SayWhatClub

Tag: coping strategies and hearing loss

Don’t be Afraid to Travel with Hearing Loss: How Communication can be Better Overseas

Posted on by swc-dmatthews

Photo by Agustín Diaz on Unsplash

I have traveled quite a bit over the course of my life. From family vacations – to mission trips – to several years working abroad in Indonesia and Ghana, I have tried to see as much of the globe as I can. I even met my husband in Ghana and got married there. Traveling is in my blood. But as someone with moderate hearing loss, travel can also pose some unique challenges. I always worry that I won’t hear my boarding call when waiting for my flight and end up in the wrong zone or miss my flight altogether (while I have gotten in the wrong group to board, I have yet to miss my flight). Here are some tips for traveling with hearing loss and some ways communication is actually easier overseas!

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help

Gate agents are there to help you. If you worry that you won’t hear your boarding call, explain your situation to the agent. They can make sure you board on time and in your correct group. The same goes for train or boat travel. Even if you are in a non-English speaking country, most people who work in the tourism industry can speak English and are willing and able to help you. If you can’t find an agent, your fellow travelers are usually able to help. When I have traveled by train, there is always someone willing to tell me if I am at the correct stop. Generally, people are friendly and want to assist fellow travelers.

There are Usually Signs Everywhere

The airport always has signs directing you to your gate and letting you know your departure time and gate location. The same is usually true for train stations (but not always, especially in a developing country). But if you can’t find the signs to direct you where you need to go, there are always agents around that can help. Or you can usually find maps and directions in English inside the terminal.

Hand Signals: an Effective Form of Communication

When I lived in Indonesia, I walked everywhere. I would often get a bit lost as I was exploring and have to stop to ask directions from someone who didn’t speak English. I found if I said “Paris Van Java?”, the main mall in Bandung, the city I was in, they could always point me in the right direction. Even general conversations could be had mainly using hand signals. If ASL is your primary language, you can usually get away with writing down a few words and using gestures to explain yourself. On the plus side, many people in non-English speaking countries can write English better than they can speak it. And people are often more willing to have a written conversation overseas than they would in the U.S. Especially in Indonesia, I found there were a lot of people who jumped at the chance to practice their English, whether by writing or speaking. Teach them some signs and you may find a new friend who is willing to show you around and introduce you to new adventures.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask People to Repeat Themselves

I say “What?” a lot. I’ve found that if I am constantly asking someone to repeat themselves in the U.S., they tend to get annoyed. On the contrary, when I don’t understand someone overseas, they assume it’s because of their accent. They are usually more gracious to repeat themselves multiple times or say something in a different way so you can understand them. They also don’t tend to dismiss you by saying, “Never mind.”

If People Don’t Understand You, They Think it’s Because of Your Accent

Because I can’t hear certain soft speech sounds, I don’t always enunciate my words properly. Or I may not pronounce a word correctly. While some people are understanding, others are not. However, when I am abroad, people just assume it’s because of my accent. I would say ‘American accent’ but I’ve frequently been told that I don’t sound ‘American’. Most people tend to guess that I am German by the way I talk and by the way I look (my heritage is mainly German so that makes sense). But I have never had anyone ask me if I have hearing loss based on my accent (or on the fact that I can’t understand them).

Find the Local Deaf Advocacy Group or Visit A Deaf School

Different countries have different resources for people with hearing loss. If you are in Europe or another wealthy country, the local Deaf advocacy group may have different resources for you as a traveler or be able to recommend places to go and people you can connect to. If you are in a developing country, there are often very few opportunities and resources for those with hearing loss. Oftentimes isolated, a person with hearing loss has little communication with their society and denied educational or work opportunities. By visiting a school or group, you can provide encouragement and connection. And you can advocate for change by your example.

It may seem intimidating to travel when you have hearing loss. But you will usually find that people are willing to help and it is easier to communicate than you initially thought. Don’t be afraid to get out and explore!

About the Author

Jenny Beck is a chiropractor and advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. She has had moderate hearing loss since a very young age. She is passionate about health, travel, writing and spending time with her family.

 

5 Points of Volunteering

Posted on by swc-kward

By Chelle Wyatt

Finding your people.

Hearing loss can be lonely. The world feels against you, sometimes your family too. It’s a deep, dark pit of quiet (and tinnitus). If you’re lucky, you wander across a support group like the SayWhatClub and start to feel a little less like a freak.  You begin feeling at home with a bunch of new friends, making meaningful connections.  

