Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

WIDHH Survey

2011-11-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-10-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

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.....

2011-09-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

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

2010-09-08T10:32:00.001-07:00

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.

Living and Learning Event

2009-10-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

WIDHH presents "Living and Learning: An Evening of Inspiration and Humor Featuring Lou Ferrigno & Stephen O'Keefe."

When: Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

6:30 to 9:30 pm

Where: Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave, Burnaby BC (beside Burnaby South High School)

Tickets to this event are $25

WIDHH is also current running a fundraiser raffle. The prize is a trip for 2 people to Hawaii. The prize includes airfare and hotel for 1 week.

Raffle tickets are $10.

If you are interested in buying either event or raffle tickets, please stop by WIDHH Head Office or New Westminster office.

You can also contact us:

voice: 604-736-7391

tty: 604-736-2527

email: info@widhh.com

If you would like to print a copy of our event flyer, click here for a .pdf version.

Free Lecture @UBC on how we hear and what happens when we don't

2009-09-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

The following free lecture is being held tomorrow night at the Chan Centre at UBC. The lecture is being presented by the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. It may be of some interest to those who want to learn more about the systems behind hearing and hearing loss, as well as about the impact of hearing loss.

September 16th, 2009
7-8:30 pm

Sound and Silence: How we hear - What happens when we don't
by
Sharon Adelman, Valter Ciocca, Lorienne Jenstad, Navid Shahnaz
UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences

Synopsis
The talk will introduce the amazing ability of the human brain to process sound vibrations in the environment.

Firstly, the speakers will explain how the hearing system transforms sound vibrations into neural impulses that are processed by the brain. Second, the audience will learn how the brain derives pitch, loudness, location and timbre from the sound vibrations that stimulate our senses, and how we recognize sounds in a noisy environment.

While ability to recognize sounds in noisy environments is remarkable, many of us experience challenges in processing sound vibrations because of hearing impairments. The speakers will review some of the common causes of hearing impairments (illness, aging, and noise exposure), and explain the impact of a hearing disability on an individual's daily life. Finally, the speakers will describe how many of the disabilities caused by hearing impairments can be successfully managed by the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related technology.

The Chan Centre and the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences are grateful to UBC Access and Diversity for kindly providing captioning for people with hearing disabilities who will be attending the talk.

If you plan to attend the talk and you have a hearing disability, please identify yourself prior to the talk by sending an email message to: Valter Ciocca, director@audiospeech.ubc.ca. Thank you.

This lecture will precede the Sept 19th concert by Dame Evelyn Glennie and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra at the Chan Centre. For further information about this concert, please visit:
http://www.chancentre.com/whats-on/manitoba-chamber-orchestra-anne-manson-music-director-dame-evelyn-glennie

As a companion piece to the School’s presentation “Sound & Silence – How We Hear, What happens when we don’t” at the Chan Centre on Wednesday, UBC alumnus and WIDHH audiologist, Charles Fontaine, will be interviewed on hearing and hearing loss on French-language Radio Canada (in Vancouver, 97.7 FM) tomorrow at 3:15pm.

Si vous parlez français, vous pourriez écouter à Radio Canada (97.7 à Vancouver) demain à 15h15 pour l'interview avec Charles Fontaine, l'audiologiste de WIDHH.

Students Returning to or Entering Post-Secondary Education

2009-09-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Starting post-secondary education can be daunting for anyone. With a hearing loss there are often additional considerations in terms of accessibility that students must also consider. Many students will require items such as FM systems or other assistive listening devices, note-takers, captionists or interpreters. Access to equipment and services is available but there are applications processes in place which can take time. Here are some links to provide information about different funding options and grants that are available to hard of hearing or Deaf students.

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students has some excellent information and links:

Financial Assistance

Note: These applications can take several weeks to process. You may want to contact the Disability Resource Centre at your educational institution for information on when and how to apply. NEADS has a database of all the Disability Resource Centres in Canada.

Scholarships for Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing Students:
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Scholarship
Alexander Graham Bell

Office Closure for Friday September 11

2009-08-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

WIDHH is holiding its Annual United Way BBQ on September 11, 2009
The main office (2125 West 7th) and the office on Willow Street (2525 Willow) will be open until noon. Drop-in services at the Main office will be available from 9am until 12:00pm. Both office will be closed from noon onwards.

Join us for our 2009 United Way WIDHH Annual BBQ
Come to our 2009 United Way WIDHH Annual BBQ where there will be door prizes, a silent auction, 50/50 draw, games, and delicious food!
GREAT FOOD!! ...GREAT PRIZES!! GREAT CAUSE!!

$8.00 for 1 Burger / Veggie Burger, Chips & Drink $8.00 for 2... Hotdogs / Veggie Hotdogs, Chips & Drink $10.00 for 2 Burgers / Veggie Burgers, Chips & Drink

Please let us know if you want: Veggie Hotdog / Hamburger OR Beef Hotdog / Hamburger Before Friday, August 28, 2009
EMAIL: widhhbbq@gmail.com
TTY: 604-731-8136 (Leave a message with a name and number; we will get back to you) Voice: 604-736-7391
Host:Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Time:Friday, 11 September 2009 12:00
Location:Central Park, Burnaby

Deaf Choir

2009-06-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

IAN SKEDD: Sign Singing: Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division, 1979, Deaf Choir, 2009

May 23 - June 27, 2009
Western Front Society
303 East 8th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5T 1S1

Western Front Exhibitions and Media Arts is pleased to present a new project by Ian Skedd entitled, Sign-Singing, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division 1979, Deaf Choir 2009. Commissioned by the Western Front, supported by Arts Partners in Creative Development, and produced in part through the Media Arts residency programme, the project takes the form of a large-scale three-channel video installation that explores the translation of the rhythm and emotion of a seminal pop song into sign language, a silent, visual and gestural form of communication.

For this project, Skedd worked with a deaf choir to create a signed interpretation of British post-punk band Joy Division’s 1979 single Love Will Tear Us Apart, matching the cadence of the original song to sign motions that capture its emotional meaning. This song, which became a brooding anthem for the post-punk generation, was written by the band’s vocalist Ian Curtis, and was the band’s first chart hit.

In Skedd’s Sign Singing, sound is expressed through an “inaudible” form of communication. Visually, the choirs hands, bodies and facial movements become the only “readable” aspects of the song. In the work, silence—rather than sound—is emphasized, yet when engaged with the motions of the choir, the familiarity of the song takes hold.

Skedd is a Vancovuer-based artist currently residing in London, England. He graduated from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2001 and was recently awarded the Cecil Lewis Sculpture Scholarship to pursue an MA in Fine Arts at Chelsea College of Art and Design (London, UK). His works have concentrated on dialectical relationships between inside and outside and public and private, with a recent focus on the psychological process of decoding information and the trigger that identifies an inextricable relationship between language and thought.

Generous financial support for this project is provided by Arts Partners in Creative Development, the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council.

Hearing Health Fair VLOG

2009-05-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

2009 Hearing Health Fair, May 13, 2009

2009-04-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Event: 2009 Hearing Health Fair
Place: SFU Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, B.C.

Date: Wednesday May 13th, 2009

Time: 9 to 4 pm

This event is hosted by the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) in partnership with the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences and the the BC Network on Aging Research. This health fair is unique in that will focus mainly on hearing health care issues.

The Hearing Health Fair is free admission and will be open to the general public.

Features:

Free Hearing Screenings by UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Students

Free Lectures by WIDHH clinicians and UBC professors: Topics: How Do We Hear; Hearing Aids; Assistive Devices; Communication Strategies; Tinnitus; Research Updates

Key note address by Rick Waters, hard of hearing consumer

Free Exhibit Hall

Fully Hearing Accessible (Loop, Sign Language Interpreters; Real time captioning)

Registered Audiologists and UBC professors on hand to answer questions - all day!

Light refreshments

A free community shuttle bus will also pick up from various community centres and drop at SFU Harbour Centre at various times during the day.

For more information, please visit our website at www.widhh.ca.

This Health Fair has been made possible by an NGO Outreach Initiative from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aging.

Come on out and learn about your Ears and Your Hearing!

Ten Things People with Normal Hearing Don't Do

2009-03-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

The following is a text I received from Cindy Gustin, an audiologist at St. Paul's Hospital. She has given me permission to reprint this article.

The article refers mostly to adjusting to a new cochlear implant, but many of the same issues apply to those with a new hearing aid. This article is in no way a promotion of cochlear implants, but an explanation of how people with no hearing loss can still have hearing issues. When adjusting to a new device, like a hearing aid, we need to have realistic expectations about what we can and cannot hear. Let's face it, we all miss stuff from time to time.

Ten Things People with Normal Hearing Don’t Do.

I have normal hearing. Recently a hearing impaired colleague and I visited a school to talk about noise and hearing protection to 80 Grade Six students. After the presentation my colleague commented that she was encouraged to see that I also had difficulty hearing the students. This caught me by surprise. In my opinion, the presentation had gone well and I hadn’t felt that I’d had any trouble hearing. True, at times, I’d needed to have a student repeat a question or comment or to ask some students to be quiet so I could hear others. And with one little girl who was particularly shy and who’s first language was not English, I had to have my ear right at her mouth while she first repeated and then finally spelt her name for me. Until my colleague made her observation, I wasn’t even conscious of doing those things. As far as I was concerned this was not “having trouble hearing”; it was what I had to do to hear normally.

The first thing we tell someone, after we confirm that they are a cochlear implant candidate, is that a cochlear implant does not give/give back normal hearing. But sometimes we forget what normal hearing is. When this happens for people with cochlear implants, they end up in the clinic because they (or worse their friends or family) feel that they are not hearing the way they are “supposed to.”

With that in mind here are a few things that people with normal hearing do and don’t do.

People with normal hearing do not understand every single word that is said to them…. particularly teenagers. In a recent conversation with my fifteen-year-old son, 19 of the 47 words that comprised his side of the conversation were either “What?” or “Huh?”. …and this did not include the long periods of silence where he may, or may not, have been processing what was said to him. This is not a hearing loss. This is teenage brain.

People with normal hearing do not hear through walls, from other rooms or when the speaker has his head inside an appliance. If someone asks a question when their head is in the refrigerator, the only response they should expect to get is from last night’s leftover pizza or perhaps some very attentive broccoli.

People with normal hearing do not listen intently to every word in a conversation. If you are boring, we tune you out. This is not hearing loss. This is self-defense.

People with normal hearing do not always answer you when they are doing something else. If my son doesn’t answer me when he’s watching TV, I don’t assume that he has suddenly been struck deaf. (Usually I assume that watching multiple episodes of The Simpsons and Family Guy has lowered his IQ to the point that he no longer understands English.)

People with normal hearing do not remember everything they hear. If you are married, I need say no more.

