Toolkit Idea topic 22-Add Your Topic

Hi Evevryone. This is the 22nd of 27 Idea topics
I listed on three sheets of paper called:
"A Toolkit of Ideas For People With A Hearing Loss"
Sheet 1 Introduction Topics--4topics
Sheet 2 Toolkit Ideas-------18 topics
Sheet 3 Closing Ideas--------5 topics

22 Add Your Topic & communications Guidelines:
Below is a summary list of the 27 topicsthat have
been covered or will be covered. Please review this
list and then think about a topic that really interests
you that is not on the listed. What is missing?
List of 27 Idea Topics:
1 Three Things To Do
2 Hearing Loss Concerns
3 Real Problem Not Just Hearing Loss
4 Types Of Hearing Loss & Ear Problems
5 Hearing Aids
6 Health Care Providers
7 Audiogram
8 Telephone Devices
9 Signaling Devices
10 Sssistive Listening Devices
11 Internet Communications
12 Captioning
13 Cochlear Implants
14 Ototoxic Drugs
15 Psycho-Social Affects Of Hearing Loss
16 Lip-reading/Speech-reading
17 Sign Language
18 Support Orgaizations
19 Suggested Books On Hearing Loss+Life & Living
20 Periodicals and Email Newsletters
21 Hearing Loss Profile
22 Add Your Topic & Communications Problems
23 Hearing Loss Is Just A Part Of Our Life
24 Three Boxes Of Life
25 Hierrchy Of Needs(especially Belonging)
26 Life Concerns Besides Hearing Loss
27 Coping Effectively With Hearing Loss
Please review the above topics and let us know
which topic is missing that you would like to
add to the list. Thanks for sharing.

Here is a topic not listed above:
Good Communications Takes Action
a Guidelines for the LISTENER with a Hearing Loss:
1)Pay attention& observe the talker to understand better
2)Develop good listening skills
3)Pick a good spot to talk by avoiding areas
poorly lit or noisy
4)Anticipate difficult situations & plan to minimize problems
5)Take breaks when needed especially long meetings
6)Make specific suggestions about how best to talk to you
7)Ask for written clues or key words of topic being discussed
8)Set realistic expectationsabout what you can expect to
understand
9)Do not bluff or interupt
10)Povide feedback that you understand or fail to understand

b Guidelines for the TALKER as a Hearing Person:
1)Get listeners attentionbefore you speak/tap on shoulder
2)Avoid objects in your mouth/gum,food
3)Avoid putting obstacles in front of your face/hands
4)Speak clearly at a slow pace & dont shout
5) Use facial expressions and gestures
6)Get as close as possible to the listener
7)Avoid noisy backgroud & poor lightimg conditions
8)Give topic or clues when changing the subject
9)Rephrase or say it in a different waywhen not understood
10)confirmdetails in writing that use dates,time or directions
11)Be patient, relaxed and helpful
Can you add to this list!! Best regards Paul in New Jersey

Toolkit Idea Topic 21-Hearing Loss Profile

Hi Everyone. This is the 21st of 27 Idea Topics
I listed on three sheets of paper called:
"A Toolkit of Ideas For People With A Hearing Loss"
Sheet 1 Introduction Ideas 4 topics
Sheet 2 Toolkit Ideas 18 topics
Sheet 3 Closing Ideas 5 topics

21 Hearing Loss Profile: People with a hearing
loss should consider preparing a profile of their
hearing loss showing key hearing loss events,
dates in years and their age, assuming an
educated guess about how long you will live and
future plans you can pursue to survive with your
hearing loss. Below is a hearing loss profile I
prepared in 1995 and updated as a guide for self

Personal Hearing Loss Profile

Event------------------------------------Year---Age
Born.....................---------------------1925------0
Buzzing/ringing in ears.............-----1975-----50
Visit ENT & Otologist-----------------1976-----51
Large drop in hearing...............----1978------53
Shunt operation to reduce fluid
pressure in left ear/not helpful....--1979------54

Buy first hearing aids------------------1980----55
Visit two more otologists
Visit Three allergists for allergies
Visit two nutritionists for diet....-----1981-83-56-58
Early retirement due to hearing loss-1985----60
Lose all hearing in left ear........-------1995----70
Joined HLAA/SHHH & ALDA---------1995----70

Buy pocket talker to hear better------1996-----71
Buy Vibrating alarm clock/travel-----1997-----72
Took lip-reading class-little help-----1998-----73
Took sign language class-no help-----1999----74
Join SWC Club--------------------------2007----82
Life expectancy-------------------------2025---100

Future Life Events
Lose hearing in right ear---------------???
Have cochlear implant------------------???
Loss of vision-----------------------------???
Hair cell regeneration-------------------???

This profile made me think of future events that
can affect my life and what I could do about them.
It included such tools as joining support groups,
using assistive devices,learning lip-reading &
sign language, going deaf, considering a cochlear
and possibly losing my vision before my life
expectancy catches up with me.

