A Cochlear Implant User's Journey

Next week, Rick Waters, Board Member of WIDHH, will be undergoing surgery to get a Cochlear Implant. Follow his blog to share his journey! www.rickwaters69.wordpress.com.

Grants for Post Secondary Students

If you are a post secondary student in need of special equipment or services, check out these Grants and Bursaries:

B.C. Access Grant for Students with a Permanent Disability - This is a grant for students with permanent disabilities of up to $1,000 per year that displaces B.C. student loan funding. (It is not additional funding, it replaces $1000 of loan funding, meaning you will owe less in student loans).


B.C. Supplemental Bursary for Students with a Permanent Disability - This program is for part-time or full-time students with permanent disabilities. It is designed to assist with exceptional educational costs. (up to approximately $800).

Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities - This is $2,000 per loan year available to students who qualify for a federal student loan, are enrolled in a full-time or part-time program at a designated post-secondary institution, have a permanent disability as defined by the Canada Student Loan Program and submitted to StudentAid BC acceptable documentation of their permanent disability, To apply for this program you must complete the Permanent Disability Programs Application form. http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentaidbc/explore/grants-scholarships/canada-grant-services-permanent-disabilities

Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities - This grant provides equipment and services up to $8,000 per loan year available to students who: qualify for a federal student loan; are enrolled in a full-time or part-time program at a designated post-secondary institution; have a permanent disability as defined by the Canada Student Loan Program; have exceptional education related costs for services or equipment due to their permanent disability; have submitted a completed Permanent Disability Programs Application form with acceptable documentation of their permanent disability with their application for student funding. This will cover items such as FM systems, digital recorders, interpreting services, note-takers etc.  This grant will not pay for Hearing Aids.  (Note that the funding does not go directly to the student but is managed through Assistive Technology BC).

You can see these and more grants on the SABC website: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/studentaidbc/specialprograms/grants.htm

WIDHH Survey

WIDHH is conducting a survey to help with its’ strategic planning for the future.

Please take 5 to 10 minutes to fill out the survey.  You do not need to sign your name, to keep your reply anonymous.

Here's the link to the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WIDHHSurvey

Or you can download the PDF (above), print and return to:

ATTN: Strategic Planning Committee
c/o Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2125 West 7th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC, V6K 1X9

Thank you!

How Loud Is Too Loud?

Recently, I took my 7 yr old to one of those large playcentres. You know the type. Big concrete building. Large animal face on the outside. As soon as I opened the door, the noise from 300+ screaming children assailed me. It was like being hit over the head by an acoustic 2 by 4.

How loud it too loud? When does noise become dangerous and cause potential hearing loss?

Two main factors that contribute to hearing loss caused by loud noise or music are

1) Length of exposure (how long you are listening to the sound) and

2) Intensity (how loud the sound is).

The louder the sound, the less time you should expose your ears to it.


Below are some examples of environmental sounds (measured in decibels dBA) and the recommended maximum exposure time per week (for unprotected ears).

Conversational Speech: 60 dBA: Always Safe

Children’s Playcentre: 75 to 85 dBA: 30 to 40 hours

Vacuum Cleaner/Average Factory: 80 to 85 dBA: 40 hours

Live Band: 97 dBA: 2.5 hours

Loud Headphones: 103 dBA:  ~ 40 minutes

Ambulance Siren: 115 dBA: ~ 2.5 minutes

Gunshot, Jet Engine: 140 dBA: Instant Hearing Loss!

Tips to Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

1) Turn your MP3 or other music player down! As a general rule, set your volume to no more than 60% volume and use it for no longer than 1 hour per day. While listening under ear or headphones, you should still be able to hear a person speaking to you an arm’s length away. If they have to shout for you to hear them, your volume is TOO LOUD! If possible, use noise-cancelling or sound-isolating head or earphones instead.

2) Use hearing protection when handling heavy tools or machinery, when working in an industrial setting or when attending a loud music concert. If you are a musician, try Musician’s Earplugs instead.

