For those of you having problems hearing in a business meeting, the following link may give you some new things to try.  For more information, you can also go to my 4 part series that deals with the challenges of the work environment when you have hearing loss.

http://www.healthyhearing.com/articles/34871-hearing-loss-and-business

The four part series can be found at:

http://community.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/hears_to_life/archive/2008/07/10/so-how-are-you-doing-on-the-job-with-your-hearing-loss.aspx 

http://community.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/hears_to_life/archive/2008/07/11/communication-in-the-workplace.aspx

http://community.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/hears_to_life/archive/2008/07/13/making-a-list-of-communication-barriers-at-work.aspx

http://community.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/hears_to_life/archive/2008/07/14/interventions-in-the-workplace-to-help-you-hear-better.aspx

Have a great week!

Copyright 2009 Tami Klink

I've been in the hearing loss world for most of my life and there is something that I just don't get.  When you go to an audiologist, you leave with the following:

1.  You have a hearing loss.

2.  You have information on the hearing aids they want to sell you.

3.  You are shocked that your insurance probably won't pay for this.

4.  You know (deep down) that you probably should pay thousands of dollars so that you can continue to 'live' in the hearing world.

But, there's a really big piece of this puzzle missing!  You don't have any information on what other resources/services are out there.

I cannot understand why most Audiologists don't give you a piece of paper that has all of the support groups, online hearing resources, ect. on it.  Are they afraid that if all of us somehow get in touch with one another that we will find a better, less expensive way to address our hearing problems?  Are they uncomfortable that we may find out that the product that they are recommending really isn't that great?  Or better yet, are they concerned that we may find out that the audiological evaluation that we just paid for wasn't as good as it should have been?

I can't tell you how many audiologists I've been in touch with that will not give out this additional information.  I know that when I started the HLAA-Lake Country Chapter hearing loss group, I sent the announcement along with information on the group to all of the Audiologists in Waukesha County.  Out of the 34 places that it went to, I got one response and that was from a place that was interested in getting the names of the members so that they could sell their hearing aids to us.  Not a single one handed out the information to their patients.  And, there is no charge for anyone in our group to join or attend meetings!  So, they couldn't very well justify their decision on withholding the information based on the fact that we were trying to make money off of this segment of the population.  I run into people all of the time that are so frustrated and don't know how to get this information.  It's not that hard!  There are many groups/resources out there that will give you all of the information that you need free of charge.  For those of you that don't have internet access/computers, this will be even more difficult to find.  Why don't they want us to know about the State services, TEPP voucher program, Public venues with Assisted Listening Devices?  Talk about becoming totally dependent on the audiologist...

There are many places out there that are more interested in selling hearing aids rather than becoming a team player with the patient.  I think that all audiologists should be required by the State to also give out this additional information.  It should be viewed as a consumer right.  After all, how many of us go out and purchase other big ticket items without first being able to research our choices?

That's my beef for the week.  Have a good one!

Copyright 2009 Tami Klink

Don't Miss the Holiday Open House at UniversaLink at CDHH   Wednesday, December 10 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM     Curious about what devices are available to help you or a loved one hear or communicate better?  Join the staff at UniversaLink for some holiday cheer and find out what's new in Hearing Assistance Technology for 2009! 

• See live demonstrations of new equipment as well as some UniversaLink staff favorites
• Receive special one-day discounts on all holiday items, ASL novelties, books, DVDs and gift items
• Get information about the Wisconsin TEPP program and how it can help pay for equipment you need
• Learn about other programs and services available at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Register by December 8 and you'll also be entered into a special raffle!

Light refreshments will be provided.  Please RSVP before December 9 by calling 414-604-2200 or emailing universalink@cdhh.org.   We hope to see you there! Can't make it to the Open House?  Visit the UniversaLink catalog online at www.cdhh.org and find great holiday gift ideas for your friends and family!

The Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is located at 10243 W. National Ave. in West Allis, WI.  I highly encourage anyone with hearing loss to go to this open house and see what is available for you!

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

Getting a few questions on this little gizmo, so I've gone to the 2 sources that I know the best to answer your questions!  Thanks to Williams Sound and UniversaLink at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in West Allis, WI.

The Pocketalker is really an amazing and versatile little gadget used by those with hearing loss.  It is a nice piece of equipment for those with hearing aids as well as those that have opted for whatever reasons not to have hearing aids.  It enables you to do many things a lot easier than you normally would when it comes to hearing what is going on.

I know people that have gotten this and for the first time are now feeling that they can confidently be with a small group of people and hear most of what is being said.  I've also seen people recently that have gone to the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing UniversaLink store and are now able to watch TV at home with their families and spouses in peace!  They no longer have to turn the TV volume up to the point where it is too loud for their non-hearing challenged family members to watch.  No more watching TV in separate rooms!  You would not believe how much of a negative impact this alone has had on families and marriages.  When you are in 2 separate rooms, you really miss out on the conversation with family members or spouses regarding what is going on with the show that you are watching.  Not to mention the fact of having couples in their beds at night trying to watch TV only to end up having an argument on how loud the volume is...

So, for those of you out there, I've included 2 links for you to check out this product.  The first one is going to take you straight to the owners manual from Williams Sound.  It's in English, Spanish and French.  Sorry, I could not find any other languages for those of you living in Japan!  Here's the link:  http://www.williamssound.com/files/PKTPROman.pdf

The second link is going to take you to the UniversaLink website where you will find 2 versions of this product.  They are the Pocketalker Pro priced at $164.95 and the Pocketalker Ultra (a sleeker version with external tone control) priced at $179.00.  John Kinstler is a pro at UniversaLink and if you give him a call or send him an email, he will be more than happy to help you out!  Here's the link:  http://www.cdhh.org/catalog.php  If you are using a TEPP voucher, by scrolling down on the website page, you can find out how to tell if the Voucher will cover something that you are looking at getting.  For those of you wanting to know more about the TEPP Voucher program, please click on TEPP in the tags area located on the right hand side of this column and that will take you to more information from other postings.

So, with Christmas coming up, think about someone in your family that might really like this!  There is a 5 year warranty and at UniversaLink, you can always 'test drive' a product to make sure it's a good fit for you.

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

Another personal story for you.  Again, I don't use the persons' real name so that their privacy is protected.  So far, over 8,000 of you have sent me your stories.  I will try my best to get them in a column!

Ed is a 35 year old from the Midwest.  He is married and has 4 children.  Ed has had a mild to profound loss in the mid to high tones for about 5 years now.  He first started noticing that he was not hearing everything when the 2nd child was born and his wife pointed out that he did not hear the child crying at night while asleep.  He also noticed that he was not hearing the alarm clock in the morning and his wife was having to wake him up.

As far as the cause for Ed's hearing loss, he's still trying to put the pieces together on that one.  He thinks that it might have something to do with being a volunteer for the annual 4th of July fireworks show in his town each year.  He started helping set off the fireworks display when he was in his early 20's and being a guy, just didn't see the need for wearing his ear protection all of the time.  Besides, 'it was almost impossible to talk to the other guys if you had earplugs in'.  He doesn't recall any particular moment when his ears were painful or he thought that maybe this could be hurting his hearing.

Ed's right ear has tested a little worse than his left.  He got his first audiological exam at the age of 29 and the recommendation then was to get 1 hearing aid for the right ear and then monitor the left one.  Unfortunately, Ed went to a hearing aid distributor located in a Department Store kiosk area.  He didn't know that much about hearing aids and was easily led to getting one that really was not a good fit for him.  When he tried to return it a couple of weeks later, he was told that since he had already worn it, they could not take it back due to 'health regulations'.  They also wanted to charge him for adjustments when he again came back after having had it for about 1 month.  So, eventually Ed started leaving the hearing aid in the box instead of wearing it due to the issues that he was having with it.