After another big hearing drop in 2009, I re-joined the SayWhatClub. Six months after being on the list, someone asked me to volunteer. I hadn’t thought about it, but why not? It wasn’t like I had anything else going on. I had just quit doing hair after 20 something years because I was deaf in noise. My self-confidence was at an all time low. I was cleaning a few houses and offices (not much hearing involved with cleaning), and I had nowhere else to go so yes, why not give of my time. Most of the offices I cleaned were aided by phs who helped the employees in the offices to stay clean and healthy. 

Point 1: Volunteering opens up other worlds, the 2nd phase of leaving isolation behind.

I became a list representative for a SWC email list. I was introduced to another part of the organization, meeting more who were hard of hearing and gaining new friends. Friends were important because I’d already lost a few because of my hearing loss (I couldn’t “chat” endlessly on the phone anymore). I appreciated my fellow volunteers just as much as I did the others on my email list and over time, one of those volunteers became a very good, dear friend. SWC became my safe place for communication, it’s a written world with no hearing involved.

Point 2: It kept me busy and stopped my negative thinking cycle.    

Being a list rep gave me back some of the responsibility I had been missing. I popped into email often to make sure the list was moving along smoothly. I welcomed new people to the list, trying to make sure their questions were answered hoping to pass on the same sense of home I felt. Occasionally I helped settle differences of opinion, in the spirit of teamwork. It kept me busy and kept my mind off my own troubles.

When the SayWhatClub held a convention in town, I volunteered for that too. I enjoyed being a part of building the con and putting faces to names, gathering more friends in the hearing loss world.

Point 3: Volunteering for SWC gave my own hearing loss a sense of purpose.

Over time, my hearing loss became less of a burden and started to feel like experience to share; on the email list, in the List Rep committee, conventions and writing on the SWC blog. I became a professional full time volunteer, I joked, as I became the List Rep chair. I was reaching out more into the hearing loss world for convention purposes, meeting more people. My self-confidence built back up. I was far from isolated and my hearing loss was asset in this world.

Point 4: Learn new skills while volunteering.

While stepping into my roles, other volunteers with experience supported me along the way. I wasn’t sure about being List Rep chair but the former chair was on hand to answer questions and offer advice when needed. The same with the convention committee, I knew nothing coming in but had the will to learn. I learned to reach out further into the hearing loss world, looking for guest speakers and sponsors. It was all valuable experience and I learned to be a leader again.

Point 5:  It looks good on the resume.

A local part-time job opened at the state Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center as a Hard of Hearing Assistant. The job required teaching classes and giving presentations on hearing loss. I almost didn’t apply for a few reasons. I thrived in the online world. Also, I was still trying to find my way back into doing hair, clinging to my old life, should I give up on that? What the heck I decided, maybe I could do both hair and hearing loss part time so I applied.

 

Which required writing a resume, the first in a long, long time. Adding information to the resume made me realize I had more experience than I thought, thanks to SWC. I learned I could organize events. During the two years I was off from doing hair, I built new skills and worked well with others. Because  I hadn’t been idle, I got the job. I worked part time for 5 years, and in January 2018, it became a full time position.

The hearing loss world gave me a place to belong.
I found my tribe, across the United States and right here in Utah. I never would have pictured myself ‘here’ nine years ago when I was struggling after another big drop in hearing.   And ‘here I am in a whole new life!   I have let go of doing hair almost entirely. Now I embrace the hearing loss community. This is where I belong, and SWC helped me get there.

I encourage others to volunteer, especially if you’re in that pit of isolation. The 

SayWhatClub emphasizes the benefits of volunteering in its Mission Statement. We understand that helping others reduces feelings of isolation, frustration and despair, while enhancing feelings of self-concept and optimism. Open yourself up, and see where it leads. Other SWC volunteers will support you in learning new skills.  What do you want to learn? Where might you go? The

re’s lots of opportunity in SWC.  

Some areas SWC needs volunteer help

  • The SWC website committee needs people to keep the webpage current by checking links and editing pages.
  • Help the Hospitality Committee welcome new people into SWC who inquire on the website.
  • The List Representative Committee could use help on the Facebook groups, and if you’re on an email list already, inquire if they might need help.  Two of the lists are looking for new List Representatives.
  • The Social Media Committee is looking for people to help with the main SWC Facebook page, making memes for SWC, writing on the blog, and would love to have someone make our Twitter account active again.

Remember no experience required, just a willingness to learn.

 

The ABC’s of Living with Hearing Loss

Posted on by swc-kward

After writing about the importance of disclosure a couple weeks ago, I have been thinking about an easy acronym to use as a reminder.  The ABC’s are easy for anyone.   These  five strategies for coping with hearing loss will lead to more satisfaction and improve your quality of life.