3) Get your hearing tested periodically by an Audiologist, at least every 2 years to ensure your hearing is not getting any worse.


Noise-induced Hearing Loss is permanent and irreversible. Hearing loss prevention is the best thing you can do for your ears!

Tech Talk - Recycling

Do you have old hearing aids sitting in a drawer that you no longer use?  Do something good for the environment and for others....Donate them!  You can recycle your old hearing aids by sending them to
Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2125 West 7th Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C.,
V6K 1X9

Alternatively you can drop them off in person at any of our locations.

WIDHH can use behind-the-ear hearing aids that are still working in our Lend-an-Ear Permanent Loaner Hearing Aid Program.  This program provides refurbished aids at a nominal fee to individuals that are unable to afford the cost of a new hearing aid.  We are in desperate need of more hearing aids for this program.   Custom hearing aids cannot be fit on another person as they are fit specifically to the original owner's ear, however, we are able to send them to another organization that can salvage functional parts and components. 

Did you know you can recycle your hearing aid batteries?
Many local recycling facitilities now take hearing aid batteries.  Call2Recycle can help you locate a facility.  You can also drop off old hearing aid batteries at our locations and we will see that they are recycled.

Tech Talk - IP Relay

Instant messaging seems to be popping up everywhere - literally!  There are all sorts of programs and devices that allow friends and family to send typed messages back and forth to each other in real time to pick a movie, pick a restaurant, find out the latest gossip, or get some sympathy for a bad day at work.  While this social form of media seems to have found a solid foothold in popular culture, it hasn't made it's way into the business world.  You can't BBM your doctor's office to book an appointment, and you can't Instant Messenger the local pizzaria to order your favourite Friday night dinner. 

Many of you are familiar with the Relay Service for TTY's which allows TTY users to call regular telephone users and vice versa, and Voice Carry Over Service which allows hard of hearing consumers who can no longer hear on the phone to speak to a regular phone user.  These are great services but are somewhat restrictive in that they require you to call from a phone line.  However, mobile phone users or PC users with internet can now get IP Relay Service.

How IP Relay Service Works

A person who is deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled uses a PC or wireless web enabled device (like your wireless Smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard) to type his or her conversation to the IP Relay agent, who then reads the typed conversation to the other party. The IP Relay agent then types the other party's spoken words back to the IP Relay user.


There are no additional costs to consumers for IP Relay beyond a computer or other Web-capable device and an Internet connection.

First you have to register with your Smartphone or computer with your provider.  You will be provided with an access number and your password.

Benefits of IP Relay

•Relay service is free! (all normal cellular and internet charges still apply)
•Availability – IP Relay is available to anyone who has access to the Internet via a computer, a Smartphone, Web-capable telephone or other device;

•Convenience – Consumers do not need to go to a separate TTY or log off the Internet to use a TTY telephone line. IP Relay lets consumers make relay calls even when there is no TTY handy. In addition, consumers often say that using a computer screen and keyboard is easier than using a TTY. IP Relay permits much faster typing and allows users to see much more of the conversation on their computer screens than they can see with a TTY LCD window. IP Relay also allows users to print out and save conversations;

•Mobility –Smartphone users can initiate an IP Relay call wherever you can ordinarily use your cellphone;

•Quality – Transmission quality may be faster via IP Relay than via a TTY.

•Voice IP relay is available (with some carriers) but you must have 3 way calling enabled on your Smartphone and some providers may also require you to have a valid land-line phone number as well as a cellphone.

At posting, Telus has both text and voice IP relay (as long as you also pay for a landline phone number).  Bell and Shaw currently have text only IP relay service.  Check with your specific phone carrier for available services. 

Tech Talk - Hearing the Phone in Both Ears

We are covering more options for the phonetoday.  We covered telecoils on Tuesday, business phone options yesterday and Bluetooth connectivity.  Another great option is 'Binaural Phone'.  This technology allows one hearing aid to 'talk' or 'stream' sound to the other hearing aid.  So when you are talking on the phone, you hold the phone to one hearing aid but you can hear the phone in BOTH hearning aids.  Pretty cool.