For those of you wanting to know more about hearing aid return policies, please go to my column on this.  Here's the link:  http://community.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/hears_to_life/archive/2008/04/28/hearing-aid-return-policies.aspx

After a couple of years, Ed realized that he was not 'hearing' all that he really should.  His wife was 'nagging' him about having to repeat things and there were even times when arguments were occur due to his not having heard something correctly.  With his children having high pitched voices, he was also missing a lot of what they were saying to him.  One day, his oldest son had a friend over and Ed overheard his son saying that his Dad was 'kind of dumb' since he sometimes answered his questions wrong.  This made Ed realize that he was not really setting a good example for his kids or even his wife by ignoring the problem.  So, he decided to investigate what options were out there.

This time, Ed decided to ask for some help as well as support from his wife.  He really didn't want to go back to the place where he had gotten his first hearing aid, but also didn't know of any other 'hearing aid stores'.  So, his wife got on the computer and started searching for answers.  They came across my columns and I got an email from the both of them.

We looked into what resources were available in their area and we were also able to find a good audiologist that Ed's company insurance would cover the cost of.  Unfortunately, they didn't have anything similar to our Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, but we were able to find a Hearing Aid distributor that was selling all brands of hearing aids.  They checked with the State Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and were able to narrow their choices down to a good one when it came to honesty and patient care.

Ed's wife went with him for the hearing test.  She was able to shed some light to the audiologist as well as Ed on just what he was missing and the circumstances surrounding the missed conversations.  This was very helpful in that it gave the audiologist a good look at what exactly Ed would need in the way of programming and type of hearing aid.  After ear mold fitting and trials of 2 different types of hearing aids, Ed was fitted with 2 aids once he realized how important it was to have binaural hearing.

Ed has now had his hearing aids for about 3 months.  He has noticed that he is getting his confidence back and things are going much better at home and work.  He says that the hardest part for him was admitting that there was a problem.  They had a few rough spots in the beginning and had to tell the kids how to help Dad out by not yelling for the first couple of weeks.  He's amazed at how 'loud' the world is, but also knows that it will take some time for his brain to adjust to all of the new sounds that the audiological nerve is sending to it.

Recently, his oldest Son had a Parents Day at school.  He asked Ed to come and talk about his job as well as his hearing loss.  This was a big step for Ed to take since he had spent so much time trying to hide what he thought was a deficit in his image to his peers.  But, he found that once he started speaking to the class, another inner door opened for him and this led to him being a lot more comfortable talking about his hearing loss.  It was nice to know that even though he had a hearing problem, this no longer had any effect on how he 'measured up' to others.  And, the kids had lots of questions on just how his hearing aids worked.   

Ed's wife has also become one of his biggest advocates in that she is now more tuned in to other people and doesn't hesitate to tell them about Ed's journey.  They've also started attending an HLAA group in their area.  Originally, they thought that most of the group would be retirement age, but were very surprised to see people close to their age that they knew from their town with hearing loss issues.

They are now looking into their State's version of the TEPP Voucher Program.  Since Ed doesn't sleep with his hearing aids in at night, he still has to depend on his wife to wake him up.  He also wants to be able to hear the phone ring at night since the kids are now starting to spend time away from the house.  So, this Christmas, his family is getting him a new phone as well as an alarm clock for the 'hearing challenged'.  And, Ed is looking into installing a loop system in his 'man room' so that when he has the guys over to watch football, he can hear every single comment concerning the game. 

Now, if those Chicago Bears could just win a bit more....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

I'm still getting a lot of questions on where to go for more information on different topics regarding hearing loss.  So, I've compiled all that I know of in one column for you.  Feel free to click on the links.  Special Thanks to the Wisconsin Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in obtaining some of this information!

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):  www.asha.org/default.htm

ASHA is the professional, scientific and credentialing association for more than 127,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists and Speech, Language and Hearing scientists.  Click on 'The Public" for resources.

Audiology Online:  www.audiologyonline.com

Source of news, information, training and education offerings (live E-seminars, recorded courses, text-based courses) from many manufacturers of hearing aids, cochlear implants, batteries, ect.  Many courses are free!

Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CDHH):  www.cdhh.org

Provides comprehensive programs and services that enhance communication and promote independence.  Located in West Allis, WI.  Also home of the UniversaLink store where TEPP vouchers can be filled out and used for telecommunications equipment as well as many other D/HOH equipment needs.  Audiology Services are also located at the center.  This includes complete audiological evaluations, hearing aid fitting & selection and different classes for effective communication alternatives.  They can sell you any brand of hearing aid that you are looking for versus some 'Hearing Aid' stores that are restricted to selling only one brand.  This means that you will have several choices to find the best hearing instrument for your type of hearing loss and lifestyle.

DAWN (Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network):  www.dawninfo.org

Provides current information on state disability issues, state budget, legislative activity and national disability issue links.  Hearing aid legislation is currently included in their "Take Action" box.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance (DHHA):  www.dhha-wi.org

Provides opportunities for leadership and personal growth within the Signing (Deaf) community while respecting culture, language and a visual environment.

Deaf Bilingual Coalition (DBC):  www.deafbilingualcoalition.com

Promotes the basic human right of all deaf infants and young children to have access to language and cognitive development through American Sign Language (ASL).  National organization website at www.dbcusa.org

Deaf Empowerment (DE):  www.deafe.org

Provides services among Deaf and HOH individuals in the Fox River Valley area of Wisconsin.

Hearing Healthcare:  www.healthyhearing.com

Helpful information on hearing aids, hearing loss, cochlear implants, tinnitus and more.

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA):  www.hearingloss.org

Has lots of information on hearing loss as well as a link to all State chapters. 

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD):  www.nidcd.nih.gov/index.asp

Provides research information, health information and topics, news & events including information on communication methods and devices for people with hearing loss.

PACER Center:  www.pacer.org

The mission of PACER Center is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.

Postsecondary Education Programs Network (PEPNet):  www.pepnet.org

A National network of regional centers providing resources, information, in-service training and expertise to enhance educational opportunities for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI):  www.svri.uwstout.edu/

Provides solutions to positively impact the future of persons with disabilities and others in the community through education, research and services.  Archived newsletters and publications from SVRI may be available on their website.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA):  www.fda.gov/default.htm

Provides consumer health information.  Enter topic in "Search" engine.  For example:  Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss, Deafness, ect.

Wisconsin American Sign Language Teachers Association (Wisconsin ASLTA):  www.wiaslta.org

Site for information for the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Sign Language Teachers Association.  ASLTA is the only national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching of ASL and Deaf Studies at all levels of instruction.

Wisconsin Association of the Deaf (WAD):  www.wi-deaf.org

Site for information on State Chapter meetings and events.  National site is www.nad.org

Wisconsin Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (WisRID):  www.wisrid.org

Site for State information and events.  National website is:  www.rid.org

Wisconsin Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH):  http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/sensory/

Lots of information on everything from state programs to getting an interpretor for an event.  There are also regional offices located through out the state.

Dizzinews :  Is a vestibular disorders discussion group.  To subscribe, send an e-mail to:  majordomo@samurai.com  Leave the subject line blank.  In the body of the message type:  subscribe dizzinews

Meniere's Discussion Group :  www.menieres.org

Support and Information on Menieres as well as online discussion groups to join.

ParentDeaf-HH:  A list serve for the discussion of parenting issues faced by parents raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Parents, educators and professionals are invited to subscribe.  This discussion list is sponsored by the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) to provide a forum for parents to share their questions, concerns, successes and failures with others.  To subscribe, send an email message to listproc@list.educ.kent.edu.edu  Leave the subject line blank.  In the body of the message type:  subscribe ParentDeaf-HH and your real name(not your screen name!).