People with normal hearing do have trouble understanding people who talk very fast. Normal rates of speech can be up to 226 words per minute. Whenpeoplespeakveryquicklyallthewordsruntogethermakingitverydifficulttotellwhereonewordendsandthenextwordbegins. Research has shown that when people use Clear Speech (speaking distinctly and at a slightly slower rate… with pauses between phrases), intelligibility increases approximately 20%…. even for individuals with normal hearing.

People with normal hearing do not understand all the lyrics to every song they hear. This is why humming was invented. Go ahead…. test them. Granted they may do better with Frank Sinatra than with Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie (and yes, that is a real group.)

People with normal hearing do have trouble understanding garbled or distorted speech or a language they never learned. One mother who rented a video for her little girl who had a cochlear implant became very concerned when her daughter said she really liked the movie but sometimes it sounded like the actors were speaking Japanese. On her way to the phone to book a mapping appointment with the Cochlear Implant clinic, she remembered that the movie they’d rented was Madeleine…the actors weren’t speaking Japanese but at times they were speaking French. Note: The Cochlear Implant is not a Universal Translator.

People with normal hearing do not hear only what they want to hear. Even though it may seem like it sometimes…. see number 5.

People with normal hearing do not hear and understand conversations between two other people at a nearby table in a noisy restaurant. This is called spying. The technology for this exists. You may have seen it in a James Bond movie. If you need to hear under these circumstances you do not need an audiologist. You need Q.

Cochlear Implant Audiologists’ Warning: (should be included on all CI packaging)
We advise/warn/explain/reiterate/repeat/emphasize that a cochlear implant does not give back normal hearing…and we certainly do not promise that it will provide better than normal hearing.

So the next time you think you or your spouse, child, friend or student with a cochlear implant isn’t hearing the way you think they should, ask yourself: “Is it the cochlear implant or is it normal?”

Cindy Gustin
British Columbia Cochlear Implant Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 2, June 2007

The New Yorker >> That buzzing sound

2009-02-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

The New Yorker - That Buzzing Sound (February 9, 2009)

Here's an article out of the New Yorker talking about the "mysteries" of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of a ringing or buzzing sound in one's ears. The writer, Jerome Groopman, starts with his own personal experiences with tinnitus and his visit to a tinnitus clinic at the University of Buffalo, where he not only talks being a patient, but also a reports on some of the research there and elsewhere in the world. For some reference, he talks about tinnitus through the ages and how it is described in texts and in literature. Later in the article, he describes the experience of soldiers and veterans with hearing loss and tinnitus.

Service Canada Pilot Project

2009-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

Service Canada - Pilot Project
Personalized Service Delivery for Persons with Disabilities

Service Canada wants to serve you better.

Starting in February until June, Service Canada Project staff will assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with direct services. Service Canada staff will come to WIDHH every second and fourth Monday and Tuesday of each month. Monday mornings from 9:30am - 12:30pm Hard of Hearing people will be served. Tuesday afternoons from 1:30pm - 4:30pm Deaf people will be served and ASL Interpreters will be provided.

You will be able to fill out the following application forms with assistance from Service Canada staff:

* Social Insurance Number

* Employment Insurance

* Canada Pension Plan

* Old Age Security

* Passports Applications

* Pleasure Craft Licensing

* Apprenticeship Grant

* Job Bank

* Canada Pension Plan

* DisabilityCanada Study Grant

* Canada Access Grant

* Canada Pension Plan Disability

* Vocational Rehabilitation

* Permanent Disability Benefit

* Canada Student Loans

* Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Please follow this link to see the Service Canada Calendar: http://www.widhh.ca/pdf/Service%20Canada%20Calendar.pdf

No appointment necessary, clients will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.

We hope to see you there!

How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cellphone

2008-11-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

There are so many cellphones on the market these days, it can be overwhelming when it comes to finding a phone appropriate for you. Following are some tips on what to look for in a cellphone so that it will be hearing aid compatible.

Look for a Cellphone with a rating of AT LEAST M3/T3
In the US all cellphones are tested for hearing aid compatibility. The M# represents how well the cellphone will work with a hearing aid in microphone mode. M1 is the lowest rating and is an indication of high interference. M4 is the highest rating and indicates low interference.

The T# rating represents how well the cellphone will work with a heairng aid in T-Coil mode. Again T1 is the lowest rating and T4 is the highest.

The whereabouts of this information differs with all cellphone manufacturers. Commonly it can be found on the display card next to the device, on the product packaging, or in the phone manual. Some websites such as PhoneScoop maintain a database of this information. (note: when you go to the website, type in the name of the phone in the Jump to a phone box - top right of main screen. When the phone information comes up scroll down to features and click on 'show missing features'. You will find the M/T rating under Accessibility, Hearing Aid Compatible)

Choose a Provider that Uses CDMA rather than GSM

In Canada, both Telus and Bell operate on the CDMA network. Rogers, Fido and all other carriers operate on the GSM network. Phones connected to the CDMA network will interfere less with your hearing aid.

Choose a "Flip" Style Phone

A cellphone's antenna is a significant source of interference. Generally speaking, the antenna on a flip phone will be positioned farther from the speaker than on a candy bar phone. Be wary of phones with no visible antenna.

Find a Phone with a Smaller LCD Screen

The screen is also a significant source of interference. Often phones with very large or multiple LCD screens (such as iPhones etc)will have low M# ratings. Look for a phone with one small screen.

Be Mindful of the Cellphone's Outer Casing

There is a growing trend towards manufacturing metallic phones. The idea being that a metal phone is stronger when dropped than a plastic phone. While this is all well and good, metal phones will not work as well with your hearing aid.

Try Before You Buy

In the US it is mandatory that all phone retailers have a 'live' phone in store for you to try. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Canada. Still, many retailers will have working phones to demo.

Test that the volume is adequate, and that you can hear clearly on microphone and T-Coil modes.

Know the Return Policy

In store testing is no substitute for the real world. Be sure to try the phone in a variety of listening situations: at home; in the car; at a noisy restaurant etc.

Usually the return policy is based on both days and usage. Ensure that you have adequate time to do your own testing, and can exchange the phone if it is unsuitable for your needs.

Look for a Headset Jack and Bluetooth Connectivity

There are several accessories designed to assist you in hearing on a cellphone. Almost all of these rely on either a 2.5mm headset jack or Bluetooth connection. If your phones has these useful features, you will have a lot more options to assist you.

Two of the most common accessories that you can plug into the 2.5mm jack are:
1. Silhouette cord - a small thin piece of plastic is worn behind your ear, beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid when the hearing aid is on the t-coil setting. The silhouette cord has a microphone for handsfree operation.
2. Neckloop - a 'necklace' style cord you wear around your neck. The neckloop emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid while the hearing aid is on the t-coil mode. The neckloop as a microphone for handsfree operation. Note custom hearing aids with t-coils are not always stong enough to use with a neckloop - you may have better success with a silhouette cord in these cases.

November 15th, 2008 Vancouver Election Voting Information for the Deaf

2008-11-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

This website has an informative video for the Deaf to understand about voting procedures.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/election2008/info-voters.htm#deaf

or

www.vancouver.ca/vote - go to “Information for Voters” and then click on “Information for Deaf Voters” this will take you to another link. Click on the “Complete Version”.

Visual Voice Mail (Voice to text messaging)

2008-10-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

There is a new service being provided by Telus (and perhaps other carriers). It is called Visual Voice Mail.

Telus describes it as:

"Don’t worry about missing important messages when you are unable to answer your phone. With TELUS Visual Voice Mail, there’s no need to dial in to pick up your messages, you just read them on screen.

Read it instead of listening to it

Visual Voice Mail converts your voice mail messages to text and delivers them straight to you as SMS or email within minutes. The converted message will include the phone number of the caller embedded in the text.

Keep record of your voice mail.

You can view all of your messages in one convenient inbox and have a visual record of who called and what they said. "

Telus provides this service for a monthly fee of $7.50. However it is currently being offered for a free 30 day trial.

This is the link to the information.

or you can call: 1 800 316 0979 or Visit your nearest store

Comments from WIDHH staff using this service already:

"It works well except if a person does not speak clearly when they leave a msg, a word will either be skipped or spelled phonetically. Also, if the voice message is long, it will cut out some of the mssage and leave a request for you to call and listen to the rest of the message."

If you are using this system - we would like to hear how it is working for you. If there are tips on using the system effectively - we'd like to hear about that as well.

Inuit Sign Language

2008-10-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

CBC News, September 17, 2008

Unfortunately, this news item only came across my desk today. However, it's very exciting that a new sign language is getting some official recognition in the Nunavut legislature. That's exciting news. I think it's the only jurisdiction in Canada to give official status to any sign language.

According to a previous CBC News item in July 2008, Nunavut already recognizes four official languages: English, French, Inuktitut, and Innuinaqtun. Inuit Sign Language, or ISL, is set to be a fifth official language, plus one more spoken language (which is not mentioned in the article).

Jamie MacDougall, a specialist in language and perception, was brought in from Montreal to determine if the man could communicate in any known sign language.

After spending time with him in his home community of Baker Lake and viewing videos of deaf people in other communities, MacDougall realized they had many signs in common.

"Watching people communicate, I found that, well, there did seem to be a very powerful language there," said MacDougall, who is a professor at McGill University in Montreal. "So that set us on a trend to recognize what I've termed Inuit Sign Language."

At a recent workshop for deaf people and their families, Inuit from opposite ends of the territory found they could communicate with in a common language.

Mary Rose Angushadlak came from Rankin Inlet to interpret for a deaf relative. "I'm really hoping that it will be recognized ... because it's in our language," she said.

Very exciting for all Deaf in Canada

*Hands Waving*

More News on Music Players and Hearing Loss

2008-10-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Sun, October 20, 2008

The Vancouver Sun picked up a story off of the Reuters news network about hearing loss and music players. The story comes out of Brussels, Belgium about a recent EU study on "leisure noise." Of course, this news is not new, but further reinforces what we know about hearing loss and exposure to high levels of sound.

Commission experts estimate that between 50 and 100 million people listen to portable music players on a daily basis.

If they listened for only five hours a week at more than 89 decibels, they would already exceed EU limits for noise allowed in the workplace, they said. But if they listened for longer periods, they risked permanent hearing loss after five years.

The scientists calculated the number of people in that risk category at between five and 10 per cent, meaning up to 10 million people in the European Union.

In general statistics about hearing loss in the population, roughly 10% of North Americans have a hearing loss. So that figures to be roughly 3 million people in Canada alone already have a reported hearing loss. Not sure what over exposure to loud music will do to those numbers in the long run, but there are definitely expected to be many young people to have hearing loss years down the road.

In British Columbia, WorkSafeBC estimates that "a noise level greater than 85 decibels (dBA) averaged over eight hours can damage your hearing" (see original handout). Measurements and standards are always different from place to place, but the message is the same: turn down the volume and protect your hearing

Cellphone Survey Results

2008-09-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Last updated: September 4, 2008

Hello everyone - the cellphone survey is closed but we continue to look for information about hearing aid compatible cellphones. We encourage you to send us information about phones that you have tried that work (and don't work) so we can continue to update the information. Phones are constantly changing so some phones listed are no longer available and we will endeavor to sort through the information to keep it current.

