www.newhampshireaudiology.org http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Communicating with the Deaf http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2012/02/13/communicating-with-the-deaf/ http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2012/02/13/communicating-with-the-deaf/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/?p=13 Anyone will tell you that one of the best ways to communicate with the deaf and the severely hard of hearing is through sign language, but what if you don’t know how to sign? Sure there are plenty of books and online guides you can get on signing through your Long Island T1 internet service and the like, but if you are pressed for time or just simply don’t have the patience to learn this new language there are a few tips we can offer for when you attempt to communicate with the deaf.

For starters, you need to be polite. Just because these people cannot hear you does not mean they aren’t human beings like you and me with thoughts and feelings. This means no shouting and, when you do try to speak with them, you make full eye contact with them so they can see your lips move. Many people who are hard of hearing have learned to read lips and sometimes all you need to do is speak calmly and slowly. Gestures and visual aids are fine too.

Remember that when you are speaking to a deaf person, you really are speaking to essentially a regular person – they just don’t communicate the same way as you. Keep this in mind. One of the best ways to establish communication with someone is to approach them as an equal.

]]> http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2012/02/13/communicating-with-the-deaf/feed/ 0 How To Communicate With Someone Who Has Hearing Loss http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/10/how-to-communicate-with-someone-who-has-hearing-loss/ http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/10/how-to-communicate-with-someone-who-has-hearing-loss/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/&p=11 Communicating with someone who has hearing loss can be quite a task if you do not know how to go about it. This is so as people with this condition can hear very little or nothing at all hence the need for special attention.

People with hearing loss can be communicated with via sign language. This is most applicable to those that have completely lost their hearing. Sign language takes time to learn and you need dedication.

Use of more visual aids than words is better. Use of photos and pictures will make the communication more effective and less devastating. Speech cues can be incorporated where visual aids are missing. You can use related words in the same sentence to enable the person understand better and faster.

Hearing aids are far much better than the other options. Telephones with special speakers, door bells with lights and infrared devices from transmitting sound from media will help these people hear better.

You should avoid talking to those with hearing loss in a noisy place as this will only lead to frustration. Ensure that you communicate with these people while you are in the same room and also in a normal, understandable rate.

]]> http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/10/how-to-communicate-with-someone-who-has-hearing-loss/feed/ 0 Learning To Communicate Well With Your Hearing Loss http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/06/learning-to-communicate-well-with-your-hearing-loss/ http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/06/learning-to-communicate-well-with-your-hearing-loss/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/&p=10 If a hearing loss is new to you then you will have to learn some tips to cope with the loss. After all you do not want to miss out on life because of your lack of hearing. A hearing loss can come about in many different forms and it will be up to your hearing specialist to determine just what kind of hearing loss you have. This will determine on what kind of treatment plan will be set up for you specifically. Your condition can be something simple or more complex.

In cases of a hearing loss where there is no cure your doctor may recommend a hearing aide and there are numerous styles to fit your preferences and needs. You will have to consider things around the home to help enhance your hearing such as an amplifier being attached to your telephone so that you can hear conversations appropriately. You may want to also attach an amplifier to your front doorbell. Many times a speech therapist is helpful as they can teach you how to produce and interpret sounds.

One thing is certain, when one loses their ability to hear they become more attuned to their other senses.

]]> http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/06/learning-to-communicate-well-with-your-hearing-loss/feed/ 0 Second Hand Smoke Is Now Linked To Hearing Loss http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/03/second-hand-smoke-is-now-linked-to-hearing-loss/ http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/03/second-hand-smoke-is-now-linked-to-hearing-loss/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/&p=9 A recent study suggests that secondhand smoke can damage the development of hearing in children which can lead to hearing loss when they reach their teen years.

In the United States, it is estimated that around 60 of children are exposed to secondhand smoke. They are at a higher risk for developing health problems such as respiratory infections, ear infections and behavioral difficulties.

Reportedly, around 1500 teens took part in the study. They were asked questions about being exposed to secondhand smoke and about their medical history. They were also asked if the had developed a hearing problem.

The teens that took part in the study were given hearing tests and physicals. Also, they were giving blood tests to determine if the teens had been exposed to cotinine, which is a side effect of nicotine exposure.

The study did reveal that teens who had been exposed to secondhand smoke, showed higher rates of some degree of hearing loss than those who had not been exposed. It also showed that the level of hearing loss depended on the how much exposure they had to cotinine.

However, the study also found that the vast majority of teens were not aware they had a hearing loss problem.

]]> http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/03/second-hand-smoke-is-now-linked-to-hearing-loss/feed/ 0 Using Stem Cells To Cure Deafness: Does It Work? http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/02/using-stem-cells-to-cure-deafness-does-it-work/ http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/2011/10/02/using-stem-cells-to-cure-deafness-does-it-work/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.newhampshireaudiology.org/&p=8 Curing deafness has confounded scientists for many years. In an attempt to counter misfortunes, they invented hearing aids with hopes of temporarily curing deafness until a permanent cure was discovered. Well, that time has come. Countless researchers and scientists are suggesting that deafness can indeed be cured with stem cells.

In the early stages of researching and testing, they managed to create sensory hair cells and neurons, which are important for hearing. Through further testing, they suspect the path they are on is bound to create cells that are fully functional.I found some more information here. Moreover, these fully functional cells could serve as the primary components in hearing loss treatments.

All in all, researchers and scientists believe the cure treatment for deafness is only 10 years away from being implemented in today’s society. In addition to this major breakthrough, they both agree the cells used in deafness treatments could also help with studying the various causes of deafness and testing newer and better drugs.

Assuredly, once scientists discover the right formula for delivering and connecting cells to the inner ear, the cure for deafness can then be accredited to stem cells. Hopefully, this incredible breakthrough for deafness can come at a date before 10 years.

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