SayWhatClub:  www.saywhatclub.com

An on-line group of over 200 late deafened and hard of hearing people who provide support and encouragement to each other through e-mail.  If you'd like more information about joining the SayWhatClub, contact:  info@saywhatclub.com 

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

As promised, here's another State's resources for those of you not living in Wisconsin.  Special thanks to Judy Palnau from the Michigan Public Service Commission for sending me the information on the Cap-Tel Service as well as the Report to the Legislature from Jan. 2008.  If you have any questions for her, she can be reached at 517-241-3323.  It's rare that I actually hear from a governmental office and Judy went above and beyond in order to make sure that I got the correct information.

The following resources are for Michigan only.  I have included the links to their websites.  I would suggest that if you have questions, you should contact that particular resource for answers.

Michigan Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - http://www.madhs.org/

Dr. David Myers website on Hearing Loop systems and information on how they are used - www.hearingloop.org  This gentleman has taken a lot of time to find out all that he can regarding loop systems.  His work is known though out the world and he is actually going to be our keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Hearing Loss Association State Convention on Oct. 3rd and 4th in Menomonie, WI.  He's succeeded in getting many public venues looped in Michigan.  He KNOWS what he is talking about!  Kudos to you, David!

For those of you wanting to know what the Michigan population of Deaf and Hard of Hearing is, there are statistics by Counties on one of the State of Michigan government websites.  The link is:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Estimate_Report__02-05_119430_7.pdf    The data is from 2005.

The State of Michigan Disability Resource page is at http://www.michigan.gov/disabilityresources  There are several categories here that will take you to numerous informational things.

CapTel Service and equipment for Michigan:  http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-16400_17280-147050-,00.html

MPSC's Michigan Telecommunications Relay Center Advisory Board Report to the Legislature from Jan. 2008:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/mrc08_220030_7.pdf

E-Michigan Deaf and Hard of Hearing People website:  http://www.michdhh.org/  Lots of additional information and resource links!

And of course, the Hearing Loss Association of America has many chapters located in Michigan.  They also have Cochlear Implant Support Chapters.  These can be found at http://www.hearingloss-mi.org/ 

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

If you don't have anything to do on Thursday, Aug. 14th, feel free to attend our Chapter meeting!  We have a great speaker lined up for this one.  Her name is Kim Bruno and she's a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf and HOH at the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 

For more information on this department please go to:  http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dvr/

For those of you in the workplace or looking for a job, her department guides you through those steps as well as helps to obtain what you need to keep or get a job in the first place.  This can include (based on budget constraints) assistive listening devices, hearing aids, telecommunication equipment via the TEPP program, counseling and job placement.

Any resident of the State of Wisconsin is eligible for these services.  Kim has been kind enough to put us on her schedule and we really appreciate that!  For those of you that have not heard of these services from your audiologist, it's probably because they are not a State approved vendor/provider with the State and if they told you of these things, they would lose your business to someone that is.  In my view, this is just plain wrong.  We all work hard for our money and depend on our hearing specialists to let us know of the many ways that we can afford hearing services.  I've met a lot of people that don't have hearing aids due to the cost and having insurance that won't pay for them.  And, it still aggravates me to hear of the number of people that don't use the telephone because they can't afford to buy a hearing impaired one.  Makes me wonder how some of our so called medical professionals sleep at night.....

The meeting starts at 6:30pm.  We meet at the Wales Community Center located at 216 W. South St. in Wales, WI.  Send me an email if you are attending so that we have plenty of chairs set up!  You don't have to be a member of HLAA to attend and the meetings are free. 

Have a great week! 

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

This is for all of you flat-landers out there.  I've been getting emails from all over the country from people wanting to know what services are available for them in different states.  Give me a little time and I'll get other state information on here.  In the meantime, let me know if you know of a great resource not located in Wisconsin and I'll be happy to check it out.

In Illinois, the Illinois Dept. of Human Services has the following information for residents of that state.  One of the things that I thought was kind of cool, was their use of an online classifieds for people looking for hearing loss equipment, technology and assistive devices.  You post what you are looking for or no longer using and people connect with you.  This involves your having to put an email address on the site.  I would assume that since it is a State website, it is secure.  But, you will have to direct any of those questions to the site itself.  So, here's the link:  http://www.iltech.org/classifieds/Classifiedslist.aspx

If you are looking for services in Illinois such as help getting a job, preparing to enter the job market and needing technology or training or would just like to know what's available for your particular situation, the Illinois Dept. of Human Services has a very nice website with lots of information on it.  This can be accessed by going to http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?=29727 

For the services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in Illinois that link is:  http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29975   This is where you will find what is available as well as the online forms to apply for job help, training, technology assistance, ect.

Another good State of Illinois website is the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.  That link is:  http://www.idhhc.state.il.us/  

From what I can find, Illinois does have a 'voucher' program for telecommunications equipment.  It is called the Illinois Telecommunications Access Program.  Their website is located at:  http://www.itactty.org/pages/about-itac.php  You are eligible for 1 piece of equipment every 4 years.  The funds for this come from a charge on your landline phone bill.  Very similar to the Wisconsin TEPP program. 

For those of you looking for a support group on hearing loss, I would definitely recommend Hearing Loss Association of America.  If you go to their website located at:  www.hearingloss.org  In the icons at the top of the page you will see 'locate chapters'.  Click on it and that will take you to a U.S. map.  Click on the state that you live in to find where your chapters are located.  They are a great resource for everyone dealing with hearing loss or living with someone who is.

I've looked online to see if there are any Centers for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Illinois that are similar to our Center up here in West Allis.  I have not been able to find any.  If anyone knows of a great place that is non-profit, let me know and I'll add it to this column.  The key to controlling your costs for services and hearing aids is to find a place that is non-profit.  They are a lot less likely to be taking advantage of your pocketbook.  And, they will freely tell you about all of the programs available to you without the fear of losing your business.  That is because they are probably a State approved vendor of Services which means that for the most part, you can get all of your needs addressed at one place.  This includes audiograms, classes, equipment, hearing aids, ect.  I've found that if they are not a State approved vendor, they tend to not tell you about any programs or services that you are entitled to at a free or reduced rate based on your income, needs and type of loss. 

Hearing Loss is a big money maker now with one out of ten people having it.  After the age of 65, the number goes to one in three.  If you are a veteran, don't forget to check with the VA if it's possible that your hearing loss was a direct result of your service in the military.  After all, you've fought for our freedom, hearing loss is worth defeating also!

Have a great week! 

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

This is the fourth and final column on Communication in the Workplace.  If you missed the other three just go back to the previous columns to catch up on what we've talked about so far.  You've made the list of all of the problems that you are having when it comes to hearing and being able to do your job.  Now what?  Here are few ideas for you.  If any of you have any other ones, feel free to post them in the comment section.  There are always new things coming out for those of us with hearing loss and we need to get the word out to others!

Here are a few that I know of.  If you need more information you can always type what you are looking for in your search engine and learn more.  I am in no way an expert on any of them.  Some of them I have and use and others I have not yet looked into.

Hearing Aids - I've written a lot of this subject.  If you click on the tag at the bottom of the columns, it will take you to the columns that I've put comments or information in about hearing aids.  Bottom line is, if you have a hearing loss you really do need to go and check these things out.  I know that they are expensive and most insurance won't cover the cost.  But, if this is going to enable you to keep your job as well as your relationships on a positive note, they are well worth the investment.  Once you get them, you are going to have to be patient and take the time to become used to them.  It's going to change the way you hear things and let you hear things that you have not heard in a long time or as in my case, never before.  It's a frustrating as well as humorous thing to go through.  Oh, the stories that my family could tell...