As more information becomes available we will add more information to help you find the phone most suitable for your needs. At this time we are presenting the information first by carrier (Telus, Bell, Rogers etc.), then by the manufacturer of the phone, model, the overall rating, and the features that help make it user friendly for connecting with amplification. The rating scale is as follows.
***** = Excellent
**** = Very Good
*** = Good
** = Fair
* = Poor

The final column is the M/T rating (if provided by the manufacturer). An M3 or M4 rating means that the phone is less likely to create interference when it is near a hearing aid. M4 is the best rating. A T3 or T4 rating means the phone should work with a hearing aid on the telecoil setting. T4 is the better of the two ratings. So the best phone would have an M4/T4 rating.

Note: Below the survey results, we have a listing of phones by Manufacturer that have been rated as M4/T4. These phones haven't been rated by consumers.

When a phone has been rated, we will try to provide a link to www.phonescoop.com as this website seems to be quite comprehensive in outlining ALL the features of the phones. Obviously, not all phones are available in each country. We will try to provide more country specific information as it becomes available.

Service Carrier	Brand	Model	Overall rating	Blue tooth	TTY	Headset jack(mm)	M/T rating
Bell	Blackberry
	Audiovox	8100	****			2.5
	HTC	HTC 8125 (Wizard)	**	2.0	No	2.5	No
	HTC	HTC 8925 (Tilt)	**	2.0	No	No	No
	Kyocera
	LG
	Motorola	E815	****	1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	Nokia 6275i	*****	2.0+EDR	Yes	2.5	?
	Novatel
	Palm
	Samsung
	Sanyo
Telus	Audiovox	CDM 8150	*	No		2.5	not rated
	Blackberry
	HTC
	Kyocera
	LG	LG 125	***1/2	No	yes	2.5	M3
	LG	LG 490	****
		LG545	****
		LG 4600	****
		LG 245	****	yes 1.1	Y	2.5	M4
		LG 4750		No	Y	2.5	?
		LG 4750		No	Y	2.5	?
		LG 6070	*****			2.5
		LG 6190	***	No	No	2.5	?
		LG 8100	*****	1.1	Yes	2.5	M3
		LG 8500 Chocolate Flip	****	No	No	?	M3
		LG Migo		No	No	2.5	M3
	Migo
	Motorola	RAZR V3c	*****	yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
		V710	****	yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M3/T3
		W385		yes 1.1	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
		A840		No	Yes	2.5	M3
		MOTORZR K1m		Yes	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	6165i		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	M4/T4
	Nokia	6265i		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	M3/T4
	Palm
	Pantech
	Samsung	SCH-A540	*****	No	No	2.5	not rated
		SCH-A570		No	No	2.5	Not rated
		SCH-A630		No	No	2.5	M3
		SCH-A645				2.5	M3
		SCH-A650	***
		SCH-A870					M4/T4
		SCH-A950		yes 1.2	Yes	2.5	Not rated
		SCH-u510					Not rated
		SCH-u510					Not rated
		SPH-a720		Yes	Yes	Yes	M4/T4
		SPH-m620		yes 2.0	Yes	USB	M4/T3
	Sanyo
Rogers	Blackberry
	HP
	HTC
		LG
	Motorola	V300	****	No	Yes	2.5	?
	Motorola	V360,	**
	Motorola	Razr V3	**	1.1/class 1	Yes	2.5	M3 (1900Hz only)
	Motorola	Moto Q	*****	1.2	Yes	2.5	M3
	Motorola	V361	*****
	Nokia	6061	**
	Palm
	Pantech
	Samsung	SGH-T609	*
	SonyEricsson
Vodacom	Motorola	Motorola BT50	**
Virgin	LG	LG VX-3300	***
	LG	LG 150	***
Verizon	Blackberry	7130e	**
	Motorola	v60	**	No	Yes	2.5	not rated
	Palm	Tre 700P	*****
T-Mobile	Motorola	RAZR	****
AT&T (USA Only)	Apple	iPhone	*

Further info on the iPhones: Hearing aid compatibility is poor. This appears to be due to the large size of the screen. No M/T rating is available but several reports from users is that the iPhones are too noisy with the hearing aid microphone or the the t-coil setting. Also, we have also received reports that the Bluetooth function does not pair well with the Smartlink FM systems. It will pair but it needs to be re-paired for each use.

M4/T4 Rated Cell phones (listed by Manufacturer)

BlackBerry (RIM)
7250
7520
8703e
8830

HTC
XV6800 / PPC6800 / P4000 (Mogul)

Kyocera
K325 / K312 (Cyclops)KX9 (Oystr)
M1000 (Lingo)

LG
AX-145 / AX-140 / LX-140 / 200c (Aloha)
AX-275
LX-160
LX-550 (Fusic)
LX-570 (Muziq)
VX-5300 / UX-245 / AX-245VX-8350
VX-8550
VX-8700
VX-9400

Motorola
E815/816 (Hollywood)
i730 / i733/ i710 / i720 / i740
i720 / i740
i870 / i875
ic402 (Blend)
ic502 (Buzz)
ic902 (Deluxe)
RAZR maxx Ve
RAZR V3m
RAZR2 V9m
ROKR Z6m
W385

Nokia
6255i / 6256i
6315i

Pantech
Ocean
PN-210 / PN-205
PN-215 / CDM-8915 / PN-300 (Snapper)PN-820

Sanyo
Katana DLX
Katan II
M1
MM-5600
SCP-2400
SCP-3200
SCP-7050

Samsung
Fin
Heat
M300
M520
SCH-A870 (Siren)
SCH-R200
SCH-R400
SCH-R500
SCH-U340 (Snap)
SCH-U520SCH-U540
SCH-U620
SCH-U740 Recently rated 3rd in top 10 cellphones by MSN
SGH-D307
SPH-A110 / A120 (Jitterbug)
SPH-M500
SPH-M610
SPH-M620 (UpStage) Recently rated 7th in top 10 cellphones on MSN

Tuesday Tips: Loop Systems

2008-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Now I know the name sounds strange and "loopy" (pardon the pun), but Loop Systems, also known as Induction Loop Systems, are something that may be available at your local place of worship or theatre.

Basically an induction loop is a loop of wire that encircles a room and is connected to the output of an audio amplifier. A person can speak into a microphone that sends their voice to the amplfier which relays the voice to the loop. Loop translates the voice into an electromagnetic field. Some hearing aids have a telecoil, which is a tiny magnetic coil inside the aid, that can take that electromagnetic field and translate the transmitted voice back into sound.

Many places of worship have had their halls "looped," so that hearing aid users can turn their hearing aids to the telecoil/telephone setting and hear the voice of the speaker directly in their hearing aids. The advantage is that the loop transmission helps to reduce the background noise and bring the speaker's voice closer to the listener.

If you are not sure if your place of worship is equipped with a loop system, contact the person who handles the audio-visual equipment and ask. If you are interested in setting up a loop system in your place of worship, you can contact WIDHH's Communication Aids department.

If you are not sure how to use your telecoil, or if you're not sure if you even have a telecoil, contact your audiologist or dispenser and ask them. Almost all behind-the-ear hearing aids have telecoil built inside of them. It's only a matter of the clinic activating them. Some in-the-ear custom models may not have them because they may not fit inside the hearing aid. Again, ask your audiologist or dispenser about your hearing aids. Everyone's situation is unique.

Back to School

2008-08-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

I can already feel the calm before the storm. Driving around town this week and taking the bus, you can feel that things are quieter than usual. With Labour Day next Monday, that means school starts up again next Tuesday and the roads and buses will be packed.

If you're Deaf or Hard of Hearing, you may need to prepare a few things before the semester starts rolling into top gear.

Hopefully by now, you've got all your books in order and tuition is ready to hand in.
Visit your college or university's Disability Resource Centre to make sure you have all your accommodations in place. These accommodations could include sign language interpreters, oral interpreters, notetakers, and/or FM Systems
You may need to get a Verification of Permanent Disability Form for the new school year and get your doctor and audiologist to fill in the appropriate sections.
If you have hearing aids and/or an FM System, you may want to book an appointment with your audiologist or dispenser to check everything over and make sure things are working for the semester. Because once your in the midst of midterms, you're not going to have time to visit the clinic.
Remember to get to your classrooms early so that you can find the right seat for you. It may be the one right at the front or one with the best sightline of the instructor. Use your best judgement.

If you need to get things done, you better get moving. You only have a few more days to get things together. Good luck in the new school year!

Tuesday Tips - Theatres

2008-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, we used to cheap ticket Tuesdays in Canada. Well now, the cheap tickets have long disappeared and the Big Sound, Big Movie experience has inflated their prices.

However, going to the movie theatre for a hard-of-hearing person can be difficult. The sound may big and loud, but often it is not intelligible to those with hearing loss. A person may have hearing aids, but the aids sometimes make the sounds louder, but the speech remains unintelligible.

Some movie theatres have equipment to help the hard-of-hearing, but most don't work with hearing aids. The following are the two most common devices used in theatres in Metro Vancouver.

Infrared (IR)
Infrared systems transmit sound in the form of invisible light waves. A transmitter is located at the front of the theatre and individuals can special wireless receivers. The receivers take the light and transform it into sound. The receiver is connected to earphones or headphones that one will place onto one's ears.

If you have a mild to moderate hearing loss, these devices work fine. However, if you have a severe or profound hearing loss, these devices give inadequate amplification.

Theatres like the Queen Elizabeth, Stanley, Orpheum and Arts Club Theatres typically have these available upon request.

Rear Window Captioning (RWC)
Rear Window Captioning (RWC) is a patented captioning system that used strictly in Silver City, Colossus, and ScotiaBank Theatres, which are all under the Cineplex family of movie cinemas. Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests obtain a clear plastic panel from the cashier. The panel can then be attached to the drink holder. The panel reflects an LED text display in the back of the theatre. The guest is supposed to adjust the reflective panel until the words are comfortably displayed below or at the bottom of their view of the movie screen.

RWC is handy to catch all of the dialogue of a movie. It works in a style similar to subtitles or captioning for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing on DVDs. Only limitations are that the theatre often has very few panels available. Also, only one theatre in each complex is equipped for RWC. So check your local listings to see what movie has RWC.

Tuesday Tips: Planning Ahead – Visualizing the Scenario

2008-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Imagine you were visiting Montreal and you know some French, enough to get by. However, you haven’t used your French in eons. You want to go to a local boulangerie to buy some fresh baguettes. If you’re like me, you would practice in your head exactly what you want to say (I want one baguette, please – en francais, of course). Then you are going to practice what they might say back to you (That will be $4.95 – again, en francais). Of course, you may want to practice something that’s totally off topic (Where did you get that dress), but that wouldn’t fit the context (or maybe it will).

