communication

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It’s May, the Time to Take Action on Hearing and Speech Issues

By Monique Hammond / May 11, 2021 / Comments Off on It’s May, the Time to Take Action on Hearing and Speech Issues

During the month of May, people are called upon to raise awareness on many diverse topics. It is also my birth month. But I never ever thought that May would become important to me as “Better Hearing and Speech” Month.  Connections through Communication Every year since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates the month…

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Green Ribbon Hook

Hidden, Silent Disability Travel Woes

By Monique Hammond / May 6, 2021 / Comments Off on Hidden, Silent Disability Travel Woes

Yes, hearing loss is often called a “a hidden or a silent disability.” Invisible to outsiders, it causes all sorts of challenges for daily life but when it comes to travel, it can lead to anxiety and panic situations. Hearing loss has certainly put a serious crimp into my own travel experiences.  It all starts…

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Hearing Loss Outed By Covid

Hearing Loss Outed by COVID-19

By Monique Hammond / March 27, 2021 / Comments Off on Hearing Loss Outed by COVID-19

No place to hide Yes, hearing loss became truly a family affair during COVID isolation and quarantine. There was no way to hide 24/7 when conversations became labored for those with hearing loss. Family members grew weary in a hurry of having to confront the communication struggles every single day. One lady shared that she…

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Hearing loss and fatigue

Hearing Loss and Fatigue

By Monique Hammond / January 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Hearing Loss and Fatigue

Worn out by the struggle to hear? The effort of trying to follow a conversation tends to leave people with hearing loss exhausted, anxious and plenty stressed. Yet, the ties between hearing loss and fatigue are all too often under-appreciated by patients and medical specialists alike.  One strains to hear, to speech-or lipread and to…

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SNR Hearing Loss

SNR Hearing Loss

By Monique Hammond / December 17, 2020 / Comments Off on SNR Hearing Loss

What did you say? Old problem gets a name An almost standard comment from people with hearing loss goes like this: “If only I could turn the speakers’ voices up louder, I would be able to hear and understand better over the room noise.”  The issue of not understanding speech in background sound is known…

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Telecoils and neckloops

COVID Homebound? Loop Yourself for Better Hearing

By Monique Hammond / November 11, 2020 / Comments Off on COVID Homebound? Loop Yourself for Better Hearing

Got telecoils in the hearing aids but no loop at home with which to use them? Learn about the induction neckloop, which could be a very helpful tool for those who do not have Bluetooth hearing aid connectivity for streaming over short distances.  What is a neckloop? A basic, non-amplified neckloop is a miniature version of a large loop,…

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Hearing Loops for businesses

Hearing Loops for Businesses

By Monique Hammond / October 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Hearing Loops for Businesses

Shortcomings in equitable access Although totally necessary, COVID-19 safety precautions have led to serious communication issues for those with hearing challenges ─ over 20 percent of the population.   While all customers and clients need equitable access to communication at any time, the Coronavirus has uncovered the fact that many businesses have few if any ways of…

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Active listening speech

Trouble Understanding Speech? Active Listening Skills Can Help

By Monique Hammond / September 16, 2020 / Comments Off on Trouble Understanding Speech? Active Listening Skills Can Help

For those with hearing loss the struggle to understand speech, especially in background sound is a huge obstacle to communication. People tend to describe what they hear as gibberish. It turns out that the situation can be improved upon by getting hearing help and by becoming better, active listeners. Listening: the secret sauce for good…

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Hearing Loop Switch Hearing Aid to T Coil

Now is the Right Time to Advocate for Hearing Loops

By Monique Hammond / September 3, 2020 / Comments Off on Now is the Right Time to Advocate for Hearing Loops

Communications challenges continue The COVID-19 threat is not going away anytime soon. Those with hearing loss have experienced added limitations to communication during these times of social distancing, self-quarantine, masked outings and conversations. Being talked to through plastic or glass partitions further worsens the muffling of sounds. Speechreading (lipreading) has become impossible, which deepens the…

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Keep hearinh alove in Covid 19

In COVID-19 Isolation? Keep Hearing Alive

By Monique Hammond / April 3, 2020 / Comments Off on In COVID-19 Isolation? Keep Hearing Alive

Those with hearing loss know a thing or two about social isolation. Struggling to understand speech stirs up plenty of feelings of being sidelined during conversations or activities with family, friends and coworkers.   Now add to that social distancing ─ which hinders speechreading and tests the distance performance of hearing aids ─ and pretty…

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