For the past month, I have traveled to places across South India.  I did some sightseeing but mostly visited my cousins and relatives.  While I couldn’t attend our daily chat for several weeks, I continued to think about ways to expand our community.  Here are some goals I want to accomplish this quarter.

Broadening our Message Board

I currently have a message board (www.OuterDialog.com).  I have not been keeping up with the forum because of spam issues, and most of my focus has been on the chat room during the past year.  However, I am researching alterative message board software and will be upgrading soon.  I have plans to build this forum and get more people involved to share information on many different subjects regarding hearing loss, including our weekly chat topics.

Adding Second Open Chat Night

A second Open Chat Night will take place on Sunday nights starting on September 12th at 8pm (EST).  I’m hoping this will work for the people who cannot attend our chat on Wednesday nights.  As always, I welcome any other feedback or suggestions to make the chat even better.

Establish Outreach Program in my local area

I’m looking to meet people with hearing loss in the Milwaukee area.  I am thinking to create an outreach program for young people to meet at a place to just have fun and share their hearing loss journey.  This new program will still be part of Open Chat Night but more for the local community to meet in person and not online.  I have contacts at UW-Milwaukee and will try to get more students involved.  Right now I am in the early stages and will focus on the Milwaukee area.

Directory and Reviews for Schools and Audiologists

I am starting to create a directory on my Website for audiologists and schools that have deaf/HOH/hearing impaired programs.  I will contact these places and hopefully that will encourage people to add content and resources on the Website.  This will help all of us looking for information.  Also, I would like to give the ability for people to write reviews on schools and audiologists.  I’m planning to include this section in the message board/blog that will tie in with the directory listings.

Distribute Press Release for 1-Year Open Chat Night

When I get the message board fully working, I will start writing the press release to sum up this year’s chat.  It will be distributed online and hopefully will encourage more people to join our chat.  A few regulars have already shared their experiences which I will include in the press release.  If anyone else would like to participate, please contact me.

Let’s all work continue to work hard to bring awareness for people with hearing loss.

www.OpenChatNight.com

The latest digital aids are much smaller and less noticeable, but as we all know, newer hearing aids are always expensive and insurance companies are of little help. Some insurance companies even consider hearing aids as a cosmetic procedure.  Because of the high costs, many people cannot afford the newer hearing technology, which can cost thousands of dollars per ear.

A member in my hearing loss community who attends the chat on a regular basis brought up the Lions Club during our conversation.  Among their many programs, they provide high-quality, low cost hearing aids for people who are less fortunate through their Affordable Hearing Aid Project (AHAP). 

Discuss and share organizations that can help individuals who simply can’t afford the costs associated with hearing problems.

www.OpenChatNight.com

PS. I will be creating a forum for people to discuss the Lions Club AHAP program.

When I started the chat room a year ago, I didn’t know what to expect and wondered if people would be interested in coming.  During the very first night, a nice group of people joined and from there on, I have had regulars and newcomers attending the chat on a weekly basis.  People have shared their experiences, discussed many different topics and helped answer questions and give support.

My goals for this year are to add a second Open Chat Night and have events that will include professionals and representatives to answer questions and offer guidance.

I am working hard on the chat room and seeing positive results, and I just can’t thank all of you enough for joining in and helping everyone.

Here’s to a great second year!

www.OpenChatNight.com

Last Monday, I had dinner with a few friends in the HLAA chapter group.  One of our conversations was about when we learned sign language.  My hearing is close to normal by wearing hearing aids so I didn’t find the need to learn sign language to communicate with others.  My hearing impaired teachers tried to teach me signs at the age of three but I refused to learn.  More than likely I would have been forced to learn ASL if I had been surrounded by others with hearing loss.  As I have mentioned in the past, I was the only kid in the entire school who wore hearing aids.

