Submitted by Beth Wilson, RI SHHH1 Tips for Hard of Hearing People in the Workplace Beth Wilson SHHH Atlanta Convention 2003 [email protected]

Submitted by Beth Wilson, RI SHHH 1

Tips for Hard of Hearing PeopleTips for Hard of Hearing People

in the Workplacein the WorkplaceBeth Wilson

SHHH Atlanta Convention 2003

[email protected]

This presentation may be freely used by any SHHH Chapters. It’s available for download from www.nchearingloss.org/programs.htm


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 Assumptions1. Hard of hearing = Deaf2. Lipreading3. Useable Volume and Background Noise4. Hearing Aids


1) Hard of Hearing isNot Just Less Deaf

loudness

frequency


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


You’re hard of hearing!So you can lipread, right?

Only when I want toget myself in trouble...

2. The Lipreading Myth

Hollywood Teaches Us:When someone loses their hearing they are able to

lipread as compensation

Reality Is:Lipreading is a difficult skill that few are able to master


Can you bowl next week against the

Tow Trucks?

Sure --I’ll be there!

?

An Example

Which Team is it Really? Navy Department 20 Navy Department 60 Raytheon A Raytheon B Coast Guard Army Marines


! I hear the COAST GUARDhas a good team!


Lipreading RealityLipreading is only successful when

the speaker never moves all the words are known the words are predictable

Only 1/3 of speech is visible on the lips

An “expert” lipreader is guessing at 66% of what is said!

Lipreading is critical to understanding Lipreading is a tool that helps Lipreading cannot be the only accommodation


How Does Lipreading Work?

““s” versus “f”s” versus “f” same except for the highest frequency sound the same with a high frequency loss they look different on the lips

Vocal Chords

Throat

Inside the mouth

How air is stopped(teeth, lips, none)

“s”“f”


Filling in the GapsHard of Hearing People Play

“fill in the gaps” to guess at the missing notes

U N DE R __ T A N D

ACO

P S


Losing the Race

U DE R __ T A D

ACO

P SN

N

In noise there are more gaps to fill.


Competing Speech Is Worst

U Q DE R __ T A R D

ACO

P S

With nearby conversations we get extra words to sort out.


Eventually We Fall BehindWhen the next phrase arrives before we sorted out the previous one, it becomes

too hard to keep up.


3. Useable Volume

Can you turn it up, I can’t understand

the program

Volume = 5

Volume = 8

Perfect Ouch

Volume = 3

Can you turn it down, I can’t think over here.


Common Phenomenonfor Hard of Hearing People

Need “8” to understand Need “3” to ignore Everything in between is useless

This leads to misunderstandings about what This leads to misunderstandings about what volume is necessary:volume is necessary:

To hearTo hear

To understandTo understand

To concentrateTo concentrate


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 PeopleKnow


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)

You need different strategies for You need different strategies for different situations.different situations.


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

Formula for AccommodationsFormula for Accommodations

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.”

Answering Machine TipAnswering Machine Tip


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)

ADA Applies to:ADA Applies to: EffectiveEffective

Federal government (covered under 504) Indian tribes Tax-exempt private membership clubs

Who is “Exempt”?Who is “Exempt”?


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?

Qualified Individual Is:Qualified Individual Is:

“one who, with or without reasonable accommodation, is able to perform the essential functions of the employment position held or desired.”


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

Reasonable Accommodation:Reasonable Accommodation:

“modifications or adjustments to the job application process and the workplace to allow a disabled person to perform the essential functions of the job.”


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

Meetings and Classes• Inductive Loops

• FM Equipment

• Infrared Equipment

• Captioning

Accessories Accessories Company Company

Should Should ProvideProvide

Accommodations Accommodations Company Company

Should ArrangeShould Arrange


Coping Strategies

Facilities


I Never Thought of That...

Will You Be Able to Hear:the fire alarma page over the PA systema plant closing over the radioa speaker at a security gateintercoma 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

Microlink: www.phonak.comLexis: www.phonicear.comLink-It: www.etymotic.comD-Hear: www-isl.stanford.edu/~widrow

Price: $1,000-2,000


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

Price: $100-200


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

Price: $500-800


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

Price: Personal: $200System: $1,000


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

Price: Personal: $300Room: $1,000

www.hearingloop.org


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

Price: $50-150/hour


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 OptionsPrice Personal 1-time

CostPrior Setup

User Can Be Anon

Closed Setting

Hearing Aid Accessories

$1,000 - 2,000

X X X

Personal Amplifier

$100 - 200

X X X

FM $500 - 800

X X Coordinate w/ speaker

IR P: $200

R: 1,000

(X)

Personal

X Set up transmitter

X

Loop P: $300

R: $1,000

(X)

Personal

X Yes X

Interpreter/ Captioning

$50-150/ hour

Yes X (X)

If cleared

Remote Sign/Caption

$50-150/ hour

Yes


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!Become a Valuable Employee!

[email protected]

Documents

Submitted by Beth Wilson, RI SHHH1 Tips for Hard of Hearing People in the Workplace Beth Wilson SHHH Atlanta Convention 2003 [email protected]