For some of the hearing aids you can access this feature by pressing the program button on one of the hearing aids.  Some of the hearing aids allow (or in some models require) you to access this by the remote control.  Finally, some of the hearing aids have an 'autophone' feature which generally requires you to stick a small magnet to the telephone.  Placing the handset with the magnet near the hearing aid switches the aid into the telephone mode. 

Some of the manufacturers and models of hearing aids that have the Binaural Phone feature are:

Phonak:  Ambra and Exelia Art hearing aids - accessible by program button and/or by remote control

Unitron:  Quantum 12's and 20's, Moxi 12's and 20's - accessible by program button and/or by remote control

Unitron:  Passport and Latitude 16 (wireless models only) - accessible by the remote control or by use of  autophone

Widex: Clear 440's and 330's- accessibly by program button and/or by remote control

Hearing the phone in both ears with a bilateral hearing loss can help with clarity and make communication easier and less stressful - a definite plus.

Tech Talk - Hearing on your Business Phone

The phone is always a challenge because there are no lip-reading or facial cues to help the conversation along.  And for many hard of hearing listeners, hearing with both ears would be a great asset when it comes to listening to accents, dialects, high pitch voices, low-pitch voices, soft-talkers, fast-talkers, monotone talkers and all of those mumblers out there.  While the telecoil is a great solution for hearing on the phone, it limits a hard of hearing listener to hearing through one hearing aid only.  Telecoils can also hum from nearby computers and electrical sources which can be very distracting. 

Bluetooth has been a great addition to hearing aid technology to connect to cellphones and hear phone calls with both ears (and no hum!).  But for many people the business phone has remained a challenge.  While a few of the manufacturers have designed a telephone adapter for the phone, they aren't compatible with multiline business phone applications.  Plantronics has a Bluetooth telephone hub that can be paired to additional headsets, which includes the Bluetooth accessories that are designed for use with hearing aids.  The device that you need is the Plantronics Voyager 500A Deskphone Adapter.  It is designed for use with a corded phone (where the handset is connected to the base of the phone by a cord).  If you have a corded phone you may want to purchase the more complete Plantronics Voyager 510SL.  It comes with a headset that you won't need (sell it or give to a friend) but it also comes with the handset lifter which means you don't have to lift the phone each time a call comes in - you can just push the answer button on your Bluetooth accessory.  NOTE:  technically the Voyager 500A Desktop Adapter has been discontinued.  But an internet search shows that there are still a lot of places (particularly internet stores) that carry it.  We are hoping that Plantronics will reconsider and put this product back into production.

If you have a cordless business phone then you need the Plantronics 500A Deskphone Adapter, and a Plantronics PTSN adapter (part # 73859-01) which can also be found at a variety of on-line stores. 

As more and more computer based internet phone services become available, there is a BUA 100 USB device that allows you to pair 'softphones' to Bluetooth headsets or the hearing aid Bluetooth accesory.

Tech Talk - Hearing on the Phone

Bluetooth is the new buzz these days and many hearing aids are Bluetooth compatible. This allows people using two hearing aids to hear their Bluetooth compatible cellphone or Bluetooth compatible home-phone in BOTH ears - which is a great advantage. You can check out this post for more details on Bluetooth accessories for the phone.

However, people often forget about the t-coil (or telecoil) which has been around for a long time and it works quite well.  Most hearing aids are equipped with a telecoil program.  The hearing aid has a small wire inside that emits a magnetic field.  Most phones also emit a magnetic field.  When you are about to make a call or answer a call, you change the program on your hearing aid to the telecoil program.  Individuals with custom hearing aids will hold the phone over their ear and hearing aid just like you would normally.  For behind-the-ear hearing aid users you will need to slide the phone up and back slightly so it's over the back of your ear (and over your hearing aid) like this:

Sometimes you have to move the phone around a bit to find the 'sweet spot' where you get the best sound quality.  The telecoil program generally cuts out all other sound and only picks up the sound from the telephone which makes it easier to hear on the phone, particularly in noisy environments.  When you are finished speaking on the phone, you change your program on your hearing aid back to your 'normal' listening program.

