Submitted by Beth Wilson, RI SHHH
22
Variation for People
nMy loss is different
nVariations within the same setting
uI can do that for an hour, but not all day
uI can understand familiar voices
uI have trouble with accents
Sometimes you think it is difficult being the trail blazer.  You feel like you are always the first person requesting accommodation for hearing loss.  Wouldn’t it be easier if there had been someone before you.  Not necessarily.  What if their accommodations don’t work for you?  I try to be careful in explaining that I can use a sign language interpreter because I happen to sign.  I explain that many hard of hearing people do not sign and I even simplify it and say that I sign because my sister is Deaf.  But I know that the next person will probably have to explain why they need captioning.

Not only are there variations for me in different settings, but there is variation within the same setting.  I have trouble explaining why I can talk on the phone but I want remote captioning for a teleconference.  I have trouble explaining why I can participate in the weekly meeting with just my hearing aid but I want extra equipment for for the all-day customer review.  It is hard to explain that “it depends.”

The first issue is the length of the meeting.  I explain that hearing is an active sport for me.  Yes, I can run for 20 minutes on the treadmill, but that doesn’t mean I can sign up for the Boston Marathon.  Just because I can listen for an hour without dropping from exhaustion doesn’t mean I didn’t take an aspirin as soon as I left the meeting.

When I start a problem I need a conference microphone to be able to understand anything at the meeting.  Within a month or two, I can work with my hearing aid.  I explain that when I get used to people’s voices I can understand them easier.  I also explain that when I learn who does all the talking, I find a better place to sit.

I have worked on a variety of programs involving British, Australian, and even Russian scientists.  I have to work very hard to understand a new voice, and an accent makes it almost impossible.  I learned early to request extra accommodations when there was an accent involved.