Visualization is a technique that is often used by athletes in preparation for difficult maneuvers. We can use the same when approaching difficult communication situations.

Envision the scenario that is about to happen. Important visual and aural cues are missing with hearing loss, but the brain can fill in the gaps if you know what is happening.
Anticipate what is going to be said. In a place like boulangerie, there are certain phrases that are commonly used. Practice those phrases. The practice would help your brain to be prepared for what is about to be said.
Different situations means different possibilities. So what you might expect in the bakery would be different from what is said in a doctor’s office from what is said in a restaurant. Context is everything.

Visualize the scenario and anticipate the speech and your brain will be warmed up for each and every difficult situation. Just like many things, planning ahead can help you to avoid unwanted pitfalls.

Tuesday Tips: If you don’t tell them, who else will?

2008-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the frustrations of living with a hearing loss is that the vast majority of people do not know how to talk to you. Some assume they just need to yell. Well, that’s just plain embarrassing. Some people just talk normally, but then that can be too fast or too soft for someone who is hard-of-hearing. People just don’t know how best to speak to you.

That’s where you have to step up to the plate and be specific and polite about what works best for you. In general, there are a few pointers you can give to your conversation partner.

Speak clearly and a little slower. A lot of people simply slur and blur their words as they speak, nowadays. Simply slowing down a little and enunciating clearly can make a world of difference between understanding and complete confusion.
Speak a little louder. People don’t need to yell, but they do often need to just speak with a little more volume than they are used to.
Look at me when speaking. There’s no substitute for direct speech. When the voice is going in the other direction or is directed an office desk, it is significantly harder to understand.
Get closer. Did you know that for every metre, that the energy in a sound is cut in half? So it doesn’t take too much distance for sound to start being hard to hear. Don’t forget to remove any barriers to speech. That includes food in the mouth.
Get my attention before talking. If a person starts talking before they have your full attention, then they will likely have to start over from the beginning again. If they get your attention first, there can be less repetition required.

Use your best judgment on how best to phrase these pointers. Don’t forget to use your P’s and Q’s. Nobody likes a bossy tone. But remember, if you don’t tell them how to communicate with you, nobody will.

Tuesday Tips: Your Attention, Please

2008-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

People often say, “You have a hearing aid. You should hear me just fine.” Well, sadly enough, it’s not just fine. Hearing aids help you to hear better, but they are certainly not a cure for hearing loss.

It’s important that you get people’s attention and that others get your attention before starting a conversation. If you’ve missed the first few words and then you realize somebody is talking to you, you are already feeling lost.

Others can tap you on the shoulder or flick the lights to get your attention. Then you can face the speaker and hear what they have to say right from the start.
Avoid talking from room-to-room or over barriers. Conversations should be carried out in the same room and, preferably, face-to-face. Voices just don’t carry very well between walls nor down hallways.
Let others know that they will have to face for you to understand better. Explain that you have difficulty hearing and ask them to talk directly to you. There is no substitute for direct speech. Otherwise, you’ll hear the receptionist or cashier talking straight into their computer screens

Tuesday Tips: Lighting

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

The amount of light in the room is not the first thing you think about when you talk about hearing. However, you can hear better if you see better. Think of the last conversation you had with somebody standing in front of a brightly-lit window. It wasn’t fun, was it? There are often shadows that can fall on people’s faces. That makes it hard to see their facial expressions and lips, which are important to the context of any conversation. Then there’s that awful glare from staring towards the window too long. I can see imprints of light in my eyes just thinking about it.

Increase the light if it’s too dark. As romantic as conversations in the dark are, it may not be the best for your communication. Turn on the lights and you’ll often have an easier time talking to each other.
Move away from glaring sources of light. So as with the brightly-lit window scenario, it may be best not to stand right by that window. It can be tiring for all talkers involved and harsh shadows on the face just don’t look endearing.
Put your back to the window. If it’s not too bright, then the window can provide just the right amount of light. However, you will likely want your back to the window so that the light falls on the face of those you’re speaking to.

Tuesday Tips: Restaurants

2008-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Restaurants must be the bain of all hearing aids. Hearing aids do well with isolated noises, but with noise from all directions, it becomes quite confusing. A few strategies when dining out, however, can help minimize problems.

Pick your restaurants carefully. Restaurants with a lot of ambience tend to be bad. Ambience in restaurants usually come in the form of low-lighting, background music, and hard, funky surfaces. The best restaurant from an acoustic standpoint is one with upholstered furniture, no background music, good lighting, and low ceilings.
Go early for dinner. You can miss the bulk of the noisy dinner crowd and you usually have your choice of any seat in the house. So pick the potentially quietest corner or table in the restaurant.
Choose your table wisely. If you can choose a table, pick one that’s in the corner. Two walls mean a little less noise. However, make sure you’re not right by the kitchen; otherwise, you’ll hear all the cutlery and chopping emitting from there. If there are booths available, they are often better for communication. The enclosure of your table can reduce the amount of noise that you hear.
If you do get to choose a seat at your table, pick according to where the noise is. If you have hearing aids, you should set the aids to the noise mode and sit with your back to the restaurant while facing the wall. The wall doesn’t make as much noise as your fellow diners, so it’s better to be facing it. If you don’t have hearing aids, then sit beside the wall so that at least you can hear some of the conversation from one ear.

Sometimes, you can do all the above and still have a difficult time in the restaurant. Be patient and have a good humour about misunderstood conversation. Sometimes the misunderstanding can lead to good joke for everyone to share.

Tuesday Tips: Reducing Background Noise

2008-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t take too much to make a conversation easier to hear. Just reduce the background noise. I’m not asking you to stop the world from turning and getting all the noise out of the world, but you can do some simple things to reduce background noise.

Turn down or off any unnecessary music or sound. That could be your own TV or the radio. You may have to ask the owner of the device to turn it down. A conversation is lot easier without music covering over all the words
Close the windows. If the windows are open and you get all the traffic noise, shut the sound out by closing the windows. It’s a tough call during a hot summer day, but less noise makes a huge difference
Move away from the noise. If you can’t control the sound, at least move away from it. Just stepping a few feet away, or even out of a room, from the noise, it will be a relief to your ears and your conversation partner.

There’s no one end-all answer to reducing background noise. Use your best judgment and reduce any background noise that you can reduce.

New Weekly Feature Coming Soon - Tuesday Tips

2008-07-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

As part of our ongoing blog, we will be providing a weekly feature called Tuesday Tips. These posts are about communication tips or strategies to help guide the hard-of-hearing along the bumpy road of conversations.

We hope you enjoy this new weekly feature and keep coming back for you. We also hope you can provide feedback as to what works for you and what other topics you think should be covered.

Come back, and come back often. We've got a post waiting for you.

RERC Cellphone Survey and WIDHH cellphone Survey

2008-06-06T08:54:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies is a research facility in the US. They have committed to doing 3 surveys over three years to collect information from hard of hearing consumers about their experience with cellphones. The following is information about the survey:

The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) requires that landline telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States after August 1989 be hearing aid-compatible. In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to make digital wireless telephones (cell phones) compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) monitors this regulation and is interested in how it impacts the usability of cell phones for people who use hearing aids and cochlear implants.

We invite people who use hearing aids or cochlear implants to participate in the survey regarding your use of your cell phone. We plan to conduct this survey once a year over the next 3 years to track any changes in cell phone and hearing aid compatibility.
Take the survey

We are continuing to collect information on the WIDHH cellphone survey as well. The information from WIDHH cellphone survey is collected and posted on this blog (results)- we update the blog as new user information comes in. The results provide consumers with hearing loss ratings and other information about cellphones to help you make an informed cellphone purchase. We hope you find it helpful. If there is other information you would like to see or share - please send us a message. Thanks!

Announcement for the EAD-GAP Program

2008-05-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

The EAD-GAP Program

ANNOUNCEMENT
An equipment and assistive devices program, for British Columbians’, who are Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing. The EAD-GAP program is no longer accepting applications. We are currently processing the 780 applications we have received. Applicants will be contacted to confirm their application.
Thank you for your patience.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The EAD-GAP Program
An equipment and assistive devices program, for British Columbians’, who are Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing.

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 residents of British Columbia.

The short-term program will provide free low-tech devices, which can:
Enhance your ability to communicate on the telephone; such as an amplified telephone
Increase your independence and safety; such as visual alerting and alarm devices for the home and/or workplace
Increase your ability to listen in the home environment; such as assistive listening devices for the TV
Increase your ability to hear one-on-one with personal listening devices; such as the PocketTalker (hearing aids are not available through this program)

Start Date
The EAD-GAP program starts on June 1st, 2008. WIDHH will accept applications and will start to process applications on June 1st.

Who is Eligible?
To qualify for the pilot program you must:
Be a resident of British Columbia, and;
Be Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing, and require the use of an assistive device to meet a functional goal, and;
Be able to identify a functional goal you would like to achieve.

Please return your application to WIDHH as quickly as possible, as the funding is limited. When we receive your application, WIDHH will contact you to confirm the application and answer any questions. Once your application has been processed, WIDHH staff will make an appointment to arrange for the equipment you need.

WIDHH is committed to provide as many people with equipment or devices. As there is limited funding people will be limited to receive equipment to meet one goal only.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please fill out and return the application form to the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

We're sorry - the application process is now closed. We are currently processing the 780 applications we have received. Applicants will be contacted to confirm their application. Thank you for your patience.

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19

2008-03-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19
March 22, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
Mobile phone manufacturers have one year to comply with a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate requiring mobile handsets built or used in the U.S. to comply with the American national standard for cell phone-hearing aid compatibility.
Issued in 2003, the mandate is intended to ensure that new mobile phones available on the market are accessible to individuals using hearing aids.

According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), mobile phone manufacturers and service providers will have to ensure that at least 50% of all handsets marketed in the U.S. meet the requirements of ANSI C63.19:2006 - Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids by Feb. 18, 2008.

Approved as an American national standard in 2001, ANSI C63.19 was developed by the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C63 on electromagnetic compatibility, a group administered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

A measurement standard for hearing aid compatibility with wireless communications devices, ANSI C63.19-2006 aims to achieve an acceptable level of performance between cell phones and hearing aids by reducing the interference of radio frequency emissions.

The standard defines emissions and immunity-to-interference requirements, as well as test methods to determine the level of interoperability between the devices. The standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output.

According to ANSI, an estimated 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing impairment; by 2030, this number is expected to double. The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) directed the FCC to ensure that all telephones manufactured or imported for use in the U.S., and all "essential" telephones - including phones provided for emergency use, coin-operated phones and phones in the workplace, hospitals, nursing homes and hotel rooms - be hearing aid-compatible.

The increasing reliance on wireless mobile phones for business and personal use, coupled with the growing number of technologically-savvy baby boomers, led the FCC to put pressure on wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers to increase the number of hearing aid-compatible wireless phones available on the market.

