Transcript May 22, 2014 POC DHoH - Assistive technology

Virginia Thompson, M.A., C.R.C., C.V.E., L.A.C.
AT Arizona
[email protected]
(602) 358-1726
Acbvi.org
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The term "Hearing Impaired" is a technically
accurate description of someone who is hard of
hearing or who has no hearing ... however, many
Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened people
prefer not to be called impaired. They don't want
to be primarily defined by their lack of (or poor)
hearing. http://www.nchearingloss.org/hi.htm
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Deaf:
“The use of the cultural label of being Deaf can be a declaration
of personal identity rather than an indicator of hearing ability.
American Sign Language unites people with profound hearing loss
throughout the United States. Deaf Communities have their own
educational institutions, social clubs and athletic organizations.
A variety of events, conferences and conventions take place on
a regular basis, providing individuals who are deaf a wide variety
of options in which to interact with others. In addition, the Deaf
Community engages in social and political activities exclusive to
the Deaf Community.
The Deaf Community provides a sense of belonging for deaf
people who might otherwise feel excluded from hearing culture.
A belief commonly shared by Deaf people is that deafness should
not be regarded as an impairment or a disability.” Source: acdhh.org
Hard of Hearing
The term "hard of hearing" refers to those who have
some hearing and are able to use it for
communication purposes (NAD, 2008)
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Conductive Hearing Loss- This occurs when
sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner
ear. Hearing is still normal once past the blockage.
If left untreated, conductive hearing loss can result
in permanent impairment.
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Sensorineural Hearing Loss- This occurs when the
cause of the deafness is in the cochlea or in the
auditory (hearing) nerve. Sensorineural deafness
often reduces the quality of sound as well as its
loudness.
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Mixed Hearing Loss- It is a combination of both
the sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
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Mild - Sounds softer than 25 dB (decibels) to 40
dB are not detected. Soft sounds such as a faucet
dripping, birds chirping, and some speech sounds
may not be heard. Sounds that are moderately
loud to a normal hearing person, such as speech,
will be soft.
Moderate - Sounds softer than 40 dB (decibels) to
65 dB are not detected. Most speech sounds, and
louder sounds such as a vacuum cleaner may not
be heard. Sounds that are loud to a normal
hearing person will be soft.
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Severe - Sounds softer than65 dB (decibels) to 90
dB are not detected. Most speech sounds will not
be understood, and other loud sounds such as a
phone ringing or a dog barking may be missed.
Sounds that are very loud to a normal hearing
person will be very soft.
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Profound or Severe-Profound - sounds softer than
90 dB (decibels) are not detected. Very loud
sounds such as a lawnmower may not be
detected.
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What it sounds/looks like
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EJ4g3J6cJM&noredi
rect=1
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRoMzd8AQoI
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcz7AeBMLSc
Comments/Thoughts
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GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
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Get the person’s attention.
Keep your face and mouth visible.
Be sure your face is adequately lit.
Face the person directly when speaking.
Only one person should speak at a time.
Use an Assistive Listening Device.
Reduce background noise or move to a quieter
location.
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DURING THE CONVERSATION
◦ Speak clearly and at a moderate pace.
◦ Speak just a bit louder.
◦ Ask a question to see if you are understood.
◦ Write down information or key words.
◦ Be aware that accents or slang may be difficult
to understand.
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TIPS FOR WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS
◦ What is an American Sign Language Interpreter?
◦ An American Sign Language interpreter is an
intermediary who facilitates communication between
people with hearing loss or speech difficulties and those
without hearing loss. ASL interpreters may specialize in
sign language, oral, or another communication method.
◦ Interpreters must be licensed in the State of Arizona
unless interpreting in a K-12 educational setting, a
religious setting, or on a volunteer basis with no pay in
non-legal settings.
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When scheduling an Interpreter, please provide
the following information:
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Who?
Which Day(s)?
What?
What Time(s)?
Where?
Setting(s)?
Other specifics?
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BEFORE the conversation starts:
◦ Ask the person what is the best way to communicate with
her or him.
◦ Get the person's attention. For a d/Deaf or a late
deafened person, a wave from a distance or a gentle tap
on the shoulder is usually sufficient. A hard of hearing
person may also benefit from this procedure, but calling
the person's name may also help.
◦ Keep your face and mouth visible—don't turn your head
or cover your mouth.
◦ Remove gum, cigarettes, food, or other objects from your
mouth. Speech reading is easier if the speaker's mouth
area is free of objects.
◦ Be sure your face is adequately lit.
◦ Be aware of light sources. Windows or other bright light
sources can create shadows on your face. This can
make speech reading or watching signing more difficult.
◦ Face the person directly when speaking.
◦ Speak directly to the person—not to the interpreter, the
CART provider, or the person’s companion.
◦ Negotiate a comfortable conversation space.
◦ Only one person should speak at a time.
◦ Use an Assistive Listening Device, CART or Interpreter
services if appropriate. If a hard of hearing person has
hearing aids or assistive listening devices, give the
person time to adjust the equipment.
