For the HEARING IMPAIRED

I know for sure there are three of us on BAF and some of us have loved ones who are HOH (hard of hearing).....just wanted to tell you about another GREAT ALD.

We discussed the CAPtel phone....but for those of you who work and have problems in meetings....here are two options:

1. Have your audiologist order you an FM system to use with your hearing aid or purchase the "listen up" amplifier to use with your aid in meetings.

2. (this is what I am about to do).....research CART services. I am so independent I do not like depending on people at work....and I DARE anyone tell me b/c of my disablity I cannot perform ~scoffs~ This service charges by the hour....your local BVR or your JOB should pay the fee!

If local, a CART interpreter will come to your office for meetings and type EVERYTHING that is being said on a computer for you to see.....if not local, they will only need a speaker phone and you will need a laptop with internet connection and they will type the meeting for you.....VOICE over CAPTION.....

That way, you can attend meetings and not have to keep saying, "I'm sorry, can you repeat that!?"  Though some say, they don't mind, really they do....so I stay one step ahead and find new devices for HOH professionals!

Hey DeeDee,

How are you? I hope all is well.   I've been wanting to talk you.  Feel free to hit me on the BL.  My daughter is hearing impaired.  Has a mild to moderate permanent hearing loss.  Born that way.  She's in highschool now and I can not get her to wear her hearing aids.  I'm trying to make her understand that part of her struggles academically is because she can not hear the full instruction.  Now as you know, she is the best lip reader in the world, but that's not enough.  Any words of advice that can help me help her.  I fought to get her some new hearing aids that are digital she just won't wear them.  HELP ME PLEASE.... 

Try to get the open fit hearing aid.....sounds like her loss is a nerve deafness (I have a nerve deafness) rather than conductive. The open fit is still a BTE (behind the ear) aid, but they come in all types of cool colors and instead of an ear mold, you have like a little wire in the ear....it looks more like a blue tooth! I am getting new aids now and I hope I can get an open fit. Also, try to always use good brands like Oticon or Phonak.....let her look at them on the website and see some she may like.

If she still does not like hearing aids, see if she will wear an amplifier in class....That way she can take it off and she won't feel "different".

I will be willing to converse with her.....I started to lose my hearing at 10 years old....so I have been there, done that. Also, see if there is a deaf school in your area....take her to visit while the kids are there and it will TOTALLY change her life!

Thanks Dee.

She's been in school since the age of 3 because they (Boston) had an Aural/Oral program at a Hearing impaired school (or actually a regular school attached to a hearing impaired school).  Her hearing loss was detected early, thank God so I was proactive in getting her all the help she needed early on.  She did so well there until it was time to go to middle school and everything started to change.  It's definitely a nerve damage issue.  Since the state give me aid to purchase her hearing aids, she will not be able to get another pair for 3 more years.  So I am going to have to purchase them myself.  She definitely knows that there is a substantial difference in her communicating with them on and with them off.  I know it's a self-esteem thing at this point, but I always tell her, to hell with those kids in school.  You need to wear them.  But thanks for the advice.  I am going to check out the websites.  When she went to the audiologist last spring, we saw the Oticon ones and they where really nice, she liked them.  But the dr. said that with the type of hearing loss she has, they won't work for her.  Crushed her little heart.... So we ended up getting some in the ear ones that are bigger in size and digital.  They seemed to be working she just stopped wearing them

Thanks again and I will keep you updated.

Kim

Right, I get state purchased aids.....but if she has in the ear aids, she is still fortunate....there is a difference in the conductive loss and nerve loss aids. The ones I am speaking of are BTE aids...if she has an in the ear aid, her loss is not that bad yet LOL....I have always had a loss so great, the power will not fit in a canal or in the ear aid. I have to wear BTEs.

It's not so much self-esteem as much as, with a nerve deafness, you don't really lose SOUND...you lose pitch.  So, though I can hear you, I still cannot understand because your B's sounds like V's to me and your C's sounds like CHs and your T's sounds like Ses....and without the correct hearing aids, it makes the hearing WORSE!

She will build up her confidence....and she will begin to tell people how to talk to her....she will set people in place.....and she will APPRECIATE you.....you can always say, her aids are not helping and you researched XYZ aids and ask to trade in her aids. You may have to pay a small fee!


http://www.phonak.com/consumer/products/instruments.htm  These are the ones I WANT!  They are less visible than an in the ear aid!

Do you have a CapTel phone for her?

Hey DeeDee,

Those are the hearing aids she saw and wanted, but then they told her she couldn't have those ones, that they wouldn't benefit her.   How do they know? LOL

What's a CapTel phone?  I did get a phone from Verizon that was recommended from the hearing aid place.  It also came with these loud ringer supports.  OMG!  The thing is loud, the problem was/is the phone jack in her room (where she spends ALL of her time) does not work, so I have to contact Verizon to come and fix the jack first.  But she NEVER answers the phone at home. Drives me crazy!!!  I'm like, I know you hear that?  We fight about that ALL the time. So I am making it a priority to get her jack fixed.

Thanks again, for all your help.  I will definitely be conversing with you again about this, I know it....  I would love for you to talk to her as well....

Impossible! Find another audiologist!!!!!  BTEs are made for every hearing loss....I mean, I am not an audiologist, BUT I was born this way and I am 35 now...OKAY!?

If she has an ITE aid, it is less powerful than ANY BTE aid.....did she go to an ENT office to see an audiologist?

Yes, she goes to the same audiologist she's being going to for years.  They are the ones who did her hearing test, etc. and modified so that she could get new aids before time.  The hearing aid place which also has an audiologist are the ones who told me that the hearing aid she wanted, would not be suitable for her type of hearing loss.  Should I have gotten another opinion?  This really sucks because we have been dealing with this for so long and will have to the rest of her life.  I just want her to find a pair that works for her and that she will actually wear.  No that I think about it, they probably said those wouldn't work because they knew the state would not pay for them.  I am willing to pay some money towards whatever works for her and whatever she will wear.  It's so frustrating....

Every state is different, but normally, when an audiologist recommend something, the state purchases it....meaning

The ones I have been recommened are $2200 EACH......the ones I want I think are like 300 more.....SINCE I only want one....I don't wear the right ear one. They will pay the 2500 for the left one.....They paid 1800 for me an FM system....

NORMALLY most states will spend up to 10K....you can email or PM me if you want more privacy....there are more than one agency......I can give you details to research if you want

for instance:  EASTER SEALS ~good but have a 3 year limit---or medical emergency clause~
Then you have BVR ~bureau of vocational rehab~ GREAT, but slow as New England summers LOL ~there financial support is great and THEY give you a counselor and partners with Goodwill at their expense~

Never hesitate to contact me via PM or email if you need me ~smooches~

Thank you so much DeDee.  I will email you because I do have some questions.  I told my daugther about you last night and she was impressed that you are doing so well and hearing impaired.  She is so goal driven and I encourage her do whatever she wants.  However, I ALWAYS let her know that if you don't help yourself, no one else will.

Thanks again.