Assistive Listening Devices - Some education and training is going to be needed once you get these.  Employers would be looked upon very favorably if they made this into an all office thing.  John Kinstler and his staff at the UniversaLink store at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing now go to workplaces as well as some homes to facilitate this.  It's a great service.  Feel free to contact them and set up an appointment. 

Visual displays - For some meetings the use of CART (Computer Assisted Real-Time Captioning will be a big help to those with hearing loss.  Margo Lucas is our CART person for our Southern Wisconsin Lake Country HLAA meetings here in Wales.  She would be happy to answer any questions you may have on obtaining this service for your company.  She can be reached at SeeingtheWord@wi.rr.com or by cell at 262-442-6676.  CART enables those in meeting situations to read what the conversation is as it is being spoken on a screen.  It is the same technology that is used by Court Reporters.  In our case, Margo provides the equipment.  This is good for training programs, video conferences, televised education programs and videotapes.  It's interesting to see how many normal hearing people also like this service since some of us 'learn' better by reading instead of listening.

Alerting Devices - I'll never forget the first time we drove up our driveway at night after installing the alerting devices for the telephone, doorbell and smoke alarm to see lights flashing all over the house.  Kind of looked like a 70's disco!  But seriously, these alerting devices are just another way for a hard of hearing person to 'see' if the phone, doorbell or smoke alarm is ringing.  I can be in room where there is no phone and be alerted by the flashing light if it is ringing.  And, if there's someone at the door, they no longer think that I'm ignoring them.  For those of you that need a little extra help from an alarm clock, those are also available with flashing lights or a 'bed shaker'.  Believe me, you will wake up!  And, no more worries about being late for work or having to rely on someone else to get you up in time.  In an office setting, it takes the stress out of having to work hard to hear the phones or even the fire alarm.

Education about Hearing Loss - Most people who are hard of hearing know very little about hearing loss.  Why would normal hearing people be any different?  Education via your computer searches, audiologist, Hearing Loss magazine (a part of your membership in the Hearing Loss Association of America), and even your friends with hearing loss is an ongoing process for all of us.  Take the time to try and educate those around you so that they are on the same playing field as you when it comes to positive communication strategies.

Coping Strategies Training/Education - You need to be able to tell people what to do in order to communicate with them better.  You need the opportunities to practice doing it.  And, you need feedback on how well you are doing with it.  Where do you get all of this?  From my own personal experience, I've taken the speechreading/lipreading classes at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in West Allis through Pam Bergum.  You can contact her at 414-604-7209 or by email at pbergum@cdhh.org  They have many classes available based on your particular needs.  She can come to your workplace and get all of the employees involved or meet with you one on one or in small groups.  You will need to be able to identify the causes of your communication problems, solicit behavior changes from those that you communicate with, remind them when they inevitably forget and model the communication behavior you desire from others.  Believe it or not, these classes have been both humorous and very informative and even after thinking that I knew all that there was to know when it came to lipreading, found that there were a lot of bad habits that I had developed over the years that in hindsight caused me to have negative communication experiences.

Manual Communication Training - People with profound hearing loss as well as those that will most likely become deaf can certainly benefit from sign language classes.  These are also available at the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and can also be found on DVD at some libraries.  I used to know American Sign Language, but over the years have 'lost' it since I was not using it everyday.  In the work place setting, if the people that you are working with are willing to learn some of the signs, it would be a great help to you.  For those of you in the normal hearing world, there is a big misconception out there that if you are talking with someone that is hard of hearing that means that we know sign language.  Most hard of hearing do not use sign language.  The Ddeaf and Hard of Hearing cultures are two very different things.  So, don't make assumptions!

Counseling/Therapy - Let's face it, if you are just starting to experience a hearing loss after having had normal hearing most of your life, this is a very devastating thing to adjust to.  I'm lucky in that I've had it all of my life and don't know what it's like to live as a normal hearing person.  So, I've never had a problem accepting it.  But there are those out there that truly feel that this is the end of their world as they know it.  In these cases, employers would be very wise to offer some counseling and/or therapy.  Most company insurance plans cover the costs and it's a win/win situation for both sides considering that this will enable your valued employee to continue doing the great job that he had done for you over the years.  It's very frustrating to see how some employers gradually 'get rid' of the hard of hearing employee.  It doesn't have to end this way for either of you if you are both willing to take the time and figure out what needs to be done to keep the relationship positive in the workplace.  Try and put yourself in their shoes or better yet think about what you would do if it happened to one of your family members.

Relaxation Training - Stress, muscle tension and fatigue go hand-in-hand with hearing loss.  This can lead to a decline in job performance.  Check and see if there are yoga classes, relaxation classes, ect. offered through your employer.  These can be a great help in helping you to see the signs of when you've had too much for one day and what to do about it.

Cochlear Implants - Froedert Hospital has a really great Cochlear Implant program.  Our co-leader Jim Savageau had his first one at age 50 and is now checking into getting his other ear done.  I'm not good on this subject since it doesn't apply in my case.  But, if you have questions on this subject, Jim has volunteered to answer them by email.  He can be reached by phone at 262-367-9057 or email at jsavageau@wi.rr.com  Jim also attends a support group at Froedert if you are interested in learning more about that.  Cochlear Implants have enabled those that were classified as being deaf the ability to join the hearing world.  John Kinstler down at the UniversaLink store is another cochlear implant expert.  It is really amazing to see what both of these gentlemen have been able to do to enhance not only their lives, but also those around them.  It was a big step for both of them to take and I've really enjoyed watching their progress. 

Hopefully, these last 4 columns have helped you on having a more positive experience in the workplace.  As I learn more I will pass it on.  Let me know if there's a particular topic that you are needing more information on and I'll try my best to get a column up on it.  Who knows, we might all finally get the hearing world to the point where having a hearing loss isn't such a big deal anymore....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

This is part three of four on Communication in the Workplace.  The final column will be posted in the next few days. Here's a little homework for you.  It may help you to start your journey on making conversations in the workplace a bit easier.

We will go over the impact of Noise, Lighting, Behavior, Location, Distractions, Not using Hearing Aids, Not using Assistive Listening Devices (ALD's), Telephones and Alerting devices.  Look around your workplace and think about where you are having conversations as well as problems understanding them. 

Noise - This is a big one!  Are you having to deal with any of the following:  Voices of people talking, electronic equipment sounds, mechanical equipment sounds, echoing sounds, telephones ringing or construction sounds.  How might you minimize them or get yourself into a more quiet situation? 

Lighting - Is the lighting too bright or dim?  Is it shining in the person's eyes that you are trying to talk with?  This can make lipreading/speechreading more difficult for you. 

Behavior - Is the person looking at you when they are speaking?  Are they paying attention to what you are saying or are they distracted by something going on around them?  Are they repeating what they said when you are asking them to or getting frustrated with you and refusing to expound upon the subject matter?  Are they speaking too rapidly or softly?  Do they have a foreign accent?  Is that rather big mustache or beard getting in the way of their lips?  All good things to notice!  Once you figure out what the other person is not doing to help you out, you can now start 'retraining' them.  Don't get frustrated!  It's going to take efforts from all parties involved to finally get it into the normal hearing persons' behavior pattern to communicate your way.  Bad habits are hard to break!  And, to be honest here, normal hearing people don't even think about these things.  So, here's your chance to facilitate change.

