Notes
Outline
Tips for Hard of Hearing People

in the Workplace
Beth Wilson
SHHH Atlanta Convention 2003
Workshop Goals
Identify communication challenges in the workplace
ADA and employment
Effective strategies
Technology solutions
Tips for the Workplace
The Problem
Myths and Assumptions
Letting People Know
The Office
The Meeting
Coping Strategies
Americans with Disabilities Act
Facilities
Technology
The Problem

Myths and Assumptions
1)  Hard of Hearing is
Not Just Less Deaf
Cultural Labels
Deaf
Part of Deaf culture/community
Deafness is an identity
deaf
Cannot hear well even with hearing aid
Culturally hearing (translation: isolated)
Hard of hearing
May hear better with a hearing aid
Not hearing and not Deaf
My spouse thinks I can’t hear
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Lipreading Reality
Lipreading is critical to understanding
Lipreading is a tool that helps
Lipreading cannot be the only accommodation
How Does Lipreading Work?
Filling in the Gaps
Losing the Race
Competing Speech Is Worst
Eventually We Fall Behind
3. Useable Volume
Common Phenomenon
for Hard of Hearing People
Need “8” to understand
Need “3” to ignore
Everything in between is useless
4. The Truth about Hearing Aids
Hearing aids do not “fix” hearing loss
not like glasses
external amplifier has to go through “bad” ear
Problems with hearing aids
amplify background noise
can have interference from equipment
The Problem

Letting People
Know
Letting People Know
Describe Your Hearing Loss Sooner Not Later
One-on-one:  “before we get started”
Large group:  “my name is … and you should know …”
Include Specifics
“I hear low tones”
“I do okay if I can lipread the speaker”
Offer Suggestions
“Things are easier if we leave the lights on”
“I need people to face me when they speak”
“I can’t lipread someone facing the screen”
Varying Accommodation Needs
Office
Co-workers
Visitors
Telephone
Meetings
Discussion
Lectures
Virtual
Emergencies (fire alarm)
Variation for People
My loss is different
Variations within the same setting
I can do that for an hour, but not all day
I can understand familiar voices
I have trouble with accents
Beth’s Example
One-on-One: Hearing aid
Less than 7 People I Know:  Hearing aid with “rules”
Less than 7 New People: Loop
Large Group, 1 Speaker:  FM System
Large Group, Discussion:  Interpreter
The Problem

Office

(one-on-one)
Your Office
Move Your Furniture if You Can
Work without distraction
Don’t be startled when a visitor arrives
Able to hear visitors that stop in
Let Them Know You are HOH
“Face me” button
Communication tips poster
Knock loudly sign on the door
The Telephone
Phone Flasher
Amplifier
TTY
Caller ID
   “Hi, this is Beth Wilson. I can’t take your call right now but please leave a message for me after the tone.  Because I am hard of hearing, I need you to speak clearly and state your name and number slowly.  If I am not familiar with your name, and it is more complicated than my name, it would also be helpful if you would spell it for me.  Thank you.”
Your Computer
You can use a loop in the headphone jack
Sound applications muted
Play as loud as you want!
Directly to your hearing aid
IP Relay available
Use email to clarify understanding
The Problem

Meetings

(group)
The Meeting
Speak up About the Seating Arrangements
“I need to have my back to the window so I can lipread”
“I can’t sit near the projector, it is all I hear on my hearing aid”
“That beard needs to be directly across
      from me”
Speak Up About Your Needs
Some lights during a presentation
“Who is speaking?”
Use Humor to Ease the Situation
“My answers will be more entertaining than I intended if we don’t turn the lights back on.”
“Unless you’re going to give that wall my action items you need to turn around.”
Cost-free Accommodations
Suggested Seating Arrangements
Back to the window
Away from a projector
People difficult to hear closer
Main speaker closer
Rules of Conduct
Lights up during a presentation
Speakers talk one at a time
Speakers identified
Ask What to Expect
How many people will be speaking?
How close will I be able to sit?
Will there be videos?
What is the format?
Lecture
Discussion
Coping Strategies