If you don't seem to have a telecoil program in your hearing aid or you aren't sure if you have telecoil program, consult your clinician.  It may be a simple programming adjustment to add this feature.

Some hearing aids have an 'autophone' feature.  This feature generally requires you to stick a small magnet to the telephone handset.  When you hold the handset with the magnet near your hearing aid, it automatically switches the hearing aid into telephone mode.  The autophone feature is available in many hearing aids these days, but in our experience it often requires a very steady hand. Moving the phone/magnet slightly away from the hearing aid may cause the aid to switch back to the normal listening mode while you are still on the telephone call.

Tech Talk

Hearing aids have come a long way over the past decade.  They now have better noise reduction technology, directional microphones to help in noisy environments, and feedback managers to keep the whistling noise away.  They also have faster processing chips to allow hearing aids to analyze sound and make better decisions about how to process the sound, keeping it more natural and more comfortable than hearing aids in the past.  However there are still some components on hearing aids that are relatively low tech that can interfere with the sound quality without some regular maintenance.

Those of you with behind-the-ear hearing aids need to consider replacing the tubing that runs between the earmold and the hearing aid on a regular basis (generally about every 6 months to 1 year).  These tubes, over time, will harden, which causes them to become a bit shorter.  This can lead to feedback or whistling issues, and it can also lead to some discomfort because the tube may pull on the earmold or even the hearing aid.  The tubes can also become clogged with debris or moisture so that only limited sound or sometimes no sound at all will travel through the tube to your ear.  You can remove the tube and earmold from the hearing aid and wash it - but if you aren't sure how to do this, book an appointment with your clinician for maintenance. 

All hearing aids have microphones.  If the microphones become clogged from things like dirt, oils from our fingers, skin or hair, or from other debris (like hairspray), the hearing aid will no longer work properly.  The sound quality may be reduced or it may seem like the hearing aid isn't working at all.  Some hearing aids have small covers to protect the microphones that can also become clogged up.  The microphone ports can be cleaned or the microphone covers can be replaced in-clinic. 

For some people a check-up appointment for hearing aid maintenance will be necessary every 6 months - for others once a year will do.  These are small but important issues that can make a big difference to sound quality.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! All things hearing.....

I often get asked “why do hearing aids cost so much?” Or, “Last night on TV they showed a hearing device for $19.95 that allows you to hear everything again!” If quality hearing aids average between $1,000 to $4,000, why the huge variance?

Simply put – quality of sound. It’s the difference between listening to music on a dollar transistor radio and your nice stereo. It’s the difference between a cheap phone and a good one.

Hearing aids of today contain computer chips with different degrees of technology. The more advanced the technology, the more sophisticated the computer chip inside and therefore, the better processing of speech in noise. And yes, the price goes up as the technology becomes more advanced.

A normal hearing ear hears everything, but your brain helps to filter out what you don’t want to hear and what you want to hear. For example, you’re sitting at your computer right now reading this blog. There’s probably a hum in the background from your computer and the clicking of your keyboard keys or mouse, but you probably didn’t even notice them until I just pointed them out to you right now! Now imagine hearing all those background sounds….all the time! A $19.95 hearing aid will amplify everything to the same degree, whether it’s a ticking clock, a fridge hum, a person’s voice. They might contain low or high pass filters to weed out extreme low and high pitched sounds (making the device sound more “tinny” or “bassy” ) but that’s all.

A properly fitted digital hearing aid will amplify based on the shape of your hearing loss (some people hear better in the low pitches, others in the highs, some have flat losses). Digital hearing aids also have special features that separate speech-like sounds from background sounds, so that you will have a better chance of hearing only what you want to hear. It’s not a perfect science, because the technology to hardwire the hearing aid directly to your brain doesn’t exist yet (i.e. your hearing aid really doesn’t know what YOU want to hear), but the hearing aid’s computer chip is capable of making some decent guesses.

