<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS Gothic";
panose-1:2 11 6 9 7 2 5 8 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@MS Gothic";
panose-1:2 11 6 9 7 2 5 8 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC DBHL 11 4 17 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Julie Greenfield <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Introduction to NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where Did my Hearing Go? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Assistive Technology<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Strategies <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mission: Empowering deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy and community involvement. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Services: Information and referral, outreach, education, hearing screenings, ASL interpreting, and advocacy for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeafBlind residents in Northern Virginia. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Visit www.nvrc.org to learn more about us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Address Phone numbers can be found on the website <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Service Areas are: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Arlington County Fairfax County Louden County <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC Works with VDDHH - Virginia Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC has Assistive Technology Demonstration Room <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where individuals can set up an appointment and visit with a Technology Specialist , Debbie Jones and try out a variety of technical solutions from Cordless<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amplified Phones, Captioned Phones, Fire Alert Systems and Alarm Clocks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accessible Meeting Room <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Which has a Audio Loop System that works with individuals Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants, along with Large Screen Flat Tv’s that have live captions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>from a court reporter along with Sign Language Interpreters. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where did my Hearing Go? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone experienced asking people to repeat themselves , having difficulty understanding people on the phone , problems at Family or large group gatherings,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>feeling left out of the conversation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So…how do we hear? What could be going on? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your ear is divided into 3 parts: The outer ear - functions like a catcher’s mitt, capturing all the sounds of life and funneling them into the ear canal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Middle Ear - When the sounds reach the ear drum it vibrates and sends those sounds into the middle ear . Think <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the middle ear as an airy echo chamber that houses the 3 tiniest bones in your body – the hammer (Malleus), the anvil (Incus) and the stirrup (more<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>commonly called the stapes). Those little bones form a lever system which vibrates with the sounds as they pass through the ear drum and sends those sounds<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>along to the inner ear. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The inner ear (3) houses the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure filled with fluid and thousands of little hair cells. These hair cells are responsible for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>how well we hear, and when they degenerate or die off, we start to lose our ability to interpret what we are hearing, especially speech sounds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s important to note that sound travels through the cochlea and along the auditory nerve until it reaches its final destination - the auditory cortex<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the brain. Most of us don’t really think about it, but we don’t hear with our ears, we hear in our brain; our ears simply provide the transportation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of sound. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Types of Hearing Loss <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conductive: wax, fluid, etc., often temporary. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sensorineural: hair cell loss, nerve damage. Permanent. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Combination conductive and sensorineural <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some Causes of Hearing Loss <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing loss in adults can either be inherited from your parents or acquired from illness, ototoxic (ear-damaging) drugs, exposure to loud noise, tumors,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>head injury, or the aging process. This loss may occur by itself or with tinnitus (ringing in the ears). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Very loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Listening to loud noise for long periods of time can damage<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the hair cells in the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly. A single exposure to an extremely loud sound such<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as an explosion can cause a sudden loss of hearing. This is called acoustic trauma.. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Physical head injury can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI), skull fractures, a hole in the eardrum, and damage to the middle ear structures, resulting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in hearing loss. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Otosclerosis is a disease involving the middle ear. It affects the movement of the tiny bones in the middle ear. Otosclerosis can cause a conductive type<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of hearing loss. This condition is often surgically treatable. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ménière's disease affects the inner ear. The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown. It usually begins between the ages of 30 and 50. A person with Ménière's<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>disease will often have a combination of sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and sensitivity to loud sounds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This type of hearing loss is managed by a doctor and audiologist. Some people with Ménière's disease report mild symptoms, but for others the symptoms<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are much worse. The hearing loss comes and goes, but over time some loss becomes permanent. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Autoimmune inner ear disease. This sudden-onset hearing loss is fast, dramatic, and should be medically treated as soon as possible. With swift medical<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>treatment, the hearing loss from this disease can be reduced. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ototoxic medications can cause hearing loss. Some drugs known to be ototoxic are: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as streptomycin, neomycin, or kanamycin) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Salicylates in large quantities (aspirin) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loop diuretics (lasix or ethacrynic acid) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Drugs used in chemotherapy regimens (cisplatin, carboplatin, or nitrogen mustard) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Age - Presbycusis is a sensorineural hearing loss that occurs gradually later in life. The condition affects hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in both ears over time. Speech begins to sound muffled or unclear because the ability to hear high pitch sounds is thefirst to go. Rhyming mistakes can<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>occur—for example, the high-pitched sound /t/ in the word tin is heard as / f/ in the word fin, causing confusion: “The roof is made of tin” is heard as<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“The roof is made of fin.