ADA 
Title I:Employment
ADA Impact
Companies with 15 or more employees
Employment agencies
Unions
July 26, 1994
(15 or more employees)
July 1992
(25 or more employees)
Qualified Individual
ADA focuses on job performance, not marginal duties
applying for a job or promotion
maintaining current job
Answering telephone not necessarily “part of the job”
answering a telephone is often a marginal duty
Illinois case (1989) time and attendance clerk position
can this responsibility be transferred to another employee?
can modifications to telephone equipment help?
Reasonable Accommodation
Reasonable Accommodation Definition Includes
making existing workplace accessible
job restructuring
acquisition of equipment
modification of equipment
Equipment Includes
telecommunication devices
assistive listening devices
Coping Strategies

ADA Coordinator
Introduce Yourself
Find out who in HR can help you before you need help
Brainstorm potential settings
Mandatory trainings
Virtual meetings
Fire alarms and other emergencies
Develop an action plan
HR to identify existing solutions
You can identify technology options
Telephone
Phone Flashers
Volume Control
TTY
Coping Strategies

Facilities
I Never Thought of That...
Will You Be Able to Hear:
the fire alarm
a page over the PA system
a plant closing over the radio
a speaker at a security gate
intercom
a warning signal (ex. truck backing up)
the mandatory ethics video
The Unexpected
Talk to Your ADA Coordinator
bring up issues when you think of them
offer solutions or resources to find them
Offer Alternatives for Short Term
transcript of mandatory training video
person responsible for notifying you until visual fire alarm installed
Reward Good Behavior
“I noticed that video was captioned”
“I saw the note about special needs on the class announcement”
award or citation for “model behavior”
Coping Strategies

Technology
Hearing Aid Accessories
FM coupled with hearing aid
Phonak Microlink
Phonic Ear Lexis
Directional Microphones
Link-It
D-Hear
Personal Amplifier
Description
Handheld directional microphone
Connect with earpiece or loop
Advantages
Portable
Easy solution
Can be quickly moved to another speaker
Disadvantages
Close to speaker
Can’t be shy
FM Equipment
Description
Use FM radio signals
Microphone near speaker
Wireless receiver (earpiece or loop)
Advantages
Distance from speaker
Direct link to speaker
Can use outside
Portable
Disadvantages
Can only hear speaker
Must arrange for speaker to wear
Cannot use in closed setting
IR Equipment
Description
Use infrared light signals
Microphone near speaker, connected to IR transmitter
Wireless receiver (earpiece or loop)
Advantages
Line of sight
Cannot bleed into next room
Can use in “closed” setting
Distance from speaker
Disadvantages
More setup than FM
Cannot use outside
Interference when light blocked
Inductive Loops
Description
Magnetic field established to transmit signal
Receive with T-switch on hearing aid
Personal loops now available
Advantages
Convenient for hearing aid user
No need to self-identify
After initial setup, easy to use
Disadvantages
Must be installed or set up
For permanent or portable loop, must conceal loop
Install in ceiling
Tape down loop on floor
Interpreters/Captioning
Description
Specialist trained to translate spoken English
Real-time translation in sign or text
Advantages
No hearing required
Can handle multiple speakers
No individual receivers required
Disadvantages
Have to arrange in advance
Human -- breaks needed
Recurring cost
Need clearance for classified setting
Remote Options Growing
Relay
Telephone calls with single speaker
Typist at 50 wpm (speakers talk over 200 wpm)
Wait for operator to be available
Video Relay Service
Video for sign instead of text
Cannot arrange in advance
CapTel
Revoicing instead of typing
Text with less delay
Remote Captioning/Interpreting
Arrange in advance
Pay for service (same as captioner/interpreter)
Good accommodation for virtual meetings
Technology Options
Summary
Don’t try to hide your hearing loss
Initiate discussions
Meeting a person
New situation
Offer strategies
You have the best ideas
Be firm about your communication
Creativity is a tool
Offer alternatives
Become a Valuable Employee!
BethJWilson@compuserve.com