Location - Are you trying to talk to people that are behind office dividers/cubbies?  Can you see their face at all times?  Is there too great of a distance between you and the other person so that you can't hear or see what they are saying?  Do you have to twist around just to have face to face contact with them and in the process lose the first few sentences of what they are talking to you about?  When someone comes up to you from behind and starts talking, you are probably not going to hear all of what they say.  Ask them to get your attention first! 

Distractions - Are there lots of things going on when you are trying to have a conversation at work?  People walking by and greeting both of you?  Sudden sounds or movements?  Lights flashing?  You will have to take charge of where these conversations are taking place if at all possible.  Look for the opportunity to hold the conversation in a private office or where there are the least amount of distractions for all parties involved. 

Not using Hearing Aids - Are you wearing hearing aids to work, but find that the background noises are just too distracting to the point where you are turning the volume down or the hearing aid off?  If you are, it's time to go back to your audiologist and get another program put on them.  All aids have switches on them that can have a minimum of 2 different hearing programs on them.  I have 4 on mine and when I push the toggle switch, a series of beeps tells me what program I am on.  You can have one for 360 degree hearing or everything around you and one for just the sounds that are coming at you from the front.  Don't forget to have them put the t-coil program on also!  These programs will help to eliminate the many background noises that are not allowing you to hear what is being said.  Of course this now means that you are going to have to get in the habit of pushing the toggle switch to go to the program that works best based on where the conversation is being held.  But, after you've done if for a few days, it becomes a habit and you don't even realize that you are doing it.

Not using Assistive Listening Devices (ALD's) - With the TEPP voucher program available in many states (see column on TEPP) there really is no reason for anyone to go without the many Assistive Listening Devices that are out there and approved for use by the program.  Many of the telecommunication devices can be used for other areas of listening.  Your TEPP provider will be more than happy to work with you on it.  If you want additional information on the provider here in Wisconsin, go to the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing UniversaLink website at www.cdhh.org  John Kinstler is there and he is a master of figuring out what will work in your situation.  It is also very possible that your employer will pick up the costs for this equipment in your workplace.  Let them know what you need and then send them to the website.  This enables you to have your own devices at home and additional ones at work.  If you are lucky enough to have a conference room set up with an induction loop system, you can use the t-coil program on your hearing aids to hook up to that.  This makes your hearing aids the receiver of all sounds within the looped area.  Kind of like a personal sound system.

Telephones - I used to hate these things!  I'd get on the phone and have to constantly ask the caller to repeat what they were saying.  Add in an accent and I was really in trouble.  I have a Clarity C4230 telephone.  It has speaker-phone, answering machine, caller ID, call waiting, a cordless handset and is compatible with my alerting devices that I have plugged in around different areas of the house and office.  These also work with the doorbell and once the grandkids come can be used in the room that they are in so that I won't miss anything that is going on.  A godsend!  A side-note here - No pressure Jeff and Lindsey to have kids yet!   And yes, the TEPP voucher program paid for all of it.  After all, I've been paying the additional charge on my land-line phone bill for years.  I might as well take advantage of the program.

Alerting Devices - Does your workplace use amplified phones, TTY or the telephone relay service?  Did you know that if you are using the telephone relay service there is no additional charge for this?  All that you have to do to access someone with the telephone relay service is dial 711 (at least in Wisconsin) and tell the operator that you wish to call a certain number.  They will then make the call for you and as the person is speaking, type the conversation so that you can read it on your TTY or CapTel phone.  This is a great service and many people don't know that there is no additional charge to either party for it.  Are there visual or tactual alerting devices in the work area?  This can consist of flashing lights when an alarm sounds or the telephone rings.  On my phone, doorbell and smoke detector, they are all connected to one alerting device that is plugged into a wall outlet and will flash a light on a lamp or a strobe light connected to the alerting device in the wall socket.  Takes a lot of the stress out of my life!

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

This is the second of four columns on Communication in the Workplace.  I will be posting the other two in the next week or so.

You've told your boss and co-workers about your hearing problem.  Now, what?  What do you need to figure out so that you can train all of them in your communication styles?

First of all, you need to make a list of who you communicate with.  If you start with them, it will eventually trickle down to those that you don't have daily interaction with.  Another topic for discussion at the 'water cooler'...  Possible people for your list are your boss, supervisors, co-workers, employees of other departments, clients, customers, contractors, security, custodians, ect.  You then need to ascertain how important it is to understand what each of these people are saying.  I would think that the number one in importance would be your boss.  When you get down to the security and custodian levels, you need to keep in mind that if there is an emergency in your area, Security will probably be moving pretty fast and not spending a lot of time explaining.  Custodians are a very important part of the workplace also in that they are the ones that you are going to to get things done within the facility.

Where do you communicate with these people normally?  Is it at your desk, in someone else's office, in a conference room, break room, in the car, at a counter in the store, hallway or via the phone?  Think about all of the different background noises in each of your communication situations.  How might you minimize them?  Do you need to move the conversation to a quiet area?  Would closing your office door help with the outside noises?  Do you need a phone for the hearing challenged? 

How does the communication occur?  Is it face to face, one on one, small group, large group, on a computer or speaker phone or by memo?  I love email in that I can see exactly what is being said.  Large groups are a challenge.  Trying to get everyone to follow the rule of only one person talking at a time tends to take the flow out of the conversation.  Telephones used to be a problem, but with all of the new ones out on the market now there is really no reason for you to not be able to use them unless you have a very profound loss and don't have any hearing aids with t-coils. 

How frequently does the communication occur?  Is it constant, several times a day, daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly?  For meetings, having an agenda beforehand is always helpful in that you will now know what the topics are that are being discussed.  You can jot down your thoughts ahead of time and be one step ahead.  Impromptu meetings are a challenge if you don't know what the topic is or what problems are going to be discussed.  Get people in the habit of emailing you beforehand so that you can at least see where the conversation may go.

Since getting the FM system on my hearing aids, I am amazed at how much easier it is to have conversations in any of the above situations.  I've had a lot of questions on just what exactly that thing is that I have in my hand or around my neck.  And, there have been a lot people thinking that I am recording what they are saying.  But, once I explain to them what it does and how it works, they are very curious as to how I now got my so called bionic hearing.  I find myself being able to have a relaxed conversation vs. a head bobbing one.  I don't have to keep turning my head to the person speaking to try and read their lips in addition to straining to hear what they are saying.  The downside of having this system is that if it should go on the fritz, I'm going to have to get back in the habit of doing all of the things that I did before to understand what is going on.  I will be doing a column on 2 FM systems that are now available in the future.  The technology is amazing and if I had had this when all of my children were younger I certainly would have been having a lot more fun!  Not to mention we would have been listening to more appropriate radio stations while driving in the car.... 

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

So, you've had your audiological evaluation and you've decided to do something about your hearing loss.  Now what?  There are things that you can do to save money in this process.  Or at least to keep you from wasting your money and ending up with something that really is not going to help you with your hearing loss problem.

 The number one thing that you will need to do is to watch out for all of the scams out there.  Unfortunately there are companies that are capitalizing on the baby boom population in that they are coming up with what I call a quick fix.  This may sound good initially, but in the long run really won't address what you need in order to facilitate a solution to the hearing problems that you are having.

It's important not to waste money on hearing aids or what they say is equal to a hearing aid that doesn't give you a noticeable improvement in your hearing ability and lifestyle.  The most important thing that you are trying to do is to understand speech!  There are many products out there that say they will help with hearing, buy many are not effective.  Don't be taken in by the claims that they make.  One of the ways that some of these companies get by with their 'truth-less' advertising is that they claim not to be a hearing aid.  This gets them out of having to comply with the FDA regulations.  They may claim to be similar to hearing aids.  They may claim that you will hear whispers from across the room.  That's a clue for you as a customer that they are flying under the FDA's radar and therefore do not have specific things that they have to comply with.  If they were working within the FDA parameters, they would have to be regulated by the FDA, undergo testing to actually prove that they are what they say they are, obtain licensing, use real audiologists and testing equipment to perform audiological evaluations, incorporate safety, quality and health standards, ect.  Most mail order or over the counter products do not meet these specifications.

