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You Have a Right to Communication Access
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Apr 17, 2022 | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
This is a strange time to ask this question, as some of us are only now getting out to in-person meetings again. Many of us still do not.
For me, the ongoing use of masks has been the most severe impediment to communication access, as I almost can’t hear anything while wearing a mask. In my synagogue I get a thingy to hang on one ear so I can hear the service. It only works on my less-impaired ear, and often gets tangled with the mask straps. It’s a really pathetic accommodation. Before the pandemic, though, I considered advocating for a telecoil, but was ambivalent because my own hearing aids don’t have one, and I don’t know how many others’ do (we have many hearing-aid wearers). So I couldn’t think how to move forward with it.
So advocating for new tech while we’re still masked is not exactly top of mind.
Replies to "This is a strange time to ask this question, as some of us are only now..."
That's a dilemma I guess, but I hope we will soon be able to congregate w/o masks. So, no time like to present to start educating and advocating. It's a process. All hearing aids should have telecoils because it doubles the value of the hearing aid....but audiologists will argue that because they want to promote BlueTooth. BT is wonderful, but the two technologies can both be included in hearing aids and cochlear processors. It takes some education to teach hearing aid users how to use the telecoils. Education takes time. Time is ______. I hope you'll ask for a telecoil in the next hearing aid you buy. I don't think you will regret it if you learn how to use it.
What part of the country do you live in?
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I have a terrible time with masks, not only hearing the other person but they also cause my aids to fall off. I have small ears and it is difficult to keep the processors in place at anytime. But you add strings and I really have a problem. The other day I was helping my husband with his walker and his mask (sort of hands full) when I immediately had to try and put a mask on. My CI hit the floor. Fortunately it was ok. Then it was almost impossible to get it to stay in place with the mask on and the doctor's receptionist kept asking me questions as I was trying to mumble, 'just a minute please'. Then Bill wanted to help so he was grabbing my hand and trying to grab the CI as well. A comedy of errors.
As you might have guessed, I really dislike masks!