Archive for FM System

How to Annoy Normal Hearing People

{ September 13, 2007 @ 1:42 am } · { FM System, bluetooth, cell phone, deaf, deafness, hard of hearing, hearing aids, hearing impaired, hearing loss }
{ } · { Comments (5) }

I push the shopping cart through the aisles in the grocery store, and notice a woman giving me a quizzical glance. Maybe she recognizes me from the Local Government Building, I think to myself, and continue my trek to the cookie aisle, lured by Mrs. Field’s finest semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies. As I giddily reach my destination, several people turn to look at me, with the same quizzical expression on their faces. Aha - now I get it! My cell phone must be playing the Macarena. I check it, and sure enough, Super Hearing Boy is calling his Mama!

I’m truly perplexed by my cell phone. It’s hearing aid compatible, and I use it daily with my T-switch or Bluetooth it with my SmartLink and hearing aids. It is set to the loudest factory-installed ringtone, yet I can’t hear it ring most of the time. This past week, I have been fruitlessly trying to create a suitable ringtone using my piano keyboard, Anvil Studio, and MyxerTones. I’ve read blogs and forum posts devoted to the LG VX8300 promising ringtones without a hitch, and have been able to successfully create several. I’ve converted MIDI files to wav, MIDI to MP3s, and wav to MP3s. Unfortunately, only Super Hearing Boy can hear my creations.

As I previously posted, I don’t wear my hearing aids when I’m not actively listening to someone. As I write this, I see that I missed a call about an hour ago - and my phone was two feet from my ears! Does ANYONE know of a loud ringtone suitable for hard of hearing people? Please don’t suggest that I set it to vibrate and attach it to my waistband - that’s not gonna happen!

Thanks!

Cindy (Deaf person with a cell phone)

That’s Not in my Job Description!

{ August 23, 2007 @ 5:57 pm } · { FM System, Local Government Building, amplifier, deafness, hard of hearing, hearing impaired }
{ } · { Comments (4) }

Sometimes I use a small amplifier called a SmartLink that works in conjunction with my hearing aids. It’s about half the size of a deck of cards and needs to be plugged into or placed near the source of sound to be effective. At work, the SmartLink sits unobtrusively on my desk, covertly amplifying my customers. If I need to walk my customers to a different location, I nonchalantly carry it with me. Customers that speak during our short walk suddenly get their personal space invaded by this shiny, silver device just inches from their lips.The three most common reactions are:

Gratitude - “Oh, thank you! I really need a nice mp3 player!”

Or  

Suspicion - “Why are you taking my picture?”

Or  

Hostility - “I don’t want to be recorded!”

I quickly became used to saying, “This device helps me hear you - it works with my hearing aids.“ People accept this explanation most graciously, and all is right with the world. But one day I was surprised with a completely new reaction that had never happened before or since:

The Local Government Building was deathly quiet (at least to me). A woman leisurely ambles up to my desk and requests assistance. My SmartLink was in the usual hiding place, but wasn’t amplifying her soft voice. I pick it up and point it toward her. Before I could blink my eyes, a deafening primal scream escapes her mouth and she flies backwards ten feet.

She hollers, “DON’T TASER ME! DON’T TASER ME!”

“What?!”

“I didn’t do anything! I swear! Please don’t taser me!”  

“Ma’am, I’m here to HELP you, not HURT you!”

Who knew adaptive equipment could be so entertaining!