Most of these products go for the people that are still in denial of their hearing loss or those that don't want or think that they need a hearing aid.  They also go for the angle of being able to save you lots of money.  Bottom line is you get what you pay for!  So, check out the company.  You can go through the FDA website, your local Better Business Bureau and even use your search engine on your computer by typing in the product or company name and see what comes up.  There are also several websites for hearing loss that have message and chat rooms on them where you can ask others in your same situation if they have heard any 'reviews' on the product.  I know that this all takes time, but if you are really serious about hearing better, it is certainly worth checking out your options.

Look at your insurance policy and see if the audiological exam or hearing aids are covered at all.  Beware of insurance companies that will add a hearing aid benefit for an additional cost.  Most of these will only cover around $500 of the cost of hearing aids.  So, in the long run they really aren't worth the additional premium that you would pay to have it.  Read the fine print!  Also, don't forget about applying for your TEPP voucher with the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission.  For more information on that, please go to my column entitled TEPP Voucher.  It has all of the information on it to get you started.

To all of the Veterans out there, if you can prove that your hearing loss is the result of your service (being around artillery shells, testing of atomic bombs, flying in fighter jets, ect.)  It's possible that the VA will provide hearing aids for you.  Contact your VA to see what the process is and keep in mind that it will take a few calls and probably some documentation as to where you served as well as what you did to get the ball rolling.  None of these services are really publicized and you'd be amazed at how many Veterans we have of all ages that just don't think about how their hearing loss may have started.  Just because you are around very loud noises, does not mean that you will immediately see a loss of hearing.  Sometimes it takes years for the damage to become apparent.

The Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation is also a great resource for hearing aid support.  Every State has one of these.  You can go on their website for the application form.  They are willing to work with anyone that is either currently employed and needs to have hearing aids in order to perform their job adequately as well as those that are unable to find a job due to their hearing loss and would like to once again join the workforce.  Again, there is a protocol that you will have to follow and it can be frustrating in that it takes time, but if it's going to enable you to hear and not jeopardize your financial situation, it's worth it!

There are a few civic organizations out there that also have programs to help with hearing loss.  The Lions International is one of them.  And, you can also check my previous column on Sertoma out of Madison, WI.  Ask your audiologist if they know of any programs that you may qualify for.  Again, if your audiologist is hesitant to help you in this area, find one that will.  There are some out there that will not let you know of your options because this would mean that they will lose your business if they are not affiliated or approved as a vendor with these programs.  Sounds like a really crappy thing to do to someone, but I've personally had this happen and I consider myself pretty educated on this subject. 

I know that this will sound silly, but even though I've had hearing loss for most of my life, I'm still learning about it.  It's very easy to become complacent and not continue to educate yourself.  And, let's face it, we've all got better things to do!  Most people who purchase hearing aids have very little understanding of hearing loss or hearing aids.  This is not a time to think that your questions are stupid and not worth asking.  For many, they just want to find something that is not noticeable when they wear it and they are also looking for the most inexpensive way to do that.  Neither of these will get you what you really need.

One of the best ways to start this whole process is to talk to people that have hearing aids.  You will run into people that have had bad experiences.  For some reason, these are the people that will freely talk about all of the negative things that have happened to them.  This of course is not a good way to keep you positive about the situation.  By going on the hearing loss websites such as the Hearing Loss Association of America or the Hearing Exchange, you will find chat rooms and message boards where you can ask some of the questions that you may not yet feel confident enough to ask your friends or co-workers.  It's a great way to get your feet wet and remain anonymous.  It's also a good way to find some positive feedback and encouragement to continue on your journey to better hearing.

If you are looking at joining one of these organizations, I would recommend the Hearing Loss Association of America.  Their website is www.hearingloss.org  This is what our local hearing loss group is affiliated with.  As part of your membership, you get a really good magazine every other month that addresses different topics dealing with hearing loss.  We also have hundreds of local chapters with 6 of them right here in Wisconsin.  If you would like to know where those chapters are, feel free to email me or post a comment and I will get back to you.  Our chapter (Southern Wisconsin Lake Country HLAA Chapter) meets in Wales on the second Thursday of the month at the Wales Community Center.  We started in April and hopefully by the end of the summer we will be an official chapter.  We've got a little paperwork to complete yet.  But, there are around 30 of us that have developed friendships and are learning more and more about our situations.  A really great group of people that range in age from 28 to 93.  I am very honored to call all of them friends!  And here I thought that I was the only one in the area that couldn't hear very well....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

Based on the number of you that are emailing me with questions on the TEPP voucher, I've gone on the State of Wisconsin Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing website and gotten the following links for you. 

As you know, the TEPP voucher will help to pay for telephone equipment for the hearing impaired, deaf and blind.  Depending on the degree of your loss, this can range from $125.00 all of the way up to $7,200.00 in equipment once every 3 years.  For those of you that have used TEPP before, you can also check the status of your eligibility (has it been 3 years yet?)

If you want to see as well as try out the latest equipment, I would recommend the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing UniversaLink store located in West Allis, WI.  There is a list of other vendors in the State on the TEPP website, but I've found that they are the most helpful when it comes to being able to see what is the best fit for you and your situation.

Link for TEPP program:  http://psc.wi.gov/consumerinfo/assistancePgms/tepp/tepp-ind.htm

Link for TEPP Voucher application:  https://tepp.wipfli.com/voucher-application.asp

All funds are via the Public Service Commission for the State of Wisconsin.  We all pay into this fund via our landline telephone bills.  All residents of the State of Wisconsin are eligible as long as you have a verifiable hearing loss, deaf or blind.  This is not a welfare based program!  So, don't think that you won't qualify.  We all know how expensive it is to stay in the hearing world.  This is one program that can help everyone with hearing loss.  Now, if we could just get the insurance companies to help us to pay for our hearing aids.....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

As you know, we started a support group for all of those dealing with hearing loss as well as their families and spouses in April.  At our first meeting, we had 14 show up.  For our May meeting, we had 28!  In May, we had John Kinstler from the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing UniversaLink store come out and do a presentation on the many new things that are out there that make those of us with hearing loss able to live in the hearing world.  We also had the vouchers for the TEPP program that could be filled out and sent in to the State so that our members could tap into the fund to enable them to 'buy' any equipment that they needed.  This included telephones, alerting devices, pocket talkers, ect. 

If you would like more information on the fund, please read my column entitled Telephone Equipment.  Any HOH, deaf or blind Wisconsin resident qualifies regardless of income.  So, if you know of someone that has trouble hearing on the phone, pass the information on!

For our May meeting, Jim Savageau will be doing a short presentation on Cochlear Implants.  Jim received his first implant at the age of 50 and is now looking at having his other ear done.  His story can be read in the column entitled 'Jim's story on his cochlear implant at age 50'.   This enabled him to go back to the hearing world with the implant as well as the use of a hearing aid.  He's a technology wizard and can answer questions on this topic much better than I can.  We will also be having 'group' time in that we can get to know each other better, discuss our concerns regarding hearing and it's impact on our everyday lives and troubleshoot to try and learn more tips and tricks on dealing with hearing loss.  Jim's wife, Sherri and my husband, Brian will also be meeting with family members and spouses to brainstorm on how best to live with all of us!  (Would love to be a mouse in that room!)