◦ If Assistive Listening Devices, CART or Interpreter
services are not available, use paper and pen to assist
with the communication process if needed.
◦ Reduce background noise or move to quieter location.
◦ Maintain eye contact. Eye contact facilitates direct
communication. When working with special populations
such as the elderly or children be sure they can see you
clearly, and if they wear glasses for daily activity make
sure they have them on. acdhh.org
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BTE—behind the ear—are about one inch long
and fit snugly behind your outer ear. A small tube
connects with the amplification device behind your
ear and delivers amplified sound into your ear
canal. It has an adjustable volume control. The
battery fits into a compartment at the bottom of the
aid. Its larger size allows for more power and
features, such as telecoils. BTEs are suitable for
the entire range of hearing loss.
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OTE—on the ear—are a new style of BTE that is
extremely small and sits on top of the outer ear.
The tube going into the ear canal can be very
narrow and, in some OTEs, may have a speaker
located in the ear canal itself.
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ITE—in the ear—are custom-fitted to your outer
ear’s contours. Both the volume control and the
battery are smaller than the ones used in a BTE.
The smaller size may not amplify sufficiently for
those with very severe loss. For some users, this
small size can be difficult to insert or remove,
change batteries, or adjust the volume. Most ITE
aids have special features, such as telecoils, to
make talking on the telephone easier. ITEs are
appropriate for those with mild to moderate loss.
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ITC—in the canal—are smaller. They fit farther
into the ear canal so they are barely visible. They
are cosmetically appealing but are harder to
manipulate and may not be powerful enough for
someone with severe loss. They are customized
to fit the size and shape of your ear canal.
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CIC—completely in the canal—are the smallest
ITEs. Cosmetically, they may be the most
flattering, but their tiny size can be a real
disadvantage in handling. Because they are
closest to your eardrum, they need less power and
take a smaller battery. They are the most
expensive ITEs because of their miniaturized
circuitry, and they often need more frequent
maintenance and cleaning than larger aids
because of their placement in the canal.
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Telecoil or T-Switch – A setting on a hearing aid
that can be used with a hearing aid-compatible
telephone, assistive listening device, and audio
loop system. When the hearing aid is switched to
“T”, it activates the induction telecoil, causing the
hearing aids to pick up the magnetic field
generated by the “hearing aid-compatible”
telephone assistive device, or audio loop system
being used.
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Are Hearing Aids enough?
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l37lzLIgQU
◦ Options
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White Board
Ubi Duo
Telephone Amplification
Tablet
Smart Phone
Captioned Telephone
FM System (Integrated and Regular) and Loop System
Streamer
TTY, Uniphone, and NexTalk
Telephone Relay Service including VCO and HCO
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Assessment Process
◦ Check for self-advocacy skills
◦ Check for communication skills
◦ Ask about daily communication interactions, social life,
etc.
◦ Ask about social and family support
◦ Ask about their knowledge of A.T.
◦ Ask about problems on the job
 Were they fired?
 Were they left out of water cooler talk?
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Psycho-Social Health
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Risk of depression
Risk of alcoholism
Risk of drug addiction
Risk of abuse
Sense of Isolation
Low Self-Esteem
Impact on other disabilities
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Rehabilitation Instructional Services
◦ Askjan.org
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Counseling
Assistive Technology Evaluation
Assistive Technology Training
◦ Referral Information
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Documentation of Hearing Loss
Documentation of other Disabilities
Psychological/Vocational Evaluation if available
Any concerns/observations
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Options
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White Board
Ubi Duo
Sign Language Interpreter
Video Phone and Video Relay Service
Video Remote Interpreting
TTY and NexTalk
Telephone Relay Service
IP Relay (Internet Protocol Relay)
Tablet
Smartphone
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Title II
Access to Government Services
Access to telephone
Signage for access to accommodations
Title IV
Telephone Access
Relay Services
T-Coil Compatibility
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Aids-andCell-Phones/#1
 Enforcement
o EEOC
o FCC
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AT = Assistive Technology
Provided by RSA
Housed at Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired
Disability Awareness/Etiquette Sessions (All Disabilities)
 Provided at your location or ours
 1 ½ - 3 hour module sessions available
 Available to employers
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Hands-On Assistive Technology Awareness
Full Day Counselor Trainings
 Includes awareness and hands-on AT experience for each disability
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“Hello” Meeting & Greeting the Public
General Disability Awareness
Deaf / Hard of Hearing
Blind / Visual Impairment
Learning Disability / Cognitive Challenges
Ergonomics and Physical Considerations
Mobile Devices and AT (Special Session)
Computer Skills for Professionals (Special Session)
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www.atarizona.com
www.acbvi.org
www.aztap.org
www.askjan.org
www.harriscomm.com
http://www.dsi-tty.com/index.aspx
https://chs.asu.edu/shs/clinic
http://lwhl.arizona.edu/
www.acdhh.org
DES/RSA TTY 1-855-475-8194