So, what are you paying for when you buy hearing aids? - mostly the ongoing research to develop hearing aid technology that mimics normal hearing function as well as the development of miniature casings that are resistant to negative environmental factors such as moisture, wax, normal wear and tear. In addition, the hearing aid price also includes the dispensing fees charged by the qualified hearing aid dispenser to ensure the aid is safely fitted to your hearing loss. In British Columbia, only those who are Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioners (RHIP) can fit hearing aids. RHIPs can be Audiologists or non-Audiologists – see the WIDHH FAQ section - http://www.widhh.com/, for more information on hearing aid dispensing in BC.

So the next time you see the $19.95 hearing aid, just remember, you will hear what you pay for!

Tech Talk

Tech Talk

Everywhere I look these days there is construction going on. Buildings are going up, new stores are going in and there seems to be noise, noise, noise everywhere! Even going inside doesn’t drop the noise level. Loud music is being pumped out of stores and restaurants, and blenders are blending frothy drinks in the café’s. Even with the growing advancements in hearing aid technology, noisy environments remain a challenge for hard of hearing listeners.

While FMs (transmitter and receiving units) are an excellent system for dealing with these environments, the cost remains prohibitive to many consumers. Oticon has come out with a great addition to their technology line-up called the Connectline Mic (and rumour has it many other companies have picked up on this great idea and may be coming out with something similar soon). It’s about the size of your thumb and it is clipped onto the lapel of the person you are speaking with. It could be also placed on the table pointing towards the person or people you are speaking with but the closer the mic is to the speaker’s voice, the better the sound quality will be especially in very noisy places. The Connectline Mic works with Oticon hearing aids that are Bluetooth compatible. That means if you are wearing Vigo/Vigo Pro Connect, Epoq, Acto, Agil, Chili, Dual V/W/XW, or Ino Pro hearing aids then this mic will work for you. You need to have the Streamer which is Oticon’s remote control/Bluetooth accessory.

The Connectline Mic has about a 15 foot range, so if you were at a lecture with a smaller group of people or if you had the option of sitting in the front, close to the speaker, this would be a great addition to your hearing aids. It will make lectures, talking in the car, church services, social groups, bridge club, meeting a friend at a café, date nights out, going for walks and endless other social and work activities easier and less stressful to participate in and enjoy. And the good news is that Connectline Mic costs only a few hundred dollars.  Small, discreet and easy to use technology.

Tech Talk

Fall is soon upon us, which here on the BC coast will eventually mean….more rain. One of the most common repairs in the hearing aid world is damage from moisture. Whether it’s from rain, humidity, sweat or the fumble and drop into a sink full of water – moisture is the enemy of hearing aids. There have been water proof hearing aids over the years, but the sound quality of the hearing aids has generally been reported to be not very good. Most hearing aid companies now provide a ‘moisture coat’ on the aids which is aimed at repelling moisture but for some people this is simply not good enough.

So, here are some products that have put a little extra thought into moisture concerns….

Phonak Naida (Behind-the-ear hearing aids). These aids are moisture resistant not water proof but they are working quite well with most moisture demands. These come in an SP version (#13 battery) for mild to moderately-severe losses and a UP version (#675 battery) for severe to profound losses. They also come in 3 different technology levels.

Siemens Aquaris (Behind-the-ear hearing aid): This aid is waterproof and you can actually swim with the hearing aid (they are not intended for diving deep in water or remaining submerged for extended periods). It is designed for up to moderate hearing losses. The aid requires new seals each year which requires the aid to be sent in for repair. Great idea for active lifestyles and for people working outside.

Starkey S Series IQ hearing aids: Starkey uses a proprietary moisture protection system called Advanced HydraSheild to make the aids 100% moisture resistant to water, humidity, perspiration and corrosion. So you can swim some laps, then remove the batteries, put the aids in a dri aid kit and you’re good to go again. S Series IQ comes in range of styles and technology levels. These aids are designed for mild to severe losses.