If you are interested in coming, the door is open!  Meetings are free and are held at the Wales Community Center located at 216 W. South St. in Wales, WI.  They start at 6:30pm and usually end around 8:00pm.  I know that I've been hearing from some of you who have lots of questions on how to improve not only your life, but also your friends, co-workers and family by learning of the many new things out there for HOH.  One of the hardest steps that you can take is taking ownership of your hearing loss and then doing something about it.  So, if you are ready to take that first step and wish to meet quite a few other area people who are also dealing with hearing loss, feel free to join us this Thursday, June 10th at 6:30pm. 

If you have any questions, my contact information is in my bio.  Or, you can also post a comment on here and I'll respond.  Who knows, you may finally 'hear' what you've been missing....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

If your husband or wife has a hearing loss, it can be a major negative factor in your relationship.  We all know how tough it is to communicate in a relationship, but for some of us, there are even greater challenges when we have hearing loss.

If you are married to a HOH person, you have life experiences that are unknown to those married to normal hearing spouses.  Some of the most common frustrations are:

     My spouse calls me from another room

     My spouse can hear what they want

     My spouse is always asking me to make phone calls for them

     My spouse never wants to go out

     My spouse walks away in the middle of a conversation

     I have to wake my spouse up

     I have to tell my spouse that someone is at the door or the phone is ringing

We'll start with the first one.  My spouse calls me from another room.

I know that there are days when both my husband and I feel that we spend a lot of it walking into the room where the other one is because one of us started talking and the other one (usually me!) doesn't hear what they are saying.  I have to say that from a personal point of view, I really hate it when someone talks to me from another room.  This means that I have to drop what I'm doing and go see what they want.  But, my husband also does this when I call to him from another room since he knows that there is no way that I am going to understand his reply unless he's in the same room as I am.  So, it works both ways.  I guess that we could make more of a concerted effort to stop trying to have conversations from different rooms, but the natural flow of thoughts and talk sometimes make us forget to do this.

My spouse can hear what they want.

I have heard so many people say this about their spouses.  Here are a few reasons why your normal hearing spouse may think that you really do have selective hearing.

I know that on some days, I definitely hear better than others.  There are a number of reasons for this.  The most important one is the fact that the environment is different.  This can be attributed to weather, outside noise, how tired we are mentally and just plain losing our train of thought because we are not focused on the current conversation and instead thinking about something else.  Those with normal hearing have an amazing ability to tune things out that don't interest them and focus on what does.  They can do this even when the thing that they are focusing on is nearly as loud as the environmental noise.  We on the other hand, have a hard time differentiating the different sounds and thus tend to listen to whatever noise is occurring no matter if it has anything to do with the conversation or not.

When I got my digital aids 5 years ago, I had a very hard time having a conversation in the office with the computer on.  The noise of the fan made it totally impossible for me to understand what was being said.  People with normal hearing don't even notice the fan on a computer.  Another example for me is if I am having a meeting early in the morning, I'm pretty good at 'hearing' everything.  But, if I've been in conversations all day, by afternoon I'm missing a lot.  Mentally, my brain has shut down and it's exhausting to try and keep up with all of the words.  For those of you with normal hearing, communications is effortless.  You don't have to work as hard to differentiate the words and sounds.  The sound just flows into your ears and your brain processes it.  Kind of like breathing!

My spouse is always asking me to make phone calls for them.

Guilty as charged!  I don't know how many times I've asked Brian or one of the kids to make a call for me.  I know that I've used my email much more in the past few years because it's so much easier to communicate that way.  I don't miss any words and I have a 100% understanding of what the other person is communicating to me.  The same goes for the many INTERNET chat rooms.  Hopefully with my new aids (getting them on May 29th!), I will be able to answer the phone easier.  Especially my cell phone.  Until then, text messaging is a godsend!

My spouse never wants to go out.

I've also done this.  There are a couple of reasons why a HOH person may prefer staying home.  The most obvious is because we can't understand the movie, TV, conversation, play, lecture or whatever the social event is.  The hearing spouse must be aware of this situation and sensitive to it.  Imagine spending an evening chatting with friends, but you didn't understand most of the discussion.  How boring and frustrating that is!  Imagine further that you had to PRETEND to understand (bluffing); sometimes you had to respond to questions that you didn't really hear about topics that you really weren't clear on.  These are my evenings from Hell.  It is not a nice fun, relaxing evening.  By the time that I get home, I'm ready to tune everything out and commiserate with myself on how once again I spent the evening not really knowing what was going on and tried my best not to embarrass myself or my family by saying the wrong thing. 

So, what's the answer to this one?  Well, here's what we do.  When we are going to a social event, my husband and kids know that I will initially "test the waters" to see what the hearing situation is and if it is not good for me, they can find me on the fringes of the group.  I do this so that people will come to me and I at least have some control over the noise in the environment by seating myself away from the worst part of it.  My family knows that this can also cause some of the other attendees to think that I am being snooty.  But, for those that know me well, you can find me in a corner with my chair against the wall waiting to hear the latest and greatest on your life!  The HOH person is the one ultimately responsible for figuring out what will work best.  This is not the job of your family, friends or spouse. 

My spouse walks away in the middle of a conversation.

What happens here is that the HOH person thinks the conversation is over.  The normal hearing spouse can't possibly understand why we think that!  This can become a very big misunderstanding and cause hurt feelings in more ways than one.  I tend to wait for a few seconds to see if someone is done talking and that is my cue that the conversation is over.  But, there are plenty of times where I think I heard the final sentence only to find out later that I missed the ending.  It's all in how we (HOH) perceive words and voice inflection.  So, if we start walking away and you're not done yet, don't be afraid to get our attention again.  But, be prepared to go back over parts of the conversation that we misunderstood so that we are both aware of what the conversation really was. 

I have to wake my spouse up.

We used to have this problem all of the time.  I would mentally wake myself up (no clue how I did this!) before the alarm was supposed to go off only to lie there waiting for it.  Lost out on a lot of sleep doing that !  Now, they have these great alarm clocks that 'shake' the bed.  It looks like a normal alarm clock, but has an attachment that you place under the mattress on the side that the HOH person is sleeping on.  The funniest reference that I've heard to this little contraption is when a lady who had just purchased one, started telling some normal hearing people that she knew about her alarm vibrator.  You can only imagine the looks that she got for that comment!  Seriously though, the vibrations from these things are like a small earthquake.  You won't oversleep!

I have to tell my spouse that someone is at the door or the phone is ringing.

Again, there are products out there to 'fix' this.  You can check them out by going to the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing website located at www.cdhh.org  Go to the UniversaLink section.  And, as most of you know by now, the State of Wisconsin has a program that will pay for some of these things if they are being used for telecommunications.  I've written about it in other columns.  It's called TEPP voucher program.  The Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has those vouchers if you want to go there and do it.  They will then notify you when your voucher has been approved so that you can go back and pick out your equipment.  We also have them at our monthly Hearing Loss Group meetings. 

In conclusion, we all need to try and come up with the 'right' communication techniques when dealing with HOH.  It will initially take some work on all of our parts, but keep in mind that many of the things that we say to each other are worth hearing and if that means that we have to repeat some of them, so be it.  Besides, many of the things that my husband  or kids say are worth repeating!  Redundancy rules.....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

The second meeting of the Lake Country HLAA Chapter will be held this Thursday, May 8th.  We will have a presentation by John Kinstler from the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in West Allis on communications equipment.  He is a technology counselor for the UniversaLink store located at the Center.  For more information on the Center or the UniversaLink store, please go to their website located at www.cdhh.org

John will be bringing telephones, alerting devices and cell phone equipment to demonstrate.  He will also be accepting vouchers for the TEPP program (Universal Service Fund) to send in to the State on all attendees behalf to secure approval for you so that you can get your telecommunications equipment.  This program can be utilized once every 3 years to upgrade your equipment.  Please bring your audiograms/hearing tests if you have copies of them as well as your hearing aids so that you can see/try out the equipment for compatibility.

