Any people with hearing problems out there?

Question

I am partially deaf and work in an office. I often miss out on what's going on around the office as I don't hear what's going on. I have mentioned this to my manager as well as HR - this is important work related issues as well as social events - but we've not been able to come up with a solution. Unless someone specifically comes up and mentions it to me, if I've got my head down, I don't hear.

Does anyone else have this problem and if so, how do they deal with it?

Thanks

Thanks to all the sarcastic answerers. I have already had my hearing checked. I wear two hearing aids.

It's no wonder that deaf people have so many problems when they have people like the first few answerers to deal with.

Answer 1

The hearing aid loop system mentioned above is a great idea.

If you know any sign language, you could also get an interpreter to come for the main important things so you are not left behind.

If you don't sign...

What is THE BEST way to communicate with you? That's what THEY need to know.

Do you fare better when they are standing in front of you?

Do you fare better when they tap you first?

How far away can you hear them from?

Can they raise their hands during group discussions so you know where to follow the next conversation?

This might sound silly, but could you put a sign on your desk/cubicle to remind them?

You and your supervisor could write all these things down, discuss them, and perhaps have a little meeting or workshop for all the staff that you work closely with.

You could then explain to them all at once about your type of hearing loss, and the best ways to communicate with you.

Let them know also that you are not ignoring them, but just need a tap on the shoulder, or however you prefer for people to get your attention.

Perhaps you could even start the meeting/workshop out with a fun game, maybe with earplugs, so they can see that just because you can still 'hear', that it's not necessarily CLEAR.

Hope this helps!

Don't worry about the wankers who gave ridiculous responses. Maybe one day the lord will take their hearing for 36 hours and see how well they fare.

Good luck! :-)

Answer 2

I understand completely. I wore a hearing aid all my teen yrs and then I had an ear operation so now I can hear most things without wearing aids but I too still miss out on hearing things.

If you are employed in a permanent position then you should speak up and tell management what's going on. You have equal rights with other employees so ask management to put things in writing and not have instructions given verbally. If you are required to know about work issues then you should be told face to face. It's only good manners.

I don't work now but I do mix with my friends on days we have craft. If I'm not in the same room I fail to hear a lot but my friends usually tell me later if it's important for me to know.

Hearing problems are a hidden handicap and the new hearing aids these days are virtually invisable. I wore hearing aids that had a cord attached to them when I was 12. I hated it and have always wished I had the aids that are available today.

Having the operation was the best thing that I've done in my life. But I never forget the rudeness and unthoughtfulness of some hearing people who just don't understand and often are very ignorant.

good luck

Answer 3

Well I am retired now and use a hearing aid. My hearing was a bit better when I was at work than what it is now.. Perhaps I was fortunate as most of my work comprised of loading data from paper onto computer programmes so hearing was not a prime factor in doing my job. I used the phone quite a bit but could hear pretty well with my left ear, the right one was useless.I had difficulty with group conversation ,one to ones were not too bad.All in all it did not affect my work all that much. Would not be able to do it now though. Have been retired for 16 years.

Answer 4

The manager of your department needs to institute a policy that e-mail is used to document the work related issues to social events. It should be sent to all relative team members. Work stuff ought to be documented just to CYA. Anyway, the HR person should help you see that this is accomplished.

In the meantime, check with your supervisor 2 or 3 times a day. Remind him/her of your hearing deficit and tell him/her that you are checking in to make sure you haven't missed any work-related issues.

Answer 5

I understand your problem as I'm also hearing impaired. I'm not sure exactly what solution or combination of them will work for you. I worked in a family bookstore. My dad always made a point of getting me caught up on the news every couple of hours while we were working. He would also leave me written lists of the important things. When dad wanted to talk to me, he always tapped me on the shoulder first. That way I knew to pay attention.

If important notices could be followed by email, then it could help as well.

btw, if I got a nickel for everytime an idiot said "what?" after being informed that I was hearing impaired, I would have been a millionaire by age 10.

Answer 6

Would a loop system help?
I had a colleague who was profoundly deaf and our office went to a lot of trouble to make sure that he was still able to work. I used to take phone calls for him and while he talked to the caller on his own microphone, I signed and repeated the responses to him so that he could lip read me too. He also had a texting machine.
Maybe your office supervisor could approach the local friendly neighbourhood Social Worker specialising in working with people with hearing problems & he/she could come up with some aids and adaptations which would make things easier for you and your colleagues.

Answer 7

Deafness is something other people don't really deal with very well because it's not a visible thing and some people find it embarassing or don't know how to communicate. it's hard when you can't hear people, and can be annoying for you as well as them, because you feel stupid and they might get tired of repeating things to you and leave you out of conversations.

if you make people aware of your hearing problems you could give them some ways to include you more and communicate with you better, such as facing you when they speak, not covering their mouth or face when they speak, speaking clearly and not mumbling. once people get used to it, it should be fine.

you could always ask if you could have your desk moved to a more central place in the office where you can hear people better. can you lipread? if you can't, you could take classes to learn how to do this as it helps alot. Good luck xxx

PS. don't listen to the stupid sarcastic comments you've got, i get that too. they don't understand how it feels! :-)

Answer 8

My other half has hearing difficulties.He obtained state of the art hidden hearing appliances through a govt backed scheme "access to work"---contact your job centre plus.Because he was already in work he had to pay part of the cost.They offer advice and arrange for grants and adaptations for the workplace.Perhaps yours needs a loop system to help you from missing out.I am sorry about your difficulties.Keep reminding everyone to communicate with you visually as well as orally--they will eventually get used to it.They are bound by law not to discriminate against you.

Answer 9

Oh my Goodness! I can't believe those people who answered like that ...what could you expect from people who make fun of their own ? ..Well...I'm experiencing a hearing problem on my right ear a few months now...and it's already really annoying...although I'm not even partial deaf..I can imagine how you feel though ;) Just make sure everyone is aware of your problem..if they don't respect that,then don't even bother :) take care dear :)

Answer 10

I have about 50 percent hearing loss, plus Tinnitus. I can't hear you unless I am looking right at you, very close, telephones and TV is useless, I am getting hearing aids tomorrow, I already had some but my hearing got worse and now I am getting stronger ones. Hope they work, I miss the conversation too.