WIDHH 2011 Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Doors Open at 5:00pm
Meeting Starts at 6:00pm

Location:
Mount Pleasant Community Centre - Multi-Purpose Room #2
1 Kingsway (near Main Street & Broadway)
Vancouver, BC, V5T 3H7

The purpose and business of the meeting, as required of the by-laws are:

1. To formally report to the Members on the activities of WIDHH for the year 2010. The Annual Report for the year 2010, will be presented.
2. To formally report to the Members on the fi nancial status of WIDHH for
the year 2010. The Audited Financial Report, will be presented, for the
year ending December 31, 2010.
3. To elect the Board of Directors.

A quorrum of the membership must be present for this meeting and a quorrum is represented by Directors and Members. Th is means we must have at least twenty (20) Members present to constitute a quorrum and proceed
with the meeting. Please make an eff ort to attend!

ASL Interpreters, Relay Interpreters, FM System and Captioning will be provided. Refreshments will be served.

Free Income Tax Night

WIDHH will be hosting a Free Tax Night for low-income Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing individuals.

To Qualify:
You must make UNDER $35,000 per year. NO Business Taxes. Appointments are booked PER person. Please inform us if there will be more then one person’s taxes.

When: Thursday March 31th, 2011
Time: Appointments are from 4pm – 9pm
Address: 2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver

What to Bring:
T4 Slips, a copy of your 2010 income tax form, information from banks, RRSP Slips, Receipts for Medicine, Prescription, Hearing Aids, TTY, or signaling devices. These purchases may be counted as a medical expense on your tax return.

Interpreters will be provided

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Please contact WIDHH to make an appointment
Voice: 604-736-7391
TTY: 604-736-2527
Fax: 604-736-7786
Email: info@widhh.com

Bluetooth compatibility – Accessing Technology with your Hearing Aids

There is lots of buzz in the air over Bluetooth compatibility with hearing aids right now. Several manufacturers now have hearing aids that are Bluetooth compatible. The Bluetooth feature is not actually in the hearing aids – you require an accessory that will ‘talk’ to the other Bluetooth device (such as a cellphone, computer, or music player) and this accessory will relay the information up to both of your hearing aids (or one if you only use one hearing aid). In the case of using the accessory with a cellphone, the accessory will also act as your handsfree microphone. The big benefit for binaural hearing aid users is that instead of hearing the phone through only one hearing aid, you will hear it through BOTH of your hearing aids – which can make it significantly easier to hear the conversation. As well, in B.C. it is against the law to hold a phone to your ear while driving, so the handsfree mic on the Bluetooth accessory allows to speak on the phone while driving. These Bluetooth adapters are not backwards compatible – they cannot work with just any hearing aid. They only work with the hearing aids that are designed to be Bluetooth compatible. They also only work with the specific manufacturer’s hearing aids. Common Bluetooth accessories in Canada are manufactured by Bernafon, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Siemens, Unitron and Widex. Contact your local Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist for further information.

Bluetooth for TV
Some of the manufactures also make Bluetooth transmitters to convert devices that aren’t Bluetooth (such as most TVs or landline phones). Many of these manufacturers have made a TV Bluetooth hub that will connect directly to the TV and relay the sound from the TV wirelessly to your Bluetooth adapter. Your Bluetooth adapter will then send that sound up to your hearing aids. This means that other people in the room can listen to the TV at a volume that is comfortable for them, and you can have the TV at a volume level that is comfortable for you.

Bluetooth for Phones - General Info
Bluetooth allows you to have the sound from the phone sent wirelessly to your Bluetooth adapter, which in turns sends the sound wirelessly up to BOTH of your hearing aids (or one if you only wear one aid). You will hear the phone ring in your hearing aids. To answer a call you will push a button on the Bluetooth adapter to answer and then start speaking - the Bluetooth adapter acts as your ‘handsfree’ microphone. So the cellphone can stay in your pocket or purse (it must be within 3 feet of you). Your hearing aids can also be adjusted so that the environmental sound around you gets quieter while you are talking on your cellphone. To hang up the call you push the button on your Bluetooth adapter.

