Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia1 Self Help For the Hard of Hearing People This presentation may be freely used by any SHHH Chapters. It’s available for download from

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia2 Did you know: There are 28 million Americans with a hearing loss There are 28 million Americans with a hearing loss The largest disability and growing The largest disability and growing 1/3 over age 65 have a hearing loss 1/3 over age 65 have a hearing loss “Invisible” disability “Invisible” disability You are NOT alone with your hearing loss You are NOT alone with your hearing loss There are many, many ways to improve a hearing loss There are many, many ways to improve a hearing loss

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia3 Do I have a hearing loss? Do I: Do I:  turn the television volume louder than others?  Misunderstand 50 for 15 or 60 for 16?  Have trouble understanding people speaking to me from another room?  Miss the punch line of jokes?  Seem to hear words but do not understand them?  Have a history of ear infections, earaches, or ringing ears?

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia4 Test yourself Do you suffer from: Do you suffer from:  Feeling of inadequacies?  Down in the dumps?  Isolation?  Loneliness?  Denial?

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia5 Am I: Am I:  Accused of not paying attention? Can I: Can I:  Hear better with one ear than the other on the phone? Have I: Have I:  Stopped attending plays and lectures because of the strain exerted to hear what is being said? Test yourself (cont.)

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia6 How can a hearing loss be improved? Education Education Medical Medical Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Psychological Psychological Spiritual Spiritual Preventive Preventive Research Research

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia7 Education Learn all you can about hearing loss Learn all you can about hearing loss Listen carefully today Listen carefully today Ask the Senior Citizens Council for information on hearing loss Ask the Senior Citizens Council for information on hearing loss Read all you can about hearing loss Read all you can about hearing loss Ask Questions Ask Questions

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia8 Medical Find a compassionate, caring hearing health professional Find a compassionate, caring hearing health professional  Get a medical exam  Have a hearing test by a certified audiologist  Understand your audiogram  Follow recommendations for a hearing aid  Be familiar with Menière's disease, Tinnitus, ototoxicity and other medical terms. Good competent medical advice is a must Good competent medical advice is a must

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia9 Assistive Technology What is it? What is it?  Hearing Aids  Telecoil  Personal Amplifiers  FM/Infrared systems put the sound in the ear  Closed Captioning  Computers A little help goes a long way! A little help goes a long way!

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia10 Telecoil A switch that changes a microphone to an electromagnetic induction A switch that changes a microphone to an electromagnetic induction Allows you to use the telephone without feedback/squeal Allows you to use the telephone without feedback/squeal Connects your hearing aid with other things. Connects your hearing aid with other things. Reduces noise Reduces noise Compensates for distance and poor acoustics Compensates for distance and poor acoustics

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia11 Three types of Hearing Assistive Technology Telecommunications equipment and peripherals Telecommunications equipment and peripherals Alerting devices Alerting devices Assistive listening devices Assistive listening devices

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia12 Telephones Amplification Amplification Loud ringer Loud ringer Clear sound Clear sound Try them out with an understanding that you can return them if they do not work Try them out with an understanding that you can return them if they do not work Some Special Phones for Hearing Loss Some Special Phones for Hearing Loss  Clarity (available on the web and at Radio Shack)  Ameriphone (available in catalogs and the web) Text Telephones (TTY) Text Telephones (TTY) CapTel (check availability at CapTel (check availability at

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia13 Alerting Devices Fire alarm Fire alarm Telephone Ringer Telephone Ringer Door bell Door bell Weather alert Weather alert Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors Motion Detector Motion Detector Alarm Clock Alarm Clock

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia14 Assistive Listening Devices “Binoculars” for the ears “Binoculars” for the ears Increase loudness of specific sounds Increase loudness of specific sounds Bring sound directly into the hearing aid or ear Bring sound directly into the hearing aid or ear Minimize background noise Minimize background noise Reduce effect of distance between HOH person and sound source Reduce effect of distance between HOH person and sound source

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia15 Assistive Listening Devices (cont.) Override poor acoustics Override poor acoustics Used in large areas, one-on-one, restaurants and for television viewing Used in large areas, one-on-one, restaurants and for television viewing FM receivers FM receivers Infrared receivers Infrared receivers Inductive loop Inductive loop

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia16 Assistive Listening Devices (cont.) Can be used for social, educational, entertainment, home/personal Can be used for social, educational, entertainment, home/personal Americans with Disabilities requires that these devices will be available in certain public places like museums and theaters. Americans with Disabilities requires that these devices will be available in certain public places like museums and theaters. Not required in churches Not required in churches It’s up to you to learn how to use them and to ask for them It’s up to you to learn how to use them and to ask for them

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia17 Spiritual Seek spiritual help from our Creator in living life to its fullest in spite of our loss Seek spiritual help from our Creator in living life to its fullest in spite of our loss  Accept our hearing loss  be all we can be with what we have Make sure our houses of worship are meeting our needs to hear Make sure our houses of worship are meeting our needs to hear

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia18 Preventive Get Sound Advice Get Sound Advice  Rock concerts and firecrackers are too loud  Boom cars and snowmobiles are too loud  Chain saws are too loud  Wood shops are too loud  Lawn mowers and motorcycles are too loud Use ear plugs and help reduce noise pollution Use ear plugs and help reduce noise pollution

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia19 Research What can we do for research in hearing loss? What can we do for research in hearing loss?  Will temporal bones for research  Participate in research activities  Support research efforts So many good things happening in hearing research that people with good hearing will want our gadgets to hear better! So many good things happening in hearing research that people with good hearing will want our gadgets to hear better!

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia20 Coping Strategies Be honest Be honest Resist the urge to bluff Resist the urge to bluff If background noise is a problem, eliminate it or find a quieter place to talk If background noise is a problem, eliminate it or find a quieter place to talk Carry a pad and pencil Carry a pad and pencil Ask people to face you when they speak Ask people to face you when they speak Ask speakers to remove gum or obstacles from their mouths Ask speakers to remove gum or obstacles from their mouths

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia21 Organizations Self Help for the Hard of Hearing People Self Help for the Hard of Hearing People   Call  Get on the mailing list AARP AARP National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Aging Information Center National Institute on Aging Information Center

Developed by Carrie Welter, SHHH Augusta Chapter, Georgia22 Remember You are not alone! You are not alone! There is help! There is help! Be persistent and assertive in receiving help Be persistent and assertive in receiving help A hearing handicap can be overcome! A hearing handicap can be overcome!