[nfb-db] NFB-DB Hi Angelina

Wed Apr 22 01:35:26 UTC 2015

Anjie, thank you for keeping everyone apprised of your situation.   When I 
was supposed to go to the doctors office that does the tests for vertigo  
and balance issues, I canceled my appointment.  At that time they told me  it 
was a $400. co pay.  I didn't feel the tests would benefit me because I  
already had balance problems

My husband went just last year and they said he had vertigo and wanted him  
to go for treatment at a Brooks rehab, but he didn't feel it was  
necessary.  He told me they put him through tests that measured how much  fluid is in 
the ear and made him walk on different surfaces that had measuring  devices 
inside of them.  This is if you have dizzyness, migrains and issues  
relating to your balance.  I myself have to use a cane that can steady me  and 
keep me from falling.  I usually don't go out any more without my  husband.  
When I get to the store I always use the shopping cart to hold  onto.  I 
should go for the treatment, but other people who went told me the  treatment is 
only temporary and you have to keep going back.  They told me  at the time 
that if I came for the test that medication might be ale to help,  but a 
physical therapist who helped me with balance treatment said it wouldn't  help 
me.  I was told by a Nuerologist that balance depended on  hearing.  I don't 
know that he is right either.  Because a lot of  people have hearing loss 
don't have balance issues.  
All I can say is go for the testing and see what they tell you  Be  sure to 
wear tennis shoes.  I hope that you get the right kind of  help.  Keep us 
informed.  Praying for a positive outcome Anjie.   xxxx Cheri  

In a message dated 4/21/2015 8:57:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
nfb-db at nfbnet.org writes:

Thank you everyone for your replies and words of advice. I met with my VR  
counselor today and will be seeing an Otologist hopefully in the near 
future.  I have been writing differences I have noticed in my hearing since I am a 
bit  nervous about this upcoming appointment.
Last week I worked with a Mobility Instructor who encouraged me with  being 
okay to ask for assistance crossing streets that I am not confident  about 
due to not hearing certain types of cars. This sort of goes against what  I 
learned in training, but I want to do what it takes to stay alive and be  
safe.
I will be sure to let you know what I find out at this Otology  
appointment. What typically happens that this type of appointment?
Thanks lots. :)

-Anjelina
Sent from my iPad

On Apr 21, 2015, at 4:38 PM, Marsha Drenth via nfb-db <_nfb-db at nfbnet.org_ 
(mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org) > wrote:

Cathy, 
Your so correct, the NFB needs to accept that there are alternatives.  And 
that those alternatives are not a bad thing, nor will they defeat the  
independence that you have, or that the NFB promotes. So blind persons use  their 
hearing to cross streets, great, but deafblind persons can not do the  
same. So we use alternative methods, either by getting help, using a street  
crossing sign, taking a different route, or getting a ride to a location.  None 
of these things are bad, none of these things means a deafblind person  is 
less independent. We use SSP's, for communication and guiding, again  
different from what blind persons do, but still the same in doing what we  need to 
do. 
I know I am preaching to the choir here... I'll get off my soap box for  
now. LOL 

Marsha drenth    
email: _marsha.drenth at gmail.com_ (mailto:marsha.drenth at gmail.com)     
Sent with my IPhone  
Please  note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. 
As such, I  may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. 
Please do  not be hesitant to ask for clarification as  necessary. 

On Apr 21, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Cathy Miller via nfb-db <_nfb-db at nfbnet.org_ 
(mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org) >  wrote:

Angelina:  Welcome!  I am very glad to have you here  among us.  I am Cathy 
Miller, from Louisiana.  Coping with  hearing loss has been a traumatic 
experience for me, but more than that,  it is a journey.  Congratulations on 
the courage to reach out to  others like yourself.  I'm so glad you found  us!

I was diagnosed with Retinitis  Pigmentosa at age 18.  I got my first pair 
of hearing aids in my  mid-20s, but all they did was make the muffled speech 
louder, so they were  not the answer for me.  Several years later I 
received a pair of  digital hearing aids which helped a lot more, except when there 
was  background noise.  It was a few years later that I walked in front of  
a car while crossing the street.  I was not hit, but the driver was  
extremely angry with me and yelled and called me some horrible names.  I knew it 
was time to do something different and stopped crossing  the street alone.  
This story has a happy ending, as I received  cochlear implants, which make 
life bearable and often wonderful.  Although I still cannot understand speech 
in noisy environments, I  design my lifestyle so that hearing in a noisy 
environment is no longer a  necessity.  It was difficult to realize that I 
needed accommodations,  and that no one was going to give them to me.  I had to 
learn what I  needed and demand to have them.  If someone has something to 
tell me,  they do it under circumstances that are accommodating.  After all, 
I  drilled two holes in my head in order to hear you; the least you can do 
is  speak up.

So, back to crossing the  street.  One of the things that folks in the 
deaf-blind division of  the NFB are promoting is the use of Support Service 
Providers  (SSPs).  These are persons trained to help us to perform our  daily 
routines without putting ourselves in harm's way.  With  training from O&M 
specialists such as those found at NFB training  centers, many deaf-blind 
folks still cross the street independently; but  if that is not what you believe 
is right for you, then you may have an  alternative.  orientation and 
Mobility specialists are great, and  they push us beyond our comfort zones, 
helping us to retain our hard won  independence.  But ultimately the decision is 
yours, and although I  encourage you to learn to cross the street if you 
feeel safe, if it's not  for you, you are the only one who can say no.  Just 
know that we  deserve alternatives.  Go to the Helen Keller National Center 
(HKNC)  website and find the regional representative who serves your state.  
Talk with that person about whether the training offered at HKNC is  right 
for you.  Scott Davert is one of the national representatives,  and we are 
extremely fortunate to have him among us.  Remember that  the NFB deaf-blind 
division exists for folks like you who want to share  their experiences and 
develop best practices among peers who live in the  trenches.  As you walk 
this journey, please consider sharing your  successes and your challenges with 
us.  I hope that others will  return the favor.  You will find lifetime 
friends among us.  We  will meet in orlando in July and hope that you can join 
us there.  Please tell us more about yourself.  

Cathy  Miller

Sent from my  iPad

On Apr 18, 2015, at 7:00 AM, _nfb-db-request at nfbnet.org_ 
(mailto:nfb-db-request at nfbnet.org)   wrote:

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Today's Topics:

1. Newby to the list  (Anjelina)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1

Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:58:52  -0400

From: Anjelina <_anjelinac at att.net_ (mailto:anjelinac at att.net) >

To: "_nfb-db at nfbnet.org_ (mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org) " <_nfb-db at nfbnet.org_ 
(mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org) >

Subject: [nfb-db] Newby to the  list

Message-ID: <_D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0 at att.net_ 
(mailto:D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0 at att.net) >

Content-Type: text/plain;  charset=us-ascii

Good day list,

My name is Anjelina and I am new to the  list. I am interested in learning 
more about deaf-blindness. Over the  years I have noticed some hearing loss 
in my right ear which I have been  able to compensate for. A few weeks ago I 
had a near run-in with a car  while crossing a busy street which really 
startled me since I didn't  hear the car. If you all don't mind, can you tell 
me a bit about your  hearing loss and how you have coped with it?

Thanks

-Anjelina

Sent from my iPad

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