Bluetooth for home phones
There are a couple of options here.

1. VTech makes a Bluetooth cordless phone system. Item # LS6245. This can be paired to the Bluetooth adapter. If you have the Bluetooth adapter paired and connected to your cellphone, you will need to forward your cellphone to the VTech phone and then disconnect the cellphone from the Bluetooth adapter (the disconnect option is in your Bluetooth menu on your cellphone). The reason you need to do this is that the phone (cellphone or regular) takes priority in the Bluetooth adapters. The two phones will be competing for access to your Bluetooth adapter. So if you are talking on the cordless phone at home and a cellphone call comes in – if the cellphone is not disconnected from your Bluetooth accessory, then the cellphone may kick you off your cordless phone call. It’s best to have just one phone connected to your Bluetooth accessory at a time. The benefit of having the cordless Bluetooth phone is that you can be about 10 metres (30 feet) away from the phone in your house and still be able to get a phone call wirelessly with your Bluetooth adapter.

2. For non-Bluetooth home phones (which is most phones) some of the manufacturer's make an adapter to attach to your phone and convert it to Bluetooth. After some in-house experimenting here, it appears that some of the manufacturer’s Bluetooth phone adapters are compatible with other manufacturer’s products (for instance the Oticon phone hub works very nicely with the iCom and uDirect. While I can’t say for sure – it will most likely work with the other Bluetooth adapters as well.

Bluetooth for Work Phones
While the hearing aid manufacturer’s Bluetooth phone adapters/hubs are good for home phones, but they do not seem to work very well for most digital work phones where there are multiple lines. However, Plantronics makes a Bluetooth hub that seems to work with the Oticon Streamer, the Phonak iCom and the Unitron uDirect – which leads me to believe that it will likely work with the others as well. It is called the Plantronics Voyager 510S. Technically you should only need the hub and not the little Bluetooth headset that comes with it – as your Bluetooth adapter should work as the handsfree mic. I had some difficulty finding just the hub alone – most places only sell the hub with the headset. Note there is a handset lifter that you can get as well – the system will then be called Plantronics Voyager 510SL. If you do an internet search of Plantronics Voyagers 510S (or SL) – you will find a number of internet phone suppliers that can sell the device. It does not seem to be sold in stores. This is one internet store that I found – but there are many out there:


You will need to research if your particular work phone system is compatible – most seem to be but it’s best to double check. Plantronics has a compatibility section to check if your phone system will work with the Voyager 510S.

Click on this link for instructions on how to connect the Plantronics Voyager 510S to your office phone.

Oticon also has a nice set of instructions for how to pair the hub to your accessory

Of course, Oticon’s instructions are for the Oticon Streamer, but the concept is the same for any of the manufacturer’s adapters. You will need to turn on the pairing mode on your Bluetooth adapter (check your instruction manual if you are not sure how to do this). Otherwise, pairing to the Plantronics hub is fairly simple:
1. Turn on the Bluetooth pairing mode on your Bluetooth adapter.
2. Then push and hold the volume up and volume down buttons on the back of the Plantronics Voyager hub until you see the blue light flashing on the top.
3. Pairing is complete when the light turns solid blue on the Plantronics Voyager hub and your Bluetooth adapter flashes blue slowly.

To receive a call:
1. Lift up on the handset (or press headset button on phone)
2. Push the button on the top of the Plantronics hub – it should shine solid blue.
3. You will hear beeps in your hearing aid(s) to indicate you are in your Bluetooth program. The blue light on your Bluetooth adapter should shine solid blue as well.
4. Begin talking.
5. To hang up, push the button on the top of the Plantronics hub. Replace the handset (unless you are using the handset lifter).

To make a call:
1. Push the button on the top of the Plantronics hub
2. Lift the handset from the telephone (or press the headset button on the phone)
3. Dial the number.

WIDHH Board of Directors Nominations

Dear Members,

This is a call for nominations for the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) Board of Directors.

