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HEARING LOSS AND COMMUNICATION STRATIGIES

HEARING LOSS AND COMMUNICATION STRATIGIES. Amy K. Boyle Director, Public Education League for the Hard of Hearing. League for the Hard of Hearing. Located at 50 Broadway, 6 th floor, New York, NY 10004 (lower Manhattan) Main Phone numbers: 917-305-7700 voice, 917-305-7999 tty

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HEARING LOSS AND COMMUNICATION STRATIGIES

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  1. HEARING LOSS AND COMMUNICATION STRATIGIES Amy K. Boyle Director, Public Education League for the Hard of Hearing

  2. League for the Hard of Hearing • Located at 50 Broadway, 6th floor, New York, NY 10004 (lower Manhattan) • Main Phone numbers: 917-305-7700 voice, 917-305-7999 tty • Public Education Department and Center for Health Care Access: 917-305-7809 • Audiology Appointment Desk: 917-305 7766 • Website: www.lhh.org • The League for the Hard of Hearing has been helping people with hearing loss and their families since 1910.

  3. Tips for Communicating with someone who is hard of hearing • GET THE PERSON’S ATTENTION FIRST! • FACE THE PERSON – HAVE LIGHT ON YOUR FACE • SPEAK UP, BUT DO NOT SHOUT • SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY – DON’T OVEREMPHASIZE • CUT OUT BACKGROUND NOISE BY TURNING OFF TV OR RADIO • REPHRASE RATHER THAN REPEAT A MISUNDERSTOOD SENTENCE • WRITE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO BE SURE IT IS UNDERSTOOD • HAVE THE PERSON REPEAT VITAL FACTS TO BE SURE THEY ARE CORRECT League for the Hard of Hearing 50 Broadway, 6th floor New York, NY 10004 917-305-7700 voice 917-305- 7999 tty

  4. Prevalence of hearing loss • Hearing loss can happen to anyone, at any age. • Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities. • There are over 30 million people in the United States with hearing loss. • 1 out of every 10 people have hearing loss. • After the age of 65, 4 out of every 10 people have hearing loss. • After the age of 75, 1 out of every 2 two people have hearing loss

  5. Degrees of Hearing Loss • Mild Hearing Loss – 26dB to 40dB • Reduced ability to hear average conversational voice at a distance • Difficulty hearing with background noise • Moderate Hearing Loss – 41dB to 55dB • Reduced ability to hearing the average conversational voice beyond a radius of 3 to 6 feet • Difficulty understanding in the presence of competing signals • Difficulty identifying ambient sounds

  6. Degrees of Hearing Loss • Moderate to Severe Hearing Loss – 56dB to 70dB • Very limited ability to hear the average conversational voice • Inability to hear most ambient sounds • Tendency to miss out on warnings for safety • Limited tolerance for loud sounds • Severe to Profound Hearing Loss – 71dB and greater • Inability to hear and understand the average conversational voice presented near the ear • Inability to hear anything but the loudest of environmental sounds

  7. Myths About Hearing Loss Myth #1 Hearing aids solve all problems Myth #2 Everyone either does, or should wear a hearing aid Myth #3 When people tell you they can lip read you, they catch everything you say Myth #4 All people who are deaf use and understand sign language Myth #5 Someone with a hearing loss will always tell you when they cannot hear you or understand you

  8. Recognizing Hearing Loss • Will often ask you to repeat information (everyone here is mumbling) • Will watch the speaker intently (I can’t hear without my glasses) • Will fail to hear someone if the speaker is behind them • Sometimes, will have a flat voice • Will sometimes mispronounce words • Will sometimes fail to respond to requests or directions • Will sometimes respond inappropriately to requests • Will often have difficulty on the phone

  9. What does it mean to have a hearing loss? • Hearing loss comes in all shapes and sizes. • Hearing loss affects two things: • Volume, how loud sounds have to be to hear them • Frequency, low and high sounds. This means we hear some sounds and some sounds drop out. We lose our ability to discriminate sounds.

  10. Impacts of hearing loss • Affects our ability to communicate with one another • Affects our relationships • Affects our safety, ability to hear warning signals, important information from our doctors • Affects our independence • It is stressful • Causes embarrassment when we mishear • As communication gets more difficult, many people withdraw, just stay home or to themselves. • Depression and loneliness can set in • A recent study by the Department on Aging reported that more seniors with untreated hearing loss reported feelings of sadness and depression.

  11. What can be done? • First, a complete hearing evaluation which includes the services of an audiologist and an otologist • Audiologist: a specialist trained to test hearing and prescribe appropriate hearing aids (even people with cognitive problems can have their hearing evaluated) • Otologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ear. The doctor examines the person to make sure the ears are clean, free of wax, clear of infections and decides whether medical intervention is required

  12. Hearing Aids • Hearing aids like hearing loss comes in all shapes and sizes. The audiologist determines what is most appropriate aid from the hearing evaluation and trial of various aids. • Since each hearing loss is individual, it is important to find an audiologist that will work with you to determine the right hearing aid for you. • Under NY State law you have 45 days to return a hearing aid and get your money back • Medicare typically does not pay for hearing aids (some Medicare HMO’s have small policies) • Medicaid does pay for hearing aids • Costs of hearing aids vary greatly

  13. Assistive Technology • In addition to hearing aids, there are assistive alerting and listening devices which can help. • Lights to alert you to the doorbell, phone, fire and carbon monoxide alarms • Telephones with amplified headsets to increase volume • Personal Sound Amplifier (pocket talker) • Infrared TV Listener • Closed captioned programs (TV’s made since 1993 all have this feature which can be accessed) • FM system • The League conducts free demonstrations of these and other listening/alerting devices, you just need to call 917-305-7700 to reserve a space.

  14. Assistive Technology Two companies that sell assistive listening and alerting devices and are happy to mail you their catalog free of charge or you can visit their website: Harris Communications www.harriscomm.com 1-800-825-6758 voice 1-800-825-9187 tty Soundbytes www.soundbytes.com 1-888-816-8191 voice 1-516-937-3546 tty

  15. Assistive Technology Examples of some of the equipment we spoke about today: • Sennheiser Direct Ear Infrared TV Amplifier #TV100 TV Amplifier around $199.00 not compatible with plasma televisions or rooms where fluorescent light are in use. Can be found in the Soundbytes catalog. • Radio Shack amplified listener around $25.00. Note you do need to purchase headphones separately. • FM Systems for personal and group use can be found in the Harris Communications catalog.

  16. Just taking the time to care and do the following can help! • Get the person’s attention first! • Face the person – Have light on your face • Speak up, but do not shout • Speak slowly and clearly – don’t overemphasize • Cut our background noise by turning off TV or radio • Rephrase rather than repeat a misunderstood sentence • Write important information to be sure it is understood • Have the person repeat vital facts to be sure they are correct

  17. Need Help? • The League for the Hard of Hearing has been helping people with hearing loss and their families since 1910. We are there for you. If you have any questions concerning hearing loss, communication access, health care access or League services the Public Education Department of the League is here to help. Feel free to call 917-305-7809 or email aboyle@lhh.org.

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