to know which state people are from, but that is their information to disclose. How ironic it would be to have conversations with someone who lives in your own 'back yard', without knowing it. 🙂

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Aug 22, 2020
In reply to @barbb "Your last sentence here, I think is a real kicker...about educating ourselves. I, for one, was..." + (show)
@barbb

Your last sentence here, I think is a real kicker...about educating ourselves. I, for one, was hardly enthusiastic really, about doing this because I had enough going on in my life so that the last thing I needed was yet another project to be involved with. Someone on the list recently said something about a manual (for something specific - was it hearing aids?). Can we think of a kind of simple. somewhat entertaining, introductory manual-like piece of information to help guide people? As opposed to just "search the internet"? Actually, I think Katherine Bouton's latest book, "Living with Hearing Loss" comes pretty close. I'm sure you might have suggestions for a basic reading list?

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Here are a couple of links that may be helpful for people seeking basic information about what is available to help with hearing loss.

https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/ https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/hat/ "Hat" stands for hearing assistive technology.

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rosemh | @rosemh | Aug 23, 2020
In reply to @julieo4 "THIS SAYS IT ALL....OR AT LEAST MOST OF IT! Yes, I was 'shouting' with those CAPS...." + (show)
@julieo4

THIS SAYS IT ALL....OR AT LEAST MOST OF IT! Yes, I was 'shouting' with those CAPS.

Hard of hearing people have two big problems that are chronic:

1. As a group, hard of hearing people don't know what can help them beyond hearing aids which are considered by society to be a 'solution'. We, who use hearing aids know they are aids. They help, but do not resolve the problem. The 'solution is far more complex. Finding solutions means taking control, educating oneself, and not being led by advertising that markets denial and promises far more than products can provide.

2. They don't realize that change that comes through education & advocacy begins at the grass roots level. In order to solve a problem, the people who are affected by it must become involved in finding a solution.

As long as most of our collective energy is spent denying we have hearing loss and/or hiding it because we're embarrassed by it, progress in effecting change will be difficult and long. We have to get off our butts and speak up. We have to tell people what we need. First, we must know what we need.

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First of all, thank you to Mayo Connect for introducing me to this site. I just became a HLAA member. I wish there was a Milwaukee chapter. Next, I want to applaud all if you for your efforts on behalf of us with hearing loss. For the first time in along time, I feel slightly optimistic about navigating through this annoying hindrance of being able to hear but not understand what is being said.

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Aug 23, 2020

It definitely helps to 'talk' to others who 'get it'! Welcome to HLAA. I have good news for you. The is a Milwaukee Chapter. It's called the Metro Milwaukee Chapter. They meet at the Wauwatosa Library when regular meetings are held. There's chapter information at the HLAA Wisconsin website. http://www.hlaawi.org Wisconsin chapters are located in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Door County and Platteville. Currently, Fox Valley & Madison are holding meetings via Zoom that are open to anyone who wants to attend. Let me know if that interests you. So much to learn. Feel free to send me a personal message.

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1 reply
rosemh | @rosemh | Aug 23, 2020
In reply to @julieo4 "It definitely helps to 'talk' to others who 'get it'! Welcome to HLAA. I have good..." + (show)
@julieo4

It definitely helps to 'talk' to others who 'get it'! Welcome to HLAA. I have good news for you. The is a Milwaukee Chapter. It's called the Metro Milwaukee Chapter. They meet at the Wauwatosa Library when regular meetings are held. There's chapter information at the HLAA Wisconsin website. http://www.hlaawi.org Wisconsin chapters are located in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Door County and Platteville. Currently, Fox Valley & Madison are holding meetings via Zoom that are open to anyone who wants to attend. Let me know if that interests you. So much to learn. Feel free to send me a personal message.

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Thanks for the Milwaukee link. I’m new to this organization so I’ll have to get up to speed. I’m trying to figure out a way to understand my TV. Sometimes CC is too fast for me. I know there must be some reasonably priced technology out there that can help me. I just have to find it and figure it out. I’m so happy I found this website. It gives me hope.

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1 reply
barbb | @barbb | Aug 23, 2020

@rosemh @julieo4 I'm so glad Julie found you a Milwaukee Chapter! How did you come to think there was no such chapter?

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1 reply
barbb | @barbb | Aug 23, 2020
In reply to @rosemh "Thanks for the Milwaukee link. I’m new to this organization so I’ll have to get up..." + (show)
@rosemh

Thanks for the Milwaukee link. I’m new to this organization so I’ll have to get up to speed. I’m trying to figure out a way to understand my TV. Sometimes CC is too fast for me. I know there must be some reasonably priced technology out there that can help me. I just have to find it and figure it out. I’m so happy I found this website. It gives me hope.

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@rosemh I count myself as still a relative newbie here also, although I am active with HLAA. I also count myself as relatively untalented with tech things, including TV! And so I have posed questions related to tech stuff here and have gotten some very helpful replies.

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1 reply
rosemh | @rosemh | Aug 23, 2020
In reply to @barbb "@rosemh @julieo4 I'm so glad Julie found you a Milwaukee Chapter! How did you come to..." + (show)
@barbb

@rosemh @julieo4 I'm so glad Julie found you a Milwaukee Chapter! How did you come to think there was no such chapter?

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I went to the HLAA website, typed in Milwaukee on the interactive map, and no results came up. I must have done something wrong. But now I know there is one. Hurrah!

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arrowshooter | @arrowshooter | Aug 23, 2020
In reply to @barbb "@rosemh I count myself as still a relative newbie here also, although I am active with..." + (show)
@barbb

@rosemh I count myself as still a relative newbie here also, although I am active with HLAA. I also count myself as relatively untalented with tech things, including TV! And so I have posed questions related to tech stuff here and have gotten some very helpful replies.

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Welcome to the forum. You sound like a very typical member. That is struggling with technology and looking for information. That's what happens here.

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