I recently attended several events with people who are deaf, and it is very difficult to communicate with them.  In the near future, I would like to take classes to learn basic signs so I can easily interact with others who can’t hear.  Share your experiences and at what age you started learning sign language.

www.OpenChatNight.com

People with hearing loss go through various experiences in their lives.  During the past year, I have learned more how modern technology such as Cochlear Implants altered many lives.  Some of those in the chat room describe it as a life altering experience that got them out of their comfort zone.  Other people in the forum have talked how closed captioning on television and open captions at the movies minimize the barriers to enjoy these forms of entertainment.  That itself was a life changing experience.

As a web designer, I created a Website and establish a social network for people with hearing loss.  I am able to make new friends and connect with others with hearing loss using the Internet and my design skills.  It made me realize I’m not alone in this world and that we all have similar traits.  I feel good about myself while helping others.  This has been the turning point in my life after being isolated in the hearing world for so many years.

Let’s all describe a turning point and how it has changed our lives.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Many of you already know I have been taking steps to get out of my comfort zone.  I have made some progress to stretch those limits, but I’m still having this fear holding me back from adding more adventure and excitement to my life.  For instance, I found a place where they have social events for new people to meet in the Milwaukee area.  For the past month I have been trying to convince myself to attend one of those events but just can’t get myself to do it.  Some of those events take place at a bar and I know lots of people there will be talking, and so I’m afraid of not being able to hear what people say because of the background noise.  That itself won’t ease my shyness and put forth an outgoing personality.  I have rarely hung out with friends during my life, don’t go to bars and have only been to a couple of parties.  When an opportunity comes, I feel that it’s a place where I truly don’t belong.  I want to change myself to be more outgoing but my expectations are either too high or too low.  Progress is slow sometimes!

I’ve heard from others in the hearing loss community dealing with similar situations.  Share your experiences or thoughts on how to break out of your comfort zone.  I think it will help all of us try something new no matter how challenging it can be.

www.OpenChatNight.com

We had an interesting conversation in last week’s Open Chat Night.  A member was scheduled to get Cochlear Implants and wanted to know the experiences of others who have gone through the process.  We had a couple other implant users share their story from surgery to activation.  It’s really amazing how this type of technology is helping people in our generation.

I think it’s great that users are coming to our chat on Wednesday nights to discuss their experiences with this great technology.  Tomorrow night, stop by and share your journey into the world of sound!  This will be helpful for those who are considering or planning to get the Implants.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Please take a moment to answer my poll (top left column on my blog).  I would like to know what night works best for you.  I also welcome any feedback or suggestions on this idea.

Once again, this week’s Open Chat Night (June 30th) will be for all regulars to get caught up (newcomers are also welcome).  All past topics will be open for discussion.  Click here for all past topics.

Thank you all for being a part of this wonderful group!

www.OpenChatNight.com

Hearing aids are very expensive.  The digital hearing aids I have been wearing for the past 10 years (BTE and ITC) have cost thousands of dollars.  When paying so much, taking good care of the aids is a must.

Last weekend I was at the HLAA convention’s exhibit hall and stopped by a booth for Dry & Store.  I became interested in this product after a leader of the HLAA chapter group recommended it.  I learned that lots of moisture and germs can enter the aids while wearing them, which can cause damage to the aids and potentially create ear infections and itching in the ears.  Dry & Store Conditioning System is an electrical appliance that helps to reduce the risks.  You simply place your hearing aids in an enclosed box for 8 hours to sanitize them.  I have purchased one for myself.

Share products you use to ensure that your hearing aids will last longer.  For all of you wearing hearing aids, how long did they last before you had to buy new ones?

www.OpenChatNight.com

I went to the HLAA chapter meeting on Thursday, and one of the topics discussed was about identity.  I would like to learn more about deaf culture and identity.  For instance, some deaf people refuse to get cochlear implant even though it will help them hear.  They have their own set of ideals on what they strongly believe.  I’m not very familiar and would like to hear other people’s views on this subject.

While growing up, I wasn’t surrounded by people with hearing loss to help me understand the deaf culture.  I pretty much accepted myself as being a part of the hearing world.  It was only because I had mild to moderate hearing loss.  The hearing aids helped me hear almost normal but I faced many challenges and obstacles down the road.

Describe how you develop your identity and where you consider yourself in this world.

www.OpenChatNight.com