Do you have a special someone in your life that is hard for you to hear? A mumbler, a low-talker or someone with a breathy voice? You are not alone. For better or worse, I sometimes avoid people I cannot hear well. In fact, it is usually mutual since neither of us is enjoying the conversation much.
But sometimes people are too important to let drift away — your parents, your siblings, your life-long friends, your children, your spouse — or even your boss at work. This poem is for them.
I recently had the opportunity to speak as part of a training module on accessibility to the front of house staff at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall and Alice Tully Hall. It is wonderful when influential cultural institutions take a leadership role in promoting the importance of accessibility to their employees. I was pleased to be a part of the presentation, and to highlight hearing loss as an accessibility issue for the ushers.
I share the text of my remarks below.
I am a big believer in letting people know about my hearing loss right up front. I try to announce my loss at the start of group meetings, inform tour guides and instructors before a talk, and mention it to doctors at the start of an appointment. But the right words to use to communicate my hearing loss to others has always stumped me.
Traveling when you have hearing loss can be challenging, but that’s no reason to miss out on discovering new locales. Follow these tips to have a safe and rewarding adventure.
It’s that time of year again — Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) annual Walk4Hearing in New York City! This will be my third year walking. Like last year, my family and I will also be Walk volunteers, arriving early to help set up and to man the registration tables. It is a great way to get the whole family involved.
Walk4Hearing is one of my favorite advocacy events of the year. To find or support a walk near you, click here.