IEEE C63.19 2007-JAN-01 • Active/Current •
Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids

This standard applies to both wireless communications devices (WDs) and hearing aids. It sets forth uniform methods of measurement and parametric requirements for the electromagnetic and operational compatibility and accessibility of hearing aids used with WDs, including cordless, cellular, personal communications service (PCS) phones, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) devices, operating in the range of 800 MHz to 3 GHz. However, this version is focused on existing services, which are in common use. Accordingly, in this version tests are provided for services in the 800 MHz to 950 MHz and 1.6 GHz to 2.5 GHz frequency bands. Future versions may add test for other frequency bands, as they come into more common use.

This standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output, including, as examples, behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) types. Test methods are provided for hearing aids operating in acoustic (microphone input) mode or in T-Coil input mode.

The field levels called for in various places shall be maintained within the limits for radio frequency (RF) safety, set forth in ANSI C95.1-1999.1

EAR CANDLING: QUACKERY OR CURE?

2008-02-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

Earwax is one of the most common topics of conversation in a hearing clinic. We often get asked what the best way to get rid of it is. In this day and age, where it seems that any medical treatment that is non-conventional or natural must be good, ear candling has gained popularity as an alternative method for earwax removal. So what is ear candling anyway? Does it work and is it safe?

Ear candles are long, hollow, cone-shaped candles made of beeswax and cotton cloths. The ear candle is placed in the ear canal and lit at the opposite end. The theory goes that as it burns down, the candle creates a vacuum. Wax, toxins and fungus are supposedly drawn out of the ear canal. The wax is then collected at the bottom of the candle, and shown to the patient as 'proof' of the cleansing. In addition to ear wax removal, other health benefits claimed include cleansing the sinus passages, curing headaches, migraines, ear infections, jaw joint dysfunction, hearing problems, inner ear pressure, imbalance, chronic sinusitis, and even 'cleansing of the brain'.

Is ear candling effective? The simple answer to this question is 'no'. The impressively huge gobs of wax remaining in the candle after a candling session have been analyzed and found to be nothing more than candle wax and burnt cloth. This makes sense, considering that the average ear canal is only 2 1/2 centimeters long and less than 1 cm wide. Even if your ear canal was completely plugged with wax (which in most cases it isn't), it would be physically impossible for the large amounts of wax to come from the ear canal!

What about this theoretical 'vacuum' that is created by the burning candle? First of all, wax is often sticky and moist, and stuck to the skin and/or hair of the ear canal. It is not floating around in your ear canal, ready to be magically sucked out! The amount of force that would be required in a vacuum to suck the wax out would burst the eardrum. In fact, a study performed in 1996 by Seely, Quigley and Langman examining the safety and efficacy of ear candles found that ear candles don't produce a vacuum at all. The study also found that in all cases, there was no removal of wax from the ear canal and that in some cases, candle wax was actually deposited into the ear canal. Their conclusions were that ear candles have no benefit in the management of ear wax, and that they may in fact result in serious injury.

What about the claims of curing headaches, cleansing the sinus passages and brain and curing other health ailments? There has been no evidence whatsoever supporting these claims. The ear canal ends at the eardrum. Unless you have a hole in your eardrum, or a serious anatomical anomaly, there is no connection to the sinuses or the brain from the outer ear canal!

So what if ear candling hasn't been shown to be effective? What is all the fuss about? There are a lot of natural treatments out there that also haven't scientifically been proven to be effective, but some people swear by them.

This leads us to the question of safety. "Is ear candling safe?" The answer, as you might suspect is that not only is ear candling ineffective, but also it can be downright dangerous! The ear canal is lined with a very thin layer of delicate skin. At the end of the ear canal is an even more delicate eardrum. A burning candle in someone's ear is potential trouble. There have been several reported cases of serious burns in the ear as a result of hot wax dripping into the ear. A burn on the eardrum or ear canal can lead to infection and even permanent hearing damage.

The verdict: Ear candling is quackery. Not only is it ineffective, but it can be harmful. If earwax is not causing you any problems, the best thing to do is to leave it there. It's there for a reason; to protect your ears. If the wax is causing problems, a medical doctor is the best person to go to for ear wax removal.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article.

EAR WAX: FRIEND OR FOE?

2008-02-14T08:40:00.001-08:00

Ear wax: It’s on everyone’s mind when they visit an audiologist. When I tell my patients that I am going to look in their ears, I invariably get one of two responses: A sheepish look accompanying the statement, “Oh, I didn’t wash my ears out today”, or, the opposite statement of pride “I cleaned my ears out just for this”.

The question that I often get asked is “What can I do to get rid of ear wax?” The answer is usually the same: Nothing. Ear wax is one of those things that, for some unknown reason, people associate with uncleanliness. The fact is that ear wax, also known as cerumen in the medical community, actually has a purpose. By sticking to the tiny hairs in your ears, it provides a partial barrier and protects the delicate eardrum and ear canal from damage from debris, flying objects, and infection. Our ears are naturally designed to move the wax towards the outer ear, with the gradual shedding of the skin inside the ear. In most cases, they do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean.

When we try to clean our ears using cotton swabs, or, heaven forbid sharp objects like bobby pins, we disrupt the self-cleaning mechanism of our ears, and potentially cause serious damage to them. A cotton swab typically only pushes the wax further into the ear canal, making it even more difficult for it to come out on it’s own. Over time, rubbing the ear canal with a cotton swab gets rid of the little hairs in the ear canal, again disrupting the natural cleaning mechanism of the ear. By going deeply into the ear with a cotton swab or object, you risk puncturing the delicate eardrum, which is only a couple of centimeters from the outside of the ear canal. The skin in the ear canal is also very sensitive and it can be damaged easily. Because the ear canal is a perfect environment for bacteria (dark and moist), once there is trauma to the skin or eardrum, the risk of infection is extremely high.

So, if you can’t use a cotton swab to clean the ears, how do you clean them? The best way to clean the ears is to use a warm washcloth when in the shower, and gently clean the outer ear up to the opening of the ear canal only. If you happen to be one of those unfortunate people who accumulate so much wax in their ears, that it causes a complete blockage of the ear canal and subsequent hearing loss, you may need to visit your family physician periodically to have the wax removed from your ears. You can also purchase over-the-counter wax removal systems, which typically include a solution to soften the wax, and a water irrigation bulb. This can be effective, however, if done incorrectly, can potentially cause damage to the eardrum. Ear candling, which is an alternative treatment for wax removal has been researched and found to be ineffective and potentially hazardous and it is therefore not a recommended wax removal method.

If you’re still having doubts about the best way to clean your ears, just remember that the age-old adage is true: Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article.

Hearing Aid Expectations Lead the Way

2008-02-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

“My aunt Gerta paid $6000.00 for her hearing aids!! Was she being ripped off?? Does she really need $6000.00 hearing aids?

If your aunt Gerta went to an audiologist or dispenser and said that she was very active, played bingo, went out to restaurants frequently, went to church, and that it was very important that the hearing aids were ‘invisible’, then a quote of $6000.00 for two hearing aids is certainly within reason. If on the other hand, your aunt Gerta said that she lives alone, is on a limited income, rarely goes out, and really only wants a hearing aid so that she can hear her husband at home, then the $6000.00 hearing aids are likely unnecessary, and she should get a second opinion. You see, a large part of selecting hearing aids has nothing to do with your hearing loss itself, but it has to do with lifestyle and expectations.

When I recommend hearing aids, people often ask me to tell them what they need. This is a very difficult thing to do, unless I know a bit more about their lifestyle and expectations. The fact is that most hearing-impaired people do not need $6000.00 hearing aids. For basic communication purposes, most hearing aids (if fit properly) should perform well in quiet situations. So, the question is not whether or not you need expensive hearing aids, but whether you would benefit from them.

If you are very active, or have high expectations, you will likely benefit from more advanced hearing aids and you may not be satisfied with basic hearing aid technology. Hearing aids are no exception to the rule “you get what you pay for”. Don’t get me wrong. The quality of the hearing aid should be good regardless of the price you pay (unless we’re talking disposable, internet or mail-order hearing aids, which are a whole different ballgame!), but in general, the more you pay, the more features you will get with your hearing aid. Also, the more you pay for a hearing aid, the better it should be in background noise, and the more ‘automatic’ it will be.

During the course of a visit with an audiologist or dispenser to discuss hearing aids, you should be asked some questions about your lifestyle. For example, are you working or retired? Do you go out a lot to restaurants? Are you frequently in group situations? Do you go to meetings? Is background noise a problem for you? The topic of expectations should also come up. What do you want from a hearing aid and what do you expect the hearing aid to do for you? What kind of situations are you having difficulty hearing in? Do you want a hearing aid that is fully automatic, or do you want to be able to adjust the hearing aid manually for volume? Your expectations are what will ultimately guide the audiologist or dispenser into deciding on an appropriate hearing aid for you. There is a direct relationship between your expectations and the quoted cost of the hearing aid. The more you expect, and the more active you are, the higher you will likely be quoted for a hearing aid.

Make sure that you know what you are getting when buying hearing aid(s). Some unfortunate people have paid very high prices, expecting or being told that they are getting digital hearing aids. This may be true, but all digital hearing aids are not the same. Digital hearing aids vary in technology. They can be very basic, similar to analogue hearing aids, or they can be very advanced. Ask what features the hearing aids have. If you cannot afford the quoted price, ask whether there are cheaper hearing aids that will fit your hearing loss, but, be sure to understand that you may have to alter your expectations if you decide to go with cheaper hearing aids.

My final piece of advice is that if you (or someone you know) have purchased hearing aids, and they are not meeting your expectations, do not just tuck them away in a drawer! Regardless of what you paid, you should be given a trial period of at least 30 days (many clinics offer a longer trial period), and if you are not happy, you should return to your hearing clinic and discuss your options with the audiologist or dispenser.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article

Links to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Issues and Stories in the Media

2008-02-10T19:29:00.001-08:00

This blog will be updated as new links come in. If you have an interesting link to a story please forward it to us.

Coroner warns cotton swabs can pose a danger
Marianne White, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, February 05, 2008
QUEBEC - A Quebec coroner is urging Health Canada to force manufacturers of cotton swabs on a stick to post larger warnings on packaging about the dangers of using them in the ear.
The recommendation comes after the investigation into the death last March of Montrealer Daniel St-Pierre, 43. Coroner Jacques Ramsay found the man died of complications linked to an ear infection likely caused by the use of cotton swabs that pierced the ear membrane.
That prompted Ramsay to urge consumers to be careful with the little cotton buds on a stick.

Pepsi's Superbowl Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffrq6cUoE5A

Adapting to Hearing Aids

2008-02-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Are you considering trying hearing aids for the first time, or have you just started a trial with new hearing aids? For some people, adapting to hearing aids is very quick and easy. For others, it can take several months to adapt to new hearing aids. Everyone is different. – So, if this is your first time wearing hearing aids, or you have not worn hearing aids for a long time, welcome to your world full of new sounds for you to enjoy once again!