ASK FOR ACCESS.The international sign for deaf and hard of hearing access

Look for this international sign that indicates access for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.Years ago, I went to see a burlesque production at a theater in Seattle.  When buying my ticket, I asked if their performances were captioned.  Of course, they weren’t.  This was a long time ago before John Waldo of Wash-CAP, and Cheri Perazzoli* of Loop Seattle began their campaign to make Seattle more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.  So the answer was “no.”  I could have gone and been miserable while missing out on most the fun, but I felt bold that day. 

I asked if I could have a front row seat, and told them I would be able to read the performer’s lips if I sat in the front row.  When they agreed and said that I wouldn’t have to pay more, I was surprised.   Additionally, they extended this benefit to one extra friend.  When I arrived they also provided me with a transcript of the production!  I was stunned.  You will often receive a “no” answer when asking for access.  But remember—the answer is ALWAYS no if you don’t ask.

Try to be flexible when they say “no.”  Think of something else that might work for you and ask for that instead. Often times, I find that if they see me as willing to compromise, they will try to meet me half way.   Meanwhile, be sure to support venues that offer access and let them know how pleased you are.

In her last post, Chelle mentioned that we should look for the international sign for deaf technology access.  (See the illustration to the left.)  There is also an app aimed at helping deaf  people find looped access.  This is so cool, because you can download it to your phone, which means you can be a little more spontaneous while out with friends.  It will help you find a nearby venue that offers looped access.

Buy the best hearing devices and ALD’s you can afford.

Notice I did not say to buy the most expensive.  If cheaper aids have the features you need, such as t-coil or noise reduction programs, fine.  But be good to yourself and buy what you need, not the smallest or least visible hearing devices.  Make access to sound your priority when purchasing hearing aids.  Without t-coil, you won’t be able to take advantage of the many venues that are looped for deaf access.  You’ll be left out of the loop.  Access to sound enables a better quality of life and more satisfaction.

Control your environment.

Barking dogs make it hard to hear when someone wears hearing devices.
Ask them to put their barking dog outside or in another room.

Whether you need to move to a quieter table in a restaurant, or ask someone to put their barking dog outside when you visit, speak up.  Hearing people have a natural filter that allows them to isolate the speech sounds they need to hear.  Hearing aids are better at isolating speech than they used to be, but they are far from perfect.

Many people will be unaware of your hearing challenges if you don’t tell them what you need, because they can hear even with the barking dog and clatter of dishes.  It hardly bothers them.  Moreover, expect to tell them more than once.  They will forget.   It does get frustrating having to tell people all the time.  Look at it another way, and realize you must be compensating so well that they forget.  Eventually it will become automatic for them to request a quiet table in the corner, or to put the barking dog in another room when you come over.

Lipreading.  If you rely heavily on lip reading, you may have to consider asking to trade seats with others if someone’s head is in front of a setting sun.  A setting sun in a window behind someone’s head will put their face in a shadow.  Your constant need to look at their lips will cause eye strain with the glaring sun directly in your field of vision.  Tell them.  Alternatively you could ask them to close the blinds.  Another challenge for lip readers is when hearing people want to talk in the dark.  It may seem like a no-brainer to you, but it isn’t to others.  Tell them you need light in order to see their lips.  Whatever you need, maximize communication by taking control of the environment.  It isn’t all about what you hear but what you can see as well.

Disclose your hearing loss.

Whenever you have trouble hearing,  tell people you’re having difficulties hearing them. Don’t wait for something embarrassing to happen.  We all bluff sometimes, but it’s usually better not to.  Realize that your compensating behaviors give you away.  People notice you are “different.”  They just don’t know why.  If you tell them you can’t hear and that you lip read, it changes their perspective.  Instead of thinking you are weird, harebrained, or inattentive, they will understand that you simply can’t hear that well.

Educate yourself.

A young woman wearing a blue tooth neckloop FM system that streams sound directly into her hearing devices.
Educate yourself about what you need for successful communication. ALD’s like the FM system above can be a tremendous help.

Find out what your audiogram means.  Learn about new features on hearing devices. Try ASL if you think it could help.  Research Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s), hearing dogs, and the American Disabilities Act (if you live in the USA).  Learn about your rights and if there are state laws that will protect you from discrimination.  (If you are not in the US, most other countries have something comparable.  Find out what your rights are.)  Learn if there are resources that will help you pay for hearing aids, a captioned phone or blinking fire alarms.  The SayWhatClub has an excellent resource page called Hearing Loss Resources on the footer of its home page at saywhatclub.org.  Talk to others with hearing loss.  Doctors are often surprisingly unaware of the resources out there to help you navigate your life with hearing loss.   The more informed you are, the better you will be at addressing your needs. These five strategies will go a long way toward improving your quality of life.

 

*(Correction Note- Cheri Perazzoli’s name was previously spelled incorrectly.)