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hair cells in cochlea begin to die off <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Usually the hair cells near the entrance to the cochlea <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those hair cells programmed for high frequencies <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>High frequency hearing loss is a normal part of aging <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Start having difficulty with following letter sounds: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ts and Ds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TIME and DIME <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SH/CH <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tee-SHIRT and TEACHER <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fs and Vs <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FINE and VINE <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Without clear consonants, conversation can sound <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Muffled <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Garbled <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Distorted <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Like a foreign film without subtitles <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>High frequency hearing loss makes it challenging to understand <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Speakers with higher voices or accents <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conversation when many folks are speaking at once <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Speech in a place with poor acoustics <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What people are talking about if we don’t know the topic <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Loss: Impact on Feelings Parallel Reactions* <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You might feel: They might feel: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frustrated Frustrated <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angry Angry <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guilty Guilty <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A reduced quality of life A reduced quality of life <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Outcome? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wanting to withdraw from the conversation <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing vs. Understanding: Auditory Fatigue <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing loss is exhausting! --- for everyone in the conversation! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids: Why no one wants them <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They make me look old! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Too expensive! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t want people to notice! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t need them yet. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My friends say they don’t work! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Styles <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Behind the Ear (BTE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Behind the Ear – Open Fit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the Ear (ITE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the Canal (ITC) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Completely in the Canal (CIC) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Last one - ITD - In The Drawer! Frustrating Sometimes <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Technologies •Telicoil <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Interacts with electromagnet field <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Useful on phone and with listening systems/devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bluetooth <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Provides wireless connection with cell phone, TV <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loop systems <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC’s meeting room is equipped with induction loop for listeners who have telecoils in their hearing aids and cochlear implants. Loop systems are becoming<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>popular in public venues such as museums and churches. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How do hearing aids help? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Will amplify many sounds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Often make one-on-one conversation easier <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with location of sounds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with balance <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with the natural, stereo effect of sound <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But they don’t always! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amplify sounds, but don’t always help with clarity <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do not overcome background noise <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Must be programmed properly and fit well <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Don’t overcome distance <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do not help with understanding challenging speech patterns/habits <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Assistive Technology Can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alerting Devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>VDDHH Technology Assistance Program (TAP)- Virginia Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corded and Cordless Telephones Captioned Telephones TV Listening Systems Personal Amplifiers: “PockeTalker” personal amplifiers Alerting Devices - Alarm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Clocks, Door bell alert systems, and Smoke Detectors <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All these devices can be tried by appointment at the NVRC Technology Demonstration Room We only demo the technology we do not sell any technology. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thru VDDHH Technology Assistance Program <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Telephones and alerting devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Borrow for 30 days <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Keep it if you like it <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you don’t meet financial eligibility guidelines, you might qualify for a discount through the state. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What About Cell/Smart Phones? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Most newer cell phones are hearing aid compatible but need to work with your specific hearing aid Not all hearing aids have Telcoil or Bluetooth - many<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>hearing aids can have both but be aware when purchasing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Strategies that can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let the speaker know you need to have them face you <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ask him/her to:(what do you need?) slow down, repeat, rephrase <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Be assertive <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An assertive approach has: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Direction - Be clear with your request <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rationale - Provide a reason <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Courtesy - Sugar, not vinegar <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Indicate where you need to stand or sit - <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do you have a “better” ear? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Make sure the person speaking is on your ‘good’ side if possible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Admit it! Don’t Bluff! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Admit it if you are lost in the conversation. Perhaps you are tired or the room is too noisy. Hearing loss can be exhausting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bluffing: often you can’t hide your hearing loss, so it’s better to be open about it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let the other person know what you understood…or thought you understood <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Can you change the environment? Problem Solution <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TV or music on in background Can you turn it off? Too many people talking at the same time Can we have one person talking at a time? Speaker to far away<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Move Closer Too noisy Find a quieter setting <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Come visit us at NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Questions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC DBHL 11 4 17 (3).pdf<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Julie Greenfield <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Introduction to NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where Did my Hearing Go? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Assistive Technology<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Strategies <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mission: Empowering deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy and community involvement. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Services: Information and referral, outreach, education, hearing screenings, ASL interpreting, and advocacy for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeafBlind residents in Northern Virginia. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Visit www.nvrc.org to learn more about us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Address Phone numbers can be found on the website <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Service Areas are: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Arlington County Fairfax County Louden County <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC Works with VDDHH - Virginia Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC has Assistive Technology Demonstration Room <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where individuals can set up an appointment and visit with a Technology Specialist , Debbie Jones and try out a variety of technical solutions from Cordless<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amplified Phones, Captioned Phones, Fire Alert Systems and Alarm Clocks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accessible Meeting Room <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Which has a Audio Loop System that works with individuals Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants, along with Large Screen Flat Tv’s that have live captions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>from a court reporter along with Sign Language Interpreters. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Where did my Hearing Go? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone experienced asking people to repeat themselves , having difficulty understanding people on the phone , problems at Family or large group gatherings,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>feeling left out of the conversation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So…how do we hear? What could be going on? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your ear is divided into 3 parts: The outer ear - functions like a catcher’s mitt, capturing all the sounds of life and funneling them into the ear canal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Middle Ear - When the sounds reach the ear drum it vibrates and sends those sounds into the middle ear . Think <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the middle ear as an airy echo chamber that houses the 3 tiniest bones in your body – the hammer (Malleus), the anvil (Incus) and the stirrup (more<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>commonly called the stapes). Those little bones form a lever system which vibrates with the sounds as they pass through the ear drum and sends those sounds<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>along to the inner ear. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The inner ear (3) houses the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure filled with fluid and thousands of little hair cells. These hair cells are responsible for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>how well we hear, and when they degenerate or die off, we start to lose our ability to interpret what we are hearing, especially speech sounds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s important to note that sound travels through the cochlea and along the auditory nerve until it reaches its final destination - the auditory cortex<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the brain. Most of us don’t really think about it, but we don’t hear with our ears, we hear in our brain; our ears simply provide the transportation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of sound. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Types of Hearing Loss <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conductive: wax, fluid, etc., often temporary. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sensorineural: hair cell loss, nerve damage. Permanent. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Combination conductive and sensorineural <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some Causes of Hearing Loss <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing loss in adults can either be inherited from your parents or acquired from illness, ototoxic (ear-damaging) drugs, exposure to loud noise, tumors,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>head injury, or the aging process. This loss may occur by itself or with tinnitus (ringing in the ears). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Very loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss. This is called noise-induced hearing loss. Listening to loud noise for long periods of time can damage<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the hair cells in the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly. A single exposure to an extremely loud sound such<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as an explosion can cause a sudden loss of hearing. This is called acoustic trauma.. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Physical head injury can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI), skull fractures, a hole in the eardrum, and damage to the middle ear structures, resulting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in hearing loss. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Otosclerosis is a disease involving the middle ear. It affects the movement of the tiny bones in the middle ear. Otosclerosis can cause a conductive type<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of hearing loss. This condition is often surgically treatable. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ménière's disease affects the inner ear. The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown. It usually begins between the ages of 30 and 50. A person with Ménière's<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>disease will often have a combination of sensorineural hearing loss, dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and sensitivity to loud sounds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This type of hearing loss is managed by a doctor and audiologist. Some people with Ménière's disease report mild symptoms, but for others the symptoms<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are much worse. The hearing loss comes and goes, but over time some loss becomes permanent. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Autoimmune inner ear disease. This sudden-onset hearing loss is fast, dramatic, and should be medically treated as soon as possible. With swift medical<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>treatment, the hearing loss from this disease can be reduced. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ototoxic medications can cause hearing loss. Some drugs known to be ototoxic are: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as streptomycin, neomycin, or kanamycin) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Salicylates in large quantities (aspirin) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loop diuretics (lasix or ethacrynic acid) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Drugs used in chemotherapy regimens (cisplatin, carboplatin, or nitrogen mustard) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Age - Presbycusis is a sensorineural hearing loss that occurs gradually later in life. The condition affects hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in both ears over time. Speech begins to sound muffled or unclear because the ability to hear high pitch sounds is thefirst to go. Rhyming mistakes can<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>occur—for example, the high-pitched sound /t/ in the word tin is heard as / f/ in the word fin, causing confusion: “The roof is made of tin” is heard as<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“The roof is made of fin.