Here are some basic guidelines when wearing hearing aids for the first time:

Take it slowly!! This cannot be emphasized enough. We normally recommend that for the first few days, you wear the hearing aids only for 1 to 3 hours per day. As you become more comfortable wearing the hearing aids, increase the length of time by one or two hours per day. This gives your brain some time to adjust to the new sounds. In time, you should feel comfortable wearing your hearing aids for the majority of the day. You should not wear the hearing aids to bed at night (the hearing aids may be uncomfortable in your ear if you lie directly on them, and you may experience feedback or whistling).

Quiet situations first! When you wear hearing aids for the first time, even a quiet room may sound noisy to you! You may hear the hum of the refrigerator, the fan, or the sound of your breathing. The sound of crinkling newspaper, water running, or even your footsteps may seem loud to you at first. Your brain needs some time to adjust to these sounds, and to learn to ignore them (as it did when you had normal hearing). When you first get your hearing aids, use them only in quiet situations, or only when talking to one or two people in a quiet room. If you try to use your hearing aids in noisy situations (i.e. traffic, restaurant, group situations) too soon, you may feel overwhelmed.

Adjusting the volume (if applicable). If you have a volume control adjustment on your hearing aid, it is important that you wear the hearing aids so that the volume is equal in each ear. Many hearing aids now ‘reset’ to the proper start-up volume, otherwise set them at approximately half way on your volume control (unless directed otherwise). Turn on the radio or T.V., and stand directly in front of the speaker. Slowly move your head from side to side, and adjust the volume so that the sound is equal and comfortable for both ears. Another method of balancing your hearing aids, is to put your right hearing aid in first. Increase the volume control as you count from 1 to 5. Stop when you hear your voice in the right ear. Put the left hearing aid in. Count again from 1 to 5, and stop when your voice sounds like it’s in the middle of your head. It is not an exact science! The important thing is that the hearing aids are set at approximately the same volume.

Adjusting to your own voice. Your own voice may sound different to you with hearing aids. This is partly because there is something in your ears (stick your fingers in your ears and you will get the same affect), and partly because your hearing aids are amplifying your own voice (similar to hearing yourself on an answering machine or tape). Some people describe the sound as ‘echoey’, or ‘booming’, or ‘loud’. You may feel as though you are talking quite loudly, and are unable to monitor the level of your own voice. This is normal. Most people adapt very quickly to the ‘new’ sound quality of their voice, and it soon sounds natural and ‘normal’ to them. If you find that your voice is bothersome to you when you speak, and you are not adapting to it, some adjustments can often be made to the hearing aid.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article

Income Tax Q and A's. #3: Claiming hearing aid batteries and other tips

2008-02-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Q: Can I claim my hearing aid batteries under medical expenses?

A: Technically yes you can, but if you don’t have any other medical expenses you aren’t likely to spend enough to get the tax credit (your expenses must be at least 3% of your income or $1926, whichever is less). However, if it is in the year you purchased your hearing aids, it would make sense to keep the battery receipts for that year. Note: Medical may be claimed for any 12 month period ending in the year. It may be more advantageous for example to go from June to May when totaling your medical expenses.

Some useful tips about Line 330 - Medical expenses
Combining medical expenses for the entire family and claiming them on one return may be more advantageous. Medical may be claimed for any 12 month period ending in the year. It may be more advantageous for example to go from June to May when totaling your medical expenses. Medical expenses include premiums paid at work for health and dental plans (but not insurance and disability). Blue Cross and other health plans are also medical expenses. Don't forget to include travel health insurance. Under certain circumstances you may also be able to claim travel expenses as part of your medical expenses. Don't forget about the refundable medical expense supplement on line 452.
The link for the above information is: http://www.taxescanada.ca/tax_tips.html

Income Tax Q and A's. #2: Claiming hearing aids as a medical expense

2008-02-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

Q: Can I claim my hearing aids as a medical expense on my income tax?

A: Yes you can.
You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children born in 1990 or later. For 2007, the total expenses have to be more than 3% of your net income, or $1,926, whichever is less.
You may also be able to claim medical expenses for the following persons if they depend on you for support:
you or your spouse or common-law partner's child or grandchild who was born in 1989 or earlier; and
you or your spouse or common-law partner's parent or certain close relatives who lived in Canada at any time in the year.

Q: If I purchased a hearing aid for someone other than myself, can I claim it under my medical expenses on my federal income tax?

A: The Canada Revenue Agency states that:

1. You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children born in 1990 or later. For 2007, the total expenses have to be more than 3% of your net income, or $1,926, whichever is less.

You may also be able to claim medical expenses for the following persons if they depend on you for support:
· you or your spouse or common-law partner's child or grandchild who was born in 1989 or earlier; and
· you or your spouse or common-law partner's parent or certain close relatives who lived in Canada at any time in the year (see 2).

The link to the above information is: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/newsroom/taxtips/2008/tt080115-e.html

2. You may claim the portion of eligible medical expenses you or your spouse or common-law partner paid for the following persons who depended on you for support on line 331:
· your or your spouse or common-law partner's child who was born in 1989 or earlier, or grandchild; or
· your or your spouse or common-law partner's parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who was a resident of Canada at any time in the year.
The claim must be for the same 12-month period that was determined at line 330.
The link to the above information is: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/individuals/topics/income-tax/return/completing/deductions/lines300-350/331-e.html

The following is the formula used for Federal Medical and Disability Tax Credits
Medical Tax Credits are calculated as follows, using the formula:

A x B

Where “A” is a prescribed rate and “B” is the eligible amount.

The prescribed rate is subject to change from year to year. It is currently 15.5%.

The eligible amount is more complicated to determine:

Formula Y-Z

Z is the lesser of:
Net Income x 3%
Or
$1,926

Y is the total amount of all eligible medical expenses for the year.

In Example:
If you had a net income of $100,000 and medical expenses for the year of $7,000.

A = 15.5%
B = (Y-Z) = $7,000 - The lesser of: (100,000 x 3%) = $3,000 or $1,926
B = 7,000 – $1,926 = $5,074

A X B = 15.5% X $5,074 = $786.47

Therefore, you would receive a deduction in taxes payable to the federal government in the amount of $786.47.

Disability Tax Credits are also calculated using the formula A X B:

Where “A” is a prescribed rate and “B” is the eligible amount.

The prescribed rate is the same 15.5%

The eligible amount is $6,890 ($7,021 for 2008)

Therefore, someone who is eligible to receive the disability tax credit would receive a deduction in taxes payable to the federal government in the amount of $1067.95 ($6,890 X 15.5%).

Should I Wear One or Two Hearing Aids?

2008-01-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

“My audiologist recommended two hearing aids for me. My sister only wears one and she is perfectly happy with one. Why do I need two?”

The answer to this question is that you don’t need two hearing aids to hear, for the same reason that you don’t need two eyes to see. With a hearing loss in both ears and only one hearing aid, you will ‘get by’ in some situations, however your hearing will be much better with two hearing aids. After all, we were not created with two ears so that we could have a spare if one became damaged or unusable. We were created with two ears for good reasons. Here are a few of them….

Assuming that you have a hearing loss in both ears, wearing a hearing aid in both ears offers the following advantages:

· Better understanding of speech.
· Better understanding of speech in noisy situations.
· Better ability to tell the direction of sounds.
· Better sound quality and ‘stereo’ hearing.
· Smoother tone quality and less distortion because less volume is required when you wear two hearing aids. Less battery drain for the same reason.
· Wider hearing range. A person can hear sounds from a further distance with two hearing aids.
· Better sound identification. With just one hearing aid, many noises and words sound alike. With two hearing aids, as with two ears, sounds are more easily distinguishable.
· Having two hearing aids keeps both ears active. Research has shown that with only one hearing aid, the unaided ear tends to lose its’ ability to hear and understand speech. This is called auditory deprivation.
· Hearing is less tiring and listening is more pleasant.
· Greater comfort with loud sounds.
· Reduced feedback and whistling because of lower volume control.
· Improvement in tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Approximately 50% of people with ringing in their ears report improvement when wearing two hearing aids.
· Hearing aid satisfaction. Research with more than 4000 hearing-impaired people demonstrated that people wearing two hearing aids are more satisfied with their hearing aids than those wearing only one hearing aid.

These things are all important, and some are actually crucial to our survival. Being able to tell the direction of sounds is very important when a truck is coming towards us and we need to get out of the way!

In rare cases, using one hearing aid may be recommended. If the hearing is either too good, or too severe in one ear, that a hearing aid would not provide benefit, two hearing aids are often not recommended. Similarly, if, for financial reasons, someone is unable to afford two hearing aids, it is feasible to fit only one hearing aid (after all, one hearing aid is better than none!). However, with such overwhelming evidence supporting the advantages of binaural amplification, we would be doing a disservice to our patients if we recommended only one hearing aid.

Finally, ask yourself whether you would ever consider getting only one lens for your glasses, or only one contact lens for your eyes? Probably not. Ears are no different. If you want the best chance at improving your hearing, hearing aids in both ears is the natural thing to do.

Special thanks to Naomi Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C) for this article

Announcements

2008-01-31T11:05:00.000-08:00

2008 Annual General Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00)
Location: Multi-Purpose Room
Burnaby South High School
5455 Rumble Street, Burnaby

ASL Interpreters, Relay Interpreters, and FM system and Captioning will be provided.

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

1. To formally report to the members on the activities of WIDHH for the year 2007. The Annual Report for the year will be presented.
2. To formally report to the members on the financial status of the institute for the year 2007. The audited financial report for the year ending December 31, 2007 will be presented.
3. To elect the Board of Directors.

Call for Nominations
WIDHH Board of Directors

Nominations are now open for the Board of Directors to be elected at the Annual General Meeting – Thursday, April 17th, 2008.

For more information, please contact Susan Masters, Executive Director. 604-736-7391 Voice, 604-736-2527 TTY, 604-736-4381 Fax or smasters@widhh.com

Deadline for nominations: February 28, 2008

Sixth Annual WIDHH Awards

WIDHH is now accepting nominations for our 6th Annual WIDHH Awards to be presented at the AGM on April 17th, 2008.

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

If you would like to nominate and individual or an organization, please contact Ruth Blackburn, at WIDHH. 604-736-7391 Voice, 604-736-2527 TTY, 604-736-4381 Fax or email to rblackburn@widhh.com

Deadline for Nominations: March 5th, 2008

WIDHH Income Tax Night

Deaf or Hard of Hearing people who need help to file (fill in) their income tax forms are invited to come to our annual Income Tax Night. Volunteer accountants from the firm of Wozny and Associates will help with tax returns. Interpreters will be provided.

People with low incomes will be scheduled first.