Nominations are currently being sought for up to 8 elected positions on the Board of Directors. The WIDHH Board of Directors is made up of not less than five (5) but not more than fourteen (14) elected Directors.

Any Member in Good Standing with energy and a vision for serving persons who are Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened or Hard of Hearing is encouraged to stand for election. We invite WIDHH Members to nominate individuals to serve on the Board of Directors. The deadline to receive nominations is February 28th, 2011 at 5:00pm.

All terms are two years in length, and all candidates will be interviewed by the Nominating Committee regarding their eligibility against the requirements listed below.

1. All nominations must be in writing (Nomination form enclosed).
2. All persons nominated for the Board of Directors must be a Member in Good standing of WIDHH.
3. All written nominations must be signed by the nominee (the person being nominated) and signed by two (2) other Members in Good Standing.
4. All nomination forms must contain a brief biographical description of the nominee.
5. All nomination forms must be addressed to:
Dan LeCours,
Nominations Committee Chair,
C/o Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6K 1X9
Fax: 604-736-4381
E-mail: info@widhh.com

All completed and signed nomination forms must be delivered, either by fax, e-mail, mail or dropped off in person, to WIDHH no later than Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 5:00pm.

** Nomination forms and information can be found at www.widhh.ca **

WIDHH AWARD OF MERIT NOMINATION

The purpose of the Awards is to recognize outstanding individuals or organizations that have made a difference in the lives of Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened or Hard of Hearing individuals in British Columbia.

Some past winners have included:

• Dr. Marilyn Dahl
• David Still
• Henry Vlug
• Eddy Morton
• Dr. Maureen Donald
• Cecelia Klassen
• Leanne Rumley
• Chinese Parents of Hearing Impaired Children
• Deaf Indo Canadian Organization
• Gulf Island Dog Biscuit Company
• Happy Hands Club



Nomination deadline is March 5th, 2011. Please submit your nomination to:

Nominations Committee Chair,
c/o Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6K 1X9
Phone: 604-736-7391 TTY: 604-736-2527 Fax: 604-736-4381
E-mail: info@widhh.com


** Nomination forms can be found at www.widhh.ca **


Awards will be presented at the AGM in April 2011 (exact date & location to be announced).

Assistive Technology Co-operative: Community Needs Assessment

A co-operative is a business organization that is owned and operated by a group of individuals who become members for their mutual benefit. In order to become a member, you must make a one time share purchase. To learn more about co-operatives, and how they may apply to assistive technology, click here.

In order to better understand what people with disabilities, their families and supporters think about the idea of an assistive technology co-operative we are launching a community survey using small group meetings in various communities as well as an on-line questionnaire.

Please help us to better understand if an assistive technology co-operative could help you to meet your needs or the needs of someone you know.

Take a few minutes to fill out our online-survey by clicking the link http://bcatcoop.wordpress.com/

EAD-GAP Program - Closure

The WIDHH EAD-GAP Program for Free low-tech devices will no longer accept applications after September 15th, 2010.

If you would like to apply for a free low-tech device, please contact:

Ken Loehr at kloehr@widhh.com
Sharon Miller at smiller@widhh.com

The EAD-GAP Program is an equipment and assistive devices program, for British Columbians' who are Deaf, Deafened Deafblind or Hard of Hearing.

In 2008, the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with a one-time grant from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA), is piloting an assistive devices program for the residents of British Columbia. We have successfully completed the application process for those who applied in 2008. We still have funds left, but it is now very limited.

We re-opened the program in April 2010 for the following BC Residents:

• Citizens who are Deafblind
• Citizens who are Deaf, Deafened, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing and are living outside of the Lower Mainland such as Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Cariboo, Okanagan, Kootenays, Stikine, Skeena-Queen Charlotte, Peace River and other Eastern, Central and Nothern BC regions.
• Require the use of an assistive device to meet a functional goal, and;
• Be able to identify a functional goal you would like to acheive

If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact Shaon Miller or Ken Loehr at the information listed above.