In New York City, where I live, the deaf and hard of hearing are out of luck when it comes to calling 911 for help. Text 911 (or Text-to-911) is available in thousands of municipalities and counties across the United States. It can be life-saving not only for those who cannot hear but also for … Continue reading Emergency 911 is still inaccessible for many New Yorkers. How long do we have to wait?
Healthy Hearing
Captions: Better and Better!
I don’t like to write about apps and products that I don’t use myself, because the first-person experience is very important when dealing with hearing devices. But when I find one I like, I want to share it. In the past few months, I’ve been using a transcription app called Otter.ai. Otter has been around since … Continue reading Captions: Better and Better!
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Would You Cure Your Hearing Loss?
Would you cure your hearing loss? At the moment, that’s a hypothetical question. A cure for hearing loss does not exist. But as Dr. Tom Friedman of the National Institutes of Health told an audience at the Hearing Loss Association of America’s annual convention in June, a cure for at least one type of hearing … Continue reading Would You Cure Your Hearing Loss?
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Captions Wherever You Go
It’s rare that a new app or product comes on the hearing device market that seems revolutionary. But Google has come out with a voice to text app that is potentially game-changing for those of us with severe hearing loss. Although I have an excellent hearing aid and a state of the art cochlear implant, … Continue reading Captions Wherever You Go
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Hearing Mom
Sunday is Mother's Day. I miss my mom. But I especially miss all the things I didn't hear her say. In her 80s, my mother's mind and body succumbed to aging. She developed dementia, she had frequent falls and she often needed a wheelchair. But her hearing remained acute. Mine did not. After my father … Continue reading Hearing Mom
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Crowdsourcing Hearing Info
The Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with the Hearing Loss Association of America (#HLAA) and the Ida Institute, an independent non-profit organization that promotes hearing health, has established an online forum where you can find support, answers to specific questions, share experiences and even gripe if you feel like it. The forum is monitored by Mayo Clinic staff as … Continue reading Crowdsourcing Hearing Info
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The Language of Disability: It Can Be Hard to Get It Right
Last week I went to a panel discussion organized by the New York Museum Access Consortium. There were four panelists representing different disabilities and a moderator from MAC. The audience was made up mostly of people from disability rights organizations and museum personnel. The evening’s topic was “Mindful Communication.” Avoiding hurtful or offensive language when … Continue reading The Language of Disability: It Can Be Hard to Get It Right
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Is it OK if I Leave Now?
Whether or not you are open about your hearing loss, there often comes a point at which you just can’t try to listen anymore. I’m very open about my hearing loss. At this point, in fact, my hearing loss practically defines me, since I write and speak about it. The other night at a dinner … Continue reading Is it OK if I Leave Now?
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Holiday Gifts for the HOH
What’s an HOH? The acronym (pronounced ‘ho’) stands for Head of Household, House of Hades, Head Over Heels …. And Hard of Hearing. This highly subjective list is for your favorite HOH, last definition. The books are some of my favorites, personal endorsements. The technology is randomly chosen. You may find a better or cheaper … Continue reading Holiday Gifts for the HOH
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How To Make Your Audiologist Office Hearing Loss Friendly
Interesting 3-part series by Shari Eberts via How To Make Your Audiologist Office Hearing Loss Friendly