Date: TBA
Time: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Place: WIDHH
2125 West 7th Ave, Vancouver

What to Bring: T4 slip (shows your income for 2007), a copy of your 2006 income tax from, any information slips from banks, RRSP slips and your receipts for medicines and prescriptions, hearing aids, tty or signaling equipment purchased because you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These purchases may be counted as a medical expense on your tax return.

Call WIDHH to put your name on the list: 604-736-2527 TTY, 604-736-7391 Voice,

Beyond Hearing Aids – Coping with Background Noise

2008-01-24T13:20:00.001-08:00

There is often a misunderstanding to what hearing aids can provide. Many people who walk into a hearing clinic for the first time believe that a hearing aid will solve all their hearing problems. They may expect to understand all sorts of conversations in different situations, such as talking at a party or understanding a lecture. Hearing aids can never restore normal hearing; they can only help to make it easier to hear.

Beyond hearing aids, we need to understand what factors affect communication and how best to adjust the environment around us to make listening easier.

With any degree of hearing loss, even the mildest of losses, speech understanding quickly disappears with the presence of background noise. Background noises range from obvious things, like traffic, machinery, or loud music, to more subtle noises, like running water, a whirring fan, or air conditioning. All of these will have an effect on understanding speech. With normal hearing, one can fine-tune the sound within the ear to pick out speech. With hearing loss, that fine-tuning ability is lost. Unfortunately, hearing aids cannot fine-tune the sound and pick out speech. It tends to make everything louder – speech and noise.

A person with a hearing loss and the people communicating with him or her can try to control or change this listening environment. It’s important that everyone in the conversation try to help and reduce the amount of background noise. If a window is open and the sound of traffic is distracting, then close the window. If you are sitting below an air conditioning vent and the constant whir is masking a speaker’s voice, then turn off the air conditioning or move to a spot away from the sound. If you’re at a party and you cannot hear people, try to move the conversation to a quieter area away from people and music. You may even have to step outside of the room to have a decent conversation.

Hearing aids may not be able to solve all the problems of understanding speech in noise, but a person can make small changes to the environment around them that can make a difference. So next time you are in a difficult environment, think about how you can improve the soundscape to make things easier for you and everyone else to hear.

Income Tax Q and A's. #1: Hearing Loss and the Federal Disability Tax Credit

2008-01-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

Q. Am I eligible for the Federal Disability Tax Credit if I have a hearing loss?

A. The general definitions applied to the Disability Tax Credit are (as written in the Disability Tax Credit Certificate application form):
a. Prolonged: - An impairment is prolonged if it has lasted, or is expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months
b. Markedly restricted – You are markedly restricted if, all or substantially all the time, you are unable (or it takes you an inordinate amount of time) to perform a basic activity of daily living, even with therapy (other than life-sustaining therapy) and the use of appropriate devices and medication.

These definitions as they apply to hearing loss:
A person is considered markedly restricted in hearing if, all or substantially all the time, he or she:
• Is unable to hear so as to understand another person familiar with the hard of hearing person, in a quiet setting, even with the appropriate devices; or
• Takes an inordinate amount of time to hear so as to understand another person familiar with the patient, in a quiet setting, even with the use of appropriate devices.
Notes:
• Devices for hearing include hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc.
• An inordinate amount of time means that hearing so as to understand takes significantly longer than for an average person who does not have the impairment.

Examples of markedly restricted in hearing (examples are not exhaustive) (these examples are for the assessor):
• Your patient must rely completely on lip reading or sign language, despite using a hearing aid, in order to understand a spoken conversation, all or substantially all the time.
• In your office, you must raise your voice and repeat words and sentences several times, and it takes a significant amount of time for your patient to understand you, despite using a hearing aid.

Further information can be found at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/disability/

Purchasing Hearing Aids through the Internet

2008-01-18T10:42:00.001-08:00

The Internet continues to be a dizzying conduit of information and shopping nowadays. We can research the latest and greatest in gadgets and find out what is good and bad. We can read both critic and customer reviews. Then we go to our favourite online vendor and make our purchase.

Hearing aids have been widely available on the Internet for a while now. A simple Internet search on “Buying hearing aids online” produces an interesting variety of links. Some are links to direct vendors. Some are links to articles detailing the ins and outs of purchasing a device online. Some of these articles are in support of buying hearing aids online and some are in opposition. If you look carefully at some of these articles, they’ve been written by somebody who actually sells hearing aids online while some are written by professional organizations representing otolaryngologists or audiologists.

With the advent of the Internet, the term Caveat Emptor, or buyer beware, has never rang more true. Purchasing a hearing aid online is full of pitfalls that you could find yourself in. There are some important questions you should ask if you are thinking about purchasing hearing aids on the Internet.

What is the right hearing aid for me?
The best way to figure that question out is to actually not shop on the Internet, but to talk to a professional hearing aid dispenser. Modern digital hearing aids are complex and are meant to be programmed for your specific hearing and chosen based on your lifestyle and health needs. An aid just bought off the Internet is unlikely to have been chosen based on the above factors. A professional is the best at balancing your needs and preferences to get a hearing aid that works well for you.

Who is selling the hearing aid?
If you frequent the online auction site, eBay, then you know that anyone from established businesses to little Johnny down the street could be selling an item to you. An individual who is selling a hearing aid may be offloading a relative’s aid and does not know anything about hearing aids. A company may be the vendor, but what kind of guarantees and service come with the aid, if any.

How will the vendor choose and program the hearing aid for me?
Some online vendors will ask you to send a copy of your audiogram, or hearing test, and they will be able to program the aids according to your test. That is true; however, hearing tests are only a starting point for fitting a hearing aid properly. Is an online vendor going to be able to make further adjustments for you if the hearing aid doesn’t sound right? The initial fit of a hearing aid is based on your test and the manufacturer’s algorithm for producing the sound. That algorithm is based on their studies and it is really just an average that works for most people. Everybody’s ear is very unique and just one programming is often not enough.

How does an online company verify that the hearing aid is right for you? For an audiologist, they will often verify the hearing aid is giving the correct amplification and is not overamplifying by using real ear measurements. Real ear measurements cannot be done over the Internet, only in person.

Can I return the aid if it is not right for me?
At a hearing aid clinic in British Columbia, you have a minimum provincially-regulated 1-month trial period with a hearing aid. If it’s not satisfactory after the fitting and subsequent adjustments are made, then you can exchange the aid or return it for a refund. Can you have this kind of guarantee and service from an online vendor?

What happens if the hearing aid breaks down?
Some of the hearing aids that are being sold on the Internet are coming from different places around the world. For some of these aids, the warranty stays within the country it is from. Can the vendor guarantee that repairs will be looked after without a hassle? For example, many manufacturers do not sell aids in Canada and may not be able to service the aids for you. In Canada, most hearing aids bought in a clinic come with a 2-year repair warranty and a 1-year loss and damage coverage. Can an Internet seller give you that kind of coverage?

In general, it’s not advisable to purchase hearing aids on the Internet. There are lots of areas where problems can crop up and then you may end up spending hundreds more in money to have a local clinic look at the aid. So, it’s buyer beware when you purchase a hearing aid on the Internet.

Rear Window Captioning for Movie Theatres

2007-11-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

A new movie just came out this weekend. It’s the one you’ve been waiting for months to come out. You’ve seen the TV trailer. You watched that entertainment show for all the actor and director interviews. You’ve seen the oversized billboard ads. You’ve visited the movie website to get all the dirt on the plot and characters. You are absolutely bursting with anticipation to watch this movie.

You pay your $11.95 (+ taxes) at the box office. You buy your popcorn and drink. You sit down in those great new comfortable reclining theatre seats. As a bonus, the movie you’re watching was filmed in digitally enhanced surround sound. And that silver screen is larger than you remember. Ah yes, the perfect movie theatre experience.

The movie starts. There’s some action one moment. A funny incident happens the next moment. This movie is looking as good as you thought it would look. Then, people start talking. The lead actors are having a conversation, but you’re starting to strain. You miss one word here, two words there, and then an entire sentence. It’s a quiet moment in the film and the voices are barely audible. Then music comes flowing in. Nice touch. The music is loud and clear, but what are the actors saying? You thought there was digitally enhanced surround sound. It’s plenty loud at times, but you just can’t understand what they are saying. At the end of the film, you are totally frustrated and exhausted from concentrating so hard in order to understand the dialogue.

Has this ever been your experience when you go to the movie theatre? For almost all hard-of-hearing individuals, the answer is a guaranteed yes. With a hearing loss, it doesn’t matter how good a theatre sound system might be, hearing loss cannot overcome very soft voices and competing sounds in order to understand words.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go back and watch that film and understand every single word? Maybe you could understand every single piece of dialogue even better than your non-hearing impaired friend.

Some theatres in Canada are now equipped with Rear Window Captioning. Rear Window Captioning involves using a portable, transparent acrylic panel that can fit into your drink holder. It’s sort of like reading words in a rear view mirror in a car. Basically, you must get a Rear Window Captioning (RWC) panel from the box office or guest services desk of the movie theatre. The panel is attached to a long flexible metal bar with a base on the other end. You place the base into the drink holder. If you look at the back of the theatre, you’ll see an LED display with words on it. However, the words are reversed. So that’s when you adjust the bar and the panel so that the words at the back of the theatre can be reflected upon the panel. This way, you can read the dialogue as the movie is running.

A few notes from my own experience: I was unlucky enough to get a bar without a drink holder-sized base. Mine had this vice-like clamp that needed to be twisted onto the drink holder to hold it in place. If you get one of these clamp panels, see if they have the other version. It’s just not as easy to use and is prone to slipping off of the drink holder. Also, it can be a little difficult to adjust the RWC panel to be exactly under the projected picture and still be able to read the words at the same time. Make sure you go early enough to fiddle around with the panel to get the reflection right. There are also a limited number of these panels available in each theatre, so go early to get them. I think I saw a total of about 8 panels at the theatre I went to and they were all out when I went back to the desk to ask for one more.

However, overall, it was a good experience. Although I am not hard-of-hearing, I benefited from being able to catch dialogue that I would normally miss because it’s either too quiet or too quick. My wife’s English is her second language, so this helped a lot for her because there are lot of things spoken that do not make sense when she hears it, but makes a lot more sense when she can read it. She felt she really benefited from the RWC. During the film I saw, there was also a group of Deaf teens who were well aware of the benefits of RWC. Their friends had gotten a lot of panels and they were following the film just as well as everybody else in the theatre.

So if you are tired of missing dialogue in the movie and would love to go out with your friends and family, RWC may be an option for you. Check out the newspaper to see where RWC is provided in your area.

