Make life easier for those suffering from hearing loss
As people move through the activities of daily living at home, at work, and in social or business situations, basic auditory abilities take on functional significance. Audition makes it possible to detect and recognize meaningful environmental sounds, to identify the source and location of a sound, and, most importantly, to perceive and understand spoken language.
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The ability of an individual to carry out auditory tasks in the real world is influenced not only by his or her hearing abilities, but also by a multitude of situational factors, such as background noise, competing signals, room acoustics, and familiarity with the situation. Such factors are important regardless of whether one has a hearing loss, but the effects are magnified when hearing is impaired.
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For example, when an individual with normal hearing engages in conversation in a quiet, well-lit setting, visual information from the speaker's face, along with situational cues and linguistic context, can make communication quite effortless. In contrast, in a noisy environment, with poor lighting and limited visual cues, it may be much more difficult to carry on a conversation or to give and receive information. A person with hearing loss may be able to function very well in the former situation but may not be able to communicate at all in the latter.
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In this chapter we examine what is known about the impact of hearing loss on adults as they function in daily life; the impact of hearing loss in the workplace; the effectiveness of sensory aids, prosthetic devices, and assistive devices; and the implications and challenges for disability determination.
Home Safety Tips for People with Hearing deficiency
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Install Hearing-Loss Friendly Alarms
Smoke and carbon gas detectors with visual alert, such as a flashing light or that vibrate.
Keep a phone in your bedroom so you can call for help if needed
Telephone model with text-to-speech capabilities so that you can read incoming texts or calls.
Have an emergency plan in place.
Set family, friends and emergency service phone numbers on speed dial.
Get acquainted with your neighbours so they can check on you
In addition, be sure to exchange contact information with your neighbours.
Hearing aids can be a lifesaver in an emergency
In addition, be sure to wear your hearing aids at all times.
Security alarms with visual alert, such as a flashing light or vibrate, can be especially helpful.
Also, be sure to keep your doors and windows locked at all times.