Is preparing a hearing loss profile worthwhile?
Only you can determine that. I personally enjoyed
doing it and found it worth the time and effort it
took. Would appreciate hearing your thoughts and
feelings about a hearing loss profile as a hearing
loss tool.

Best regards Paul in New Jersey

Toolkit Idea Topic 20-Periodicals & E-mail News

Hi Everyone. This is the 20th of 27 Idea Topics
I listed on three sheets of paper called:
"A Toolkit of Ideas For People With A Hearing loss"
Sheet 1 Introduction Ideas 4 topics
Sheet 2 Toolkit Ideas 18 topics
Sheet 3 Closing Ideas 5 topics

20PERIODICALS & E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS:
The following may be of interest to people
with a hearing loss.

1 Hearing Loss Magazine: It was first published
under the title of SHHH in July, 1980. Then it
became the SHHH Journal in the early 1980's.
Finally in May 1996, to better reflect its
contents, it became Hearing Loss Magazine. It
is published bimonthly and provides current
up-to-date information for people with a hearing
loss and those professionals who treat and
educate them. It has covered how in one day you
may be tested and fitted with hearing aids on
the Internet. It has featured people who are
working models and musicians who are not shy
about admitting a hearing loss. It provides a
free on-line HLAA E-News to supplement the magazine
content. The staff has weighed in on editorials
and provided valuable written reports in the areas
of advocacy, technology, membership, chapters,
special grants, annual conventions and much more.
Its editor can be reached at:
bkelley@hearingloss.org

2 ALDA News: This newsletter is published quarterly
and it provides interesting articles about education,
advocacy, role models, and support for people who
are late deafened and those with a hearing loss. It
includes articles about its members, services for
the people it serves, information about chapter
(local support groups)happenings and its annual
convention. Its editor can be reached at:
sweetsigns@comcast.net.

3 SWC E-Mail Newsletter:This quarterly on-line
newsletter called "Online Voices" is available
for members and the public and reflects the
voices of its members. Its articles are varied
as our members and the many threads that come
up day-by-day. The articles include the editor
speaks, hearing loss articles, the audiologist
booth, book reviews, poetry, whats cooking and
miscellaneous. To read a particular newsletter,
go to the Say What Club website and click on
newsletters, then click on the link for that
issue. You can also locate a specific author
or subject by clicking on th link swcindex.

4 Hearing Loss Help E-zine: This free monthly
e-mail newsletter is published by Neil Bauman.
The monthly issues cover hearing loss inform-
ation under these topics:news items, beware of
ototoxic drugs, answers to your questions,
coping strategies, information on hearing aids
and cochlear implants & assistive devices. The
first issue was April, 2006 and latest was
Dec 20, 2007. All of them can be seen at his
website hearinglosshelp.com and clicking on
e-zine archives at the left of the screen.

5 HOH-LD News: This is a free monthly e-mail
newsletterabout Hard OF Hearing(HOH) and
Late Deafened(LD) people in the US. Its purpose
is to increase awareness of issues & concerns
within the HOH/LD communities. The latest
issue Volume 34 Issue 3 contains four articles
about Hearing Loss in the Workplace-2007 and
beyond, the Hearing Regeneration Initiate-
Part One, view heroes on the Internet with
captions and short tales. Go to the Internet
and type "hh-ld-news" to find current and old
issues.

6 Hearing Education & Listening program (HELP).
This is a free pamphlet available at HearX
offices and has three sections:
I An overview of hearing loss, how we hear,
types & causes of hearing loss, types of hear
ing aids, binaural amplificaion, listening tips
and care of hearing aids.
II Importance of good hearing,effects of hearing
loss, overcoming hearing loss, effective commun-
ications strategies and coping behaviors and
important information for families.
III Communications skills inclding speechreading,
visual awareness, assistive & alerting devices,
maintenance check, resources and articles on
hearing loss such as: hows your hearing, whay did
you say, communications/Whats realistic and whats
not, do you hear what I hear, tips to go..to the
restaurant and my wife mimbles.

7 Your Guide To Better Hearing:
This is a fre pamphlet available from the Better
Hearing Institute at their website. It includes:
1) Pictures & stories about 40 famous celebrities
2) Hearing Loss Topics including Tinnitus
3) Hearing Solutions including Medical Advances
& Assistive Technology
4) Hearing Loss Prevention/Noise
Go to the website and order your free copy. The
reading about the famous celebrities is reaally
good and highly recommended.

8 Cosumer guide To Hearing Aids:
This fee pamplet is available on-line from AARP.
The phamplet is out of stock and cannot be ordered
by mail but can be printed on-line.It answers many
questions about hearing loss,hearing aids, latest
technology and costs. Since it free I highly
recommend downloading a copy

Your views on the above and other periodicals and
e-mail newsletters will allow us to benefit from
your experiences.

Best regards Paul from New Jersey