Further Reading:
Hearing Loss Web article on RWC

Cineplex listing of theatres with RWC in Canada

Movie Theater Captioning: Technology and Advocacy

Caption Movies Now Coalition

Useful accessories for listening to a cellphone

2007-10-30T12:47:00.001-07:00

As many of you have experienced, cellphones and hearing aids don't always 'play nice' together. Sometimes there is distortion or feedback (whistling). Sometimes the power or volume just doesn't seem sufficient - and when you are trying to hear a phone call over the din of a foodcourt or city street, it can be almost impossible to have a decent conversation. Here are some accessories we that may help you to hear a bit better. We have had positive reports back on both items. You need to have a 2.5mm headset jack on your cellphone to use them.

1. CLA7 Clearsounds neckloop. This has a handsfree microphone built into it. You need to wear your hearing aids on the telephone program to hear with it. So can either listen to the cellphone through both of your hearing aids or if you are walking around, you may want to leave one of your hearing aids on the regular microphone program so you are aware of your surroundings. We have had positive feedback on the sound quality, however they neckloops are somewhat delicate where the it connects to the handsfree mic box. They have a volume control as well. These are $149 and they are available at our store or through our on-line store at www.widhh.com.

2. Noiz-free silhouettes. The silhouette looks like a skinny hearing aid and is worn beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It has a cord running down from it (like any headphones would) to plug into the cellphone. It also has a handsfree mic option on it. You can either get one silhouette (monaural) or two silhouettes (binaural) on a 'Y' cord to use with two hearing aids. We have had very positive feedback on these silhouettes. They are much smaller than the old silhouettes and therefore more comfortable to wear. Also people have told us that the sound quality is better than a neckloop - richer in sound quality (the neckloops sound tinnier in comparison). Like the neckloop, the hearing aids must be on t-coil or on the telephone program to work with the silhouette. These could be used with a custom aid equipped with a t-coil or telephone program as well. Some people have commented that they are a bit bulky to wear all day long (these are people who use the phone regularly throughout the day). The Noiz-free silhouettes are $55 for the monaural silhouette or $65 for the binaural set. These are also available at our store or through the on-line store at www.widhh.com.

Just a quick note for custom hearing aids users - the silhouettes can be used behind-the-ear but in conjunction with your telecoil program. Sometimes if the power doesn't seem sufficient on the telephone program - you can have your audiologist adjust the program for more power and better sound quality. Not all hearing aids have this option. In some cases, custom hearing aids can be sent back to the manufacturer to have a telecoil put in (if it didn't come with it) or have it adjusted for power if it is too weak. If you want to use a neckloop with a custom in-the-ear style hearing aid, the orientation of the t-coil may not be optimal - it may need to be sent back to the manufacturer to have it's position changed in the hearing aid to work with a neckloop (as they are generally intended to put a phone directly over the aid).

For behind-the-ear hearing aid users - if the sound quality of your telephone program is poor (to sharp, too noisy from the hum of the telecoil etc) you can often have the program adjusted for sound quality and power. Not all hearing aids have this feature.

Voicemail for Deaf People

2007-10-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Janice Jickels. I work at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as head of the interpreting department.

I’d like to share with you some information, maybe its information you already know about, but I want to make sure the word gets out. Many deaf people have cell phones or blackberries, or devices from Telus, Bell, Fido, Rogers etc.

Deaf people have been frustrated with voicemail. You know what voicemail is, it’s like the answering machine function on a TTY, except it is spoken language left on your cell phone, we can’t hear the message and we tend to ignore them.

Cell phones and blackberries also have feature on a called voicemail. Now how can you use your voicemail feature?

First you need to set up a voicemail account, contact your provider, and ask to have voicemail added to your phone. There is a small monthly charge for that service. Once you have added voicemail you need to open the account and personalize it. You can do that by calling TRS, ask the operators to call the number provided to you by your cell phone company to access your voicemail.

The operator will then call the voicemail number, and you will have several options to choose from. The option you choose is “I want to set up my voicemail” you will be given an option to record a greeting, the TRS operator will do that for you. You can pick a standard greeting or personalized greeting.

You will find that you already have a password as part of setup the voicemail, use that password. The TRS operator will set up the greeting then your voicemail is activated and ready to go. If a hearing person calls your phone they will leave a voice message in the normal way and you will see on your phone “new voicemail.”

To retrieve that message, call 711 (Telus Relay Service) give the Telus operator the phone number the company provides to access voicemail, and your name and password.

Then the operator will type the messages that are recorded on your voicemail. And that’s all! The TRS operator will ask you if you want to delete or save the current message. You have the ability to save the message as long as you want on your cell phone. This is a great feature for deaf people because hearing people will be able to leave voicemail messages in the normal way, and we have the ability to retrieve those using TRS or any other relay service.

It is great to share this information because we’re all trying to get equal access, and you know how many of us get frustrated explain how to use TRS services, but now we can retrieve our own messages directly. It’s a great thing!

Many hearing people feel uncomfortable with having to go through a two step process. But now you don’t have to bother with that explanation. You just give them your cell phone number.
It becomes the deaf persons responsibility to collect their messages, But that’s already a big improvement, imagine if your trying to leave a contact number for a family member or employer, you just have to give them one phone number they can leave their message.

If you have any questions or want to share any tips with me, you can e-mail me at jjickels@telus.net or you can contact me through videophone it is 24.85.225.129

Thank you!

blackberry, deaf, asl, voicemail, sign language

2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone

2007-08-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you are having difficulty hearing on the telephone with one hearing aid, consider using your FM system so that you can use both hearing aids. You can either have the signal transmitted to your FM receivers snapped on to the bottom of your hearing aids, or to a bodyworn receiving unit with an induction loop such as the Phonak MyLink receiver unit. The bodyworn receiving unit will transmit sound to your hearing aids through the induction loop. The hearing aids must be set on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' position. Remember that when your hearing aids are on the t-coil position you can't hear anything other than the phone. Consider asking your audiologist if one or both of the aids can have an 'M-T' program put in (this means the microphone and the telecoil are working at the same time-so you can hear around you and you can hear on the phone. You don't have to worry about feedback because the ear piece of the phone doesn't need to be next to your hearing aid anymore - the sound is being sent by the FM transmitter to the FM receivers or the FM induction loop around your neck (i.e. the Phonak MyLink).

Parts required:

Your FM system
You will need to purchase a device made by Nexxtech. It is a Telephone Recording Unit. Part #4318237. This is available at The Source.

To Connect the FM Transmitter to the telephone:

1. Unplug the telephone receiver from the telephone.
2. Plug the Telephone Recording Unit into the telephone.
3. Plug the telephone receiver into the Telephone Recording Unit.
4. Plug the 3.5mm jack from the Telephone Recording Unit into the Audio jack located on the ‘battery charger’ unit connected to the bottom of the FM transmitter (This is on the right side of the battery charging unit, upper jack. It says 'Audio'). The battery charger unit must be attached to the bottom of the Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink FM transmitter.

The Phonak FM transmitter (Smartlink, Zoomlink, Easylink or Microlink) should be ‘off’. It will turn on automatically when you pick up the phone and start to make a call.
If you are using 'boot' receivers snapped to the bottom of your hearing aids, when you pick up the phone the FM transmitter will automatically start transmitting the sound to your receiving units.
If you are using a body worn receiving unit with an induction loop, you will need to make sure it is turned on. Wear the loop around your neck. Your hearing aids need to be on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' program when you are speaking on the phone.
If necessary, adjust the volume by adjusting the volume on your hearing aids (if you are using the FM receivers boots) OR on the bodyworn receiving unit.
The earpiece of the telephone handset does not need to be near your hearing aids but you will still need to speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone handset.

Note: for systems other than the Phonak Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink - you just plug the callcorder into the 'auxiliary audio input jack' of the FM transmitter. For some FM systems the jack is a 2.5mm, or a 3-pin eurojack - and the Call Corder will not fit. You will need to purchase a dual mini jack coupler (Radio Shack part number was 274-886). Plug the call corder into the coupler jack, use the DAI (direct audio input) cord that came with the FM system and plug one end into the remaining side of the coupler and then plug into the auxiliary audio input jack of the FM transmitter.

Connecting Cell Phones with Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants or Bone Anchored Hearing Aids

2007-08-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, cellphones haven’t worked particularly well with hearing aids. They often created a lot of distortion or noise when placed near a hearing aid. Technology of cellphones and hearing aids is slowly changing to make the two more compatible. Here are some tips for getting the most out of a cellphone.

Use a network provider that uses a CDMA (code-division multiple access) network. Currently in Canada these providers are Telus, Bell and Virgin. The other network providers use GSM (Global system for mobile communication). Specific definitions of these types of technology are available on http://www.phonescoop.com/ but, in essence, CDMA delivers information in large ‘packets’ of information and GSM compresses the information into smaller ‘packets’ for delivery to your cellphone. It appears that for hearing aid users, there is less distortion of the sound when it is delivered using the CDMA technology.

Some basic features to consider when you are purchasing a cellphone to use with a hearing aid, cochlear implant or bone anchored hearing aid are:

1. a headset jack (either 2.5mm or 3.5mm)

2. Hearing aid compatible – ask if the phone has an M/T rating. An M3 or M4 rating means that the phone is less likely to create interference when it is near a hearing aid. M4 is the best rating. A T3 or T4 rating means the phone should work with a hearing aids telecoil setting. T4 is the better or the two ratings. So the best phone would have an M4/T4 rating.

3. for some individuals - a digital TTY (teletypewriter) mode

A quick search for phones with the above 3 features on http://www.phonescoop.com/ comes up with the following list of telephones:

1. Kyocera Lingo M1000
2. LG AX-275
3. LG Muziq/LX-570
4. Motorola E815/E816 Hollywood
5. Motorola i870/i875
6. Motorola ic902 Deluxe
7. Pantech Ocean
8. Research in Motion BlackBerry 7250
9. Research in Motion BlackBerry 8703e
10. Research in Motion BlackBerry 8830
11. Samsung M300
12. Samsung SCH-U340/Snap
13. Samsung SPH-M500
14. Sanyo Katana DLX
15. Sanyo SCP-2400
16. Sanyo SCP-3100
17. Sanyo SCP-3200
18. Sanyo SCP-7050

While this is an extensive list, we have also researched to see which of the above cell phones are available through the CDMA network providers (Telus, Bell and Virgin). It appears that only Bell offers a small selection of the above phones in Canada. These are:

Samsung SPH-M500
Sanyo Katana DLX
Sanyo SCP-2400
Sanyo SCP-7050

Currently we are unable to assess whether these cellphones actually work well with hearing aids. We need user feedback on how well cell phones are working with hearing aids, cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids. Please feel free to send comments and/or feedback on cellphones you are currently using with your hearing aids and how well they work.

WIDHH is currently gathering information on cell phone use with hearing aids, cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids. We hope to use this information to expand the information on this site and develop a comprehensive site for individuals with hearing loss to find compatible cellphone and communication technology to work with hearing devices and optimal communication. Please take a moment to complete the survey:

Click Here to take survey

Other useful websites on cellphones and hearing aids are:
1. Wireless Access.org