The meeting starts at 6:30pm and will be held at the Wales Community Center located at 216 W. South St. in Wales, WI.  All meetings are free.  Family members are also encouraged to attend.  Discussions will be held after the presentation on group needs and personal experiences.  CART will also be utilized at the meeting for those that need it.

If you need more information, please contact me via my email at tam59@wi.rr.com

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

How many of you out there have had a problem "hearing" on your phone?  I know that I don't use our phone nearly as much as I once did based on the frustration that I have with not being able to hear the conversation correctly.  After a few "pardon me" or "I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?" it's just so much easier for me to rely on email or a face to face conversation.  Not to mention the frustrated responses that I sometimes get from the person on the other end of the phone!

 I was recently talking to a business down in Kenosha and once again realized how difficult it is to "hear" a person with an accent.  It certainly wasn't the callers fault.  But, every time he would say something, I would be stuck guessing what he was saying to the point that I asked if he had email.  His response was that if I could answer the phone and hear him on some of the conversation, I must be playing a trick on him by pretending not to understand all of the conversation.  Needless to say, this is not a great ego booster when you are in my shoes.

So, I ended up driving down there just so I could not only have a face to face with him, but also show him that I was not as idiotic as he probably thought I was.  By the time that we got done with our communication, he apologized for the comment and had lots of questions as to how his business could communicate better with the hearing impaired.  Next week, they are having a TTY installed at their business and all of their employees are going to receive training on how best to interact with those with less than perfect hearing.  Believe me, this is very unusual for a business to do, but that's how important his clients are to him and it also didn't hurt that he had a person in his family that was recently diagnosed with hearing loss.

So, what do you do when you can't hear on the phone that you purchased from the local store?  At our last meeting, this was actually one of the topics that came up.  So, for our May meeting at our Southern Wisconsin Lake Country HLAA Chapter, we are very lucky to have the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing coming out to do a presentation on just this topic.  They will be bringing telecommunication equipment with them so that our group members will get a hands on demonstration as to how easy it is to get phone conversations back into your life.

There are so many options that you can go with and it would not do any of them justice for me to try and explain all of them in this format.  John Kinstler, a Communication Technology Counselor at the UniversaLink store located at the CDHH will be bringing out equipment that we can try as well as become familiar with.  He will also be letting all of us know which works best based on whether you have hearing aids, cochlear implants or just need to be able to "read" the conversations (TTY).  And yes, Margo Lucas will be there providing CART for those that like that way of communicating better.

As many of you know, the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission has a voucher program that in most cases covers the cost of some of this equipment.  We will have voucher applications at the meeting should any of our group want to apply for those funds via the State.  I am in the process now of becoming more educated on what my own personal options are and will in the next couple of months be getting the equipment that I need in order to make my "phone life" a lot less stressful.  John will also be able to answer questions and give possible solutions if you use a cell phone.  Exciting stuff!

If you would like more information on this, please feel free to connect with me and I will be happy to answer your questions.  If you would like to talk to someone at the UniversaLink store at CDHH, just go to their website for the contact information www.cdhh.org or you can call them at 414-604-2200 (voice).  If you use a TTY machine, that number is 888-742-7651. 

If you would like to come to our May meeting, it will be held on May 8th (Thursday) from 6:30 - 8:PM.  Family members are welcome!  We meet at the Wales Community Center located at 216 W. South St. in Wales, WI.  All meetings are free and the door is always open!   If you are looking at upgrading your business telecommunication equipment feel free to give CDHH a call to see what they may be able to do for your business.  I know that the business in Kenosha is very happy to have found them.....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink

No, I'm not talking about a cornfield in Iowa or even Miller Park!  But, since so many of you are asking me how our first Lake Country HLAA Chapter meeting went last Thursday, I figured that this would be the easiest way to respond to all of you at once vs. sending out separate emails.  Don't get me wrong, I love hearing from all of you, but I just really wanted to spend some time outside in the great weather that we are having counting the snowflakes......

As many of you know, we (Jim Savageau and myself) "launched the rocket"!  I just love this phrase since it is what Jim has termed our newest endeavor in the Hearing Loss world.  Last Thursday night in the 40 mph winds and driving rains, we had our first meeting.  Needless to say, we were humbled by the number of people who chose to venture out and see what we were about.

We all made lots of new friends, saw neighbors that we had no idea were dealing with hearing loss and just generally learned even more about how we can enrich our lives as well as those of the people around us.  The age of our group members ranges from 28 to a very lively 93 year old.  They came from as far away as Sullivan and Brookfield, WI.  We met their spouses, children and friends. 

Special thanks to Dee Evert, Building and Grounds Supervisor for the Village of Wales, for taking time out from his busy schedule to open the building up for us and also to provide a nice warm and cozy place to get to know each other in.  With the number of people that showed up, it would have been hard to have it at someone's house!

What did we talk about?  Boy, would you be surprised!  The topics covered everything from what Hearing Loss Association of America is to getting the telecommunication equipment that you didn't know you would need.  Plus, many more too detailed to go into here.  Having the CART for the meeting (Communication Access Realtime Translation) enabled all of us to "hear" all of the conversation and not get lost in the chaos! (ha)  If you want to know more about CART, please go to that column on my blog. 

I'm going to include some links/websites in this column to try and answer some of the most commonly asked questions from your emails.  If you need further clarification, don't hesitate to connect with me again.  We'll start off with the Telecommunications Equipment  Purchase Program.  This is through the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.  Their website is http://psc.wi.gov  This program which we all pay for via our land-line telephone bills (USF Charge) is for people with disabilities as well as those of us that don't consider ourselves disabled.  The USF charge on your phone bill enables the State of Wisconsin  to help you buy equipment you need in order to use basic telephone services.  By going to their website or attending one of our meetings in the future, you will learn if you qualify or not.  Odds are, you do and don't even know it.  What does it pay for?  Here is a partial list:

      TTY -  Amplified handset or phone  -  TTY with Braille or large visual display   -  Special Modem   -  Hands-free Speaker Phones  -  Puff Activators  -  Phone signaling systems  - 

 And the list goes on and on.  How many of you have pretty much given up talking on the phone because you can't hear the caller?  Or, you don't even hear the phone ring?  Wouldn't it be nice to get that aspect of your life back?  This program can help you to do that.  We have vouchers at all of our meetings that can be filled out and then turned into either the USF Administrator in Madison, WI (don't really recommend this route since there is no one to talk to or equipment to see) or by taking it to the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in West Allis, WI.  They have a UniversaLink store on-site with personnel that will be able to answer all of your questions as well as address your concerns.  They can be reached at 414-541-LINK or via the web at www.cdhh.org.  There is also an email link on the website should you prefer to communicate that way. 

As our new members learned on Thursday, these vouchers will pay for your specialized phone equipment based on your degree of hearing loss. There are no income limits and it is purely based on need for equipment in order to "get back into life!"  There is a lot more information on this, but if you are really interested, please go to one of the links above or better yet come to our meeting on May 8th and meet an actual employee from the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing UniversaLink store.  They will be bringing equipment out to our meeting for you to see, try and ask questions about. 

In future columns, I will go into more areas of what we discussed at the meeting as well as what the new members that are attending want to know about.  Our next meeting is on Thursday, May 8th.  Feel free to come on out to Wales and see how our "rocket" is doing!  You never know, you just might see someone that you know.....

Have a great week!

Copyright 2008 Tami Klink