Opening Topic for Open Chat Night: Adapting to new technologies

A member of our Wednesday’s chat described his experience with getting new hearing aids, and I thought it would be good for members to discuss their own experiences with new technologies. 

As we all try something new in our lives, it takes some time to adjust.  It will soon be five years since I got my first in-the-canal digital hearing aids.  I was overwhelmed by the new sounds for the first month, and I remember being surprised at the clarity and depth of sounds.  I had to make several trips to the audiologist to have my hearing aids’ settings adjusted to more comfortable levels.

Share your own experience with new hearing aid or Cochlear Implant technology, or any other technology that has had an impact on your life.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  Early memories after discovering your hearing loss

I’m sure each of us has memories from the days following discovery of hearing loss.  Moments in time that will forever be carried with us.

For me, one of those moments was when I attended hearing impaired classes in elementary school.  Every morning I would arrive early to school, put on a box with a transmitter and receiver, and then play with the school-supplied building blocks.  The memory is so vivid that I can still see the sun rising up as I would stack the blocks as high as possible before watching them come tumbling down.  It was such a special moment in my life as my journey started in the hearing loss world.

I believe my story is the perfect metaphor for how hard I’ve been working to stand tall and never give up, even when it seems everything is tumbling down around me.

Join us on Wednesday night to share unforgettable moments!

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening topic for Open Chat Night:  Taking on a greater responsibility

We had our first Walk4Hearing fundraising event in Milwaukee on May 16th, 2010.  I was in charge of coordinating the field volunteers.  This is the very first time I’ve taken the role of being a coordinator at an event and I found it to be a very challenging and rewarding experience.  I felt good about myself for taking on a new responsibility and getting involved in the community.  It was a real learning experience and next time I will be an expert!

Describe any new responsibility you have taken and share your experiences.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  Increase awareness for people with hearing loss

We all know there isn’t much awareness about the hearing loss community.  The last time I’ve seen a national televised commercial with a deaf person was during the Christmas season for Kay’s Jewelry.  It was about a guy giving jewelry as a Christmas gift to a deaf lady.  Since then, I really haven’t seen anything about hearing loss.  This type of awareness comes once in a blue moon.

So, I’m glad I started this group and got more involved at the Milwaukee Walk4Hearing.  I want to help bring more awareness about us.  Many of us have experienced different issues with people in the hearing world.  I think bringing awareness will help the deaf and hearing world understand each other in different situations.

Let’s share our ideas and any efforts you have taken to increase awareness for people with hearing loss.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  How can we educate our co-workers?

We had an interesting conversation last week for dealing with co-workers on the job.  A question was asked how we can educate and inform our co-workers about hearing loss?  This will be a good topic to continue because everyone has unique experiences working in different fields.

As for me, I don’t have much problem communicating with co-workers since my hearing loss is mild, but there are times when people will come up to me and speak very softly.  That becomes a problem in a cubical environment because other people are in the same room.  Many would not want to be distracted.  Even though it can get very frustrating, I just ask them to repeat themselves and often times I ask more than once.  They usually know I have hearing loss by seeing my hearing aids, so I don’t have to explain that I have trouble hearing sometimes.

Share your experiences in the workplace and how you get along with your co-workers.  What are the positive and negative impacts.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  Share your feedback and ideas

Open Chat Night has been a success for nine months.  Many great people from all over the country have come to the chat on Wednesday nights to share their experiences and discuss various topics.  This has become a social network to connect and help others in the hearing loss community.

As I continue to come up with topics for Wednesday nights, I’m also working on events that will benefit all of us in the community.  One of those plans is to invite audiologists to attend so they can give advice and answer any questions.  Also, I’ve had lots of members wanting to find out more information about cochlear implants, and so I will be pursuing a representative from Cochlear.  Lastly, I will search for licensed psychologists who are willing to donate their time.

These are my future goals for Open Chat Night during the coming months.  Please keep me informed if you know anybody who can help us or if you have other suggestions for topics or events.

I know many people have a conflict on Wednesday nights and are unable to attend.  Down the road, I will plan a special time on a different day for the people who couldn’t attend our weekly chats.  Let me know if you are one of these people.

www.OpenChatNight.com

It has been two years since I started this hearing loss community, and throughout this time I have connected with many great people from all over the country.  Additionally, the hearing loss community became a natural gateway for getting me involved with the hearing loss chapter group here in Milwaukee.  The group belongs to the HLAA organization (Hearing Loss Association of America).

My chapter group is planning the Walk4Hearing event at the lakefront in Milwaukee on May 16th, 2010, and this will be the first time the walk takes place in Milwaukee.  The mission of the walk is to increase awareness about the causes and consequences of hearing loss and raise funds to provide information and support for those with hearing loss.

I have created a team named ‘Chat’n Walk’ for the Walk4Hearing event, which is a name I chose because of Open Chat Night.  Here’s the link to my team’s page: http://hlaa.convio.net/goto/senthil

I am reaching out to you for help in donating money, no matter the amount, to this great cause.  Here is information on donations:

• A minimum pledge of $15 is accepted online at the link above, or
• You can mail a check to me, in any amount you wish, made out to the Walk4Hearing.  I will send my address and pledge sheet to anyone wishing to use this option.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for everything!

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  How do you perceive your hearing loss?

A question was asked in the forum whether anyone thinks of their hearing loss as a disability.  A member in my group told that she can do anything a hearing person does except for hear perfectly.  That’s how I view myself.

I have always thought the words hearing loss and disability were two different things.  Let’s open this question and share perspectives on how you perceive your hearing loss.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening Topic for Open Chat Night:  How hearing loss has affected your self-conscious

I was truly inspired by a posting in Facebook.  A 14-year old kid posted this in my forum:  Have you ever felt the need to hide your hearing impairment from the hearing world?  Please take your time to read this posting and share your thoughts.

I had always felt the need to hide my hearing aids and hearing loss while growing up.  For many years I wore behind-the-ear hearing aids and kept my hair long to cover them.  I was very sensitive and uncomfortable about it, and did whatever was necessary to hide.  For more, I have written a blog on this subject to share with my readers.

www.OpenChatNight.com

Opening topic for Open Chat Night:  Share experiences with audiologists

Several weeks ago one of the members mentioned that her audiologist was more like a sister than anything else.  All of us with hearing loss have seen an audiologist so I thought it would be a good topic to share our experiences.

I had several different audiologists while growing up, but I really liked the one I used during my college years.  She was very helpful and provided the best information regarding hearing aids.  That was a crucial time because I was getting support from DVR (Divisional Vocational of Rehabilitation) to get hearing aids and other services while I was a student.  She worked directly with the program to make sure I received the best hearing aids and she was very patient and took the time to answer all of my questions.  Unfortunately, she got a job offer in another state when I graduated and I was unable to see her again.

Describe your experiences with audiologists, whether good or bad.  In the near future I will be inviting one or more audiologist to join Open Chat Night to answer our questions.

www.OpenChatNight.com