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hair cells in cochlea begin to die off <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Usually the hair cells near the entrance to the cochlea <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those hair cells programmed for high frequencies <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>High frequency hearing loss is a normal part of aging <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Start having difficulty with following letter sounds: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ts and Ds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TIME and DIME <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SH/CH <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tee-SHIRT and TEACHER <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fs and Vs <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FINE and VINE <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Without clear consonants, conversation can sound <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Muffled <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Garbled <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Distorted <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Like a foreign film without subtitles <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>High frequency hearing loss makes it challenging to understand <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Speakers with higher voices or accents <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Conversation when many folks are speaking at once <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Speech in a place with poor acoustics <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What people are talking about if we don’t know the topic <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Loss: Impact on Feelings Parallel Reactions* <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You might feel: They might feel: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frustrated Frustrated <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angry Angry <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guilty Guilty <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A reduced quality of life A reduced quality of life <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Outcome? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wanting to withdraw from the conversation <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing vs. Understanding: Auditory Fatigue <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing loss is exhausting! --- for everyone in the conversation! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Aids: Why no one wants them <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They make me look old! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Too expensive! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t want people to notice! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t need them yet. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My friends say they don’t work! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Styles <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Behind the Ear (BTE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Behind the Ear – Open Fit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the Ear (ITE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the Canal (ITC) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Completely in the Canal (CIC) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Last one - ITD - In The Drawer! Frustrating Sometimes <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Technologies •Telicoil <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Interacts with electromagnet field <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Useful on phone and with listening systems/devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bluetooth <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"MS Gothic"'>⁃</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Provides wireless connection with cell phone, TV <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loop systems <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVRC’s meeting room is equipped with induction loop for listeners who have telecoils in their hearing aids and cochlear implants. Loop systems are becoming<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>popular in public venues such as museums and churches. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How do hearing aids help? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Will amplify many sounds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Often make one-on-one conversation easier <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with location of sounds <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with balance <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Help with the natural, stereo effect of sound <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But they don’t always! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amplify sounds, but don’t always help with clarity <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do not overcome background noise <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Must be programmed properly and fit well <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Don’t overcome distance <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do not help with understanding challenging speech patterns/habits <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hearing Assistive Technology Can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alerting Devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>VDDHH Technology Assistance Program (TAP)- Virginia Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corded and Cordless Telephones Captioned Telephones TV Listening Systems Personal Amplifiers: “PockeTalker” personal amplifiers Alerting Devices - Alarm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Clocks, Door bell alert systems, and Smoke Detectors <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All these devices can be tried by appointment at the NVRC Technology Demonstration Room We only demo the technology we do not sell any technology. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thru VDDHH Technology Assistance Program <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Telephones and alerting devices <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Borrow for 30 days <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Keep it if you like it <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you don’t meet financial eligibility guidelines, you might qualify for a discount through the state. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What About Cell/Smart Phones? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Most newer cell phones are hearing aid compatible but need to work with your specific hearing aid Not all hearing aids have Telcoil or Bluetooth - many<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>hearing aids can have both but be aware when purchasing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Communication Strategies that can Help <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let the speaker know you need to have them face you <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ask him/her to:(what do you need?) slow down, repeat, rephrase <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Be assertive <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An assertive approach has: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Direction - Be clear with your request <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rationale - Provide a reason <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Courtesy - Sugar, not vinegar <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Indicate where you need to stand or sit - <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do you have a “better” ear? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Make sure the person speaking is on your ‘good’ side if possible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Admit it! Don’t Bluff! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Admit it if you are lost in the conversation. Perhaps you are tired or the room is too noisy. Hearing loss can be exhausting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bluffing: often you can’t hide your hearing loss, so it’s better to be open about it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let the other person know what you understood…or thought you understood <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Can you change the environment? Problem Solution <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TV or music on in background Can you turn it off? Too many people talking at the same time Can we have one person talking at a time? Speaker to far away<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Move Closer Too noisy Find a quieter setting <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Come visit us at NVRC <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Questions<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>