If you missed our December 2024 HOPE hearing loss online support meeting, here are the notes and some helpful links. This month, the crew focused on hearing better during the holidays.
For more information on our free, online HOPE program, visit our HOPE page.
Excellent Captioning at McCaw Hall in Seattle
At a Lewis Black performance at McCaw Hall in Seattle, one participant was happy to be able to read the live(!) captioning. It was at the top of the stage, where the opera subtitles usually appear. All words were captioned, and no additional devices were needed. They also had assistive listening devices to check out, but the participant didn’t need them. Other participants expressed appreciation and gratitude, wishing that all venues had these captions.
Captioning Eyeglasses
One participant brought up new caption glasses called AirCaps. You wear these while you’re talking to someone, and their speech will appear in the eyeglasses. She will arrange for a demo and explore grant funding to buy a pair for communal use. February 1, 2025, is the tentative date for the demo.
Other brands of caption glasses are available as well.
- AirCaps Eyeglasses with captioning ($699) Click Here
- Hearsight with Active Look’s ENGO Glasses with captioning ($300+$150/yr) Click Here
- TranscribeGlass Eyeglasses with captioning (Beta) Click Here
- Xander Eyeglasses with captioning ($4,999) Click Here
- Xrai.glass Eyeglasses with captioning ($1,000) Click Here
- Hearview Eyeglasses ($1,999) Click Here
Hearing-Friendly Restaurants in Seattle
A participant mentioned that 13 Coins restaurant by SeaTac Airport is a good place for people with hearing loss. The booths are tall and padded, which dampens the background noise.
Another tip: Go to a restaurant during off-hours, like dinner at 4 pm, when fewer people are there.
Hearing-Friendly Arts in Seattle
One participant mentioned that HLAA-WA and others are working to get more open-captioned movies in Seattle. The Ark Lodge theater is struggling to stay open, but they do open caption shows for you with about 24-hours’ notice. Also, a Facebook group is also sharing open-captioned shows.
A shout-out to the Seattle Rep from one participant, who’s attending an open-captioned show with her daughter.
Challenges Hearing One-on-One
Hearing people who talk quickly, like her nephews, is challenging for one participant. She asks these folks to repeat themselves, speak more slowly, and articulate, but she doesn’t want the “asks” to harm her relationship with others. Other participants echoed the frustration. Suggestions from the group:
- Saying things like, “I really want to understand what you’re telling me. Could you break it down again?”
- Repeating what you did hear and asking if it’s correct.
- Using the sign for “slow, please.” You could say, “You talk really fast, and I miss words, and I really want to connect with you. So I will remind you, with this sign from ASL, to slow down without interrupting you.”
- Asking someone to rephrase, rather than repeat, what they said.
Stress After Storms and Power Outages
After the bomb cyclone in our area last month, one participant was frustrated with a lengthy (5 days!) power outage. Communication accessibility without lights or electricity was challenging, and managers were not responsive to the problem nor understanding about hearing loss issues. Lighting is an accessibility need in order to read speech and see nonverbal communication. Other participants suggested contacting advocacy groups, the ombudsman’s office, and case managers at the ODHH.
Hearing Technologies and Self-Advocacy at Gatherings
A participant shared her success using her microphone, which is attached to a teacher’s pointer. She points it at people who are speaking so she can better understand their speech. It can seem a little intimidating at first, but she thanks them for helping her hear, and usually it works out.
At Thanksgiving, this participant used her microphone as much as she could, but she got fatigued with listening. She gave herself compassion and permission to take breaks. Now, even if she can’t physically leave and take a break, she sits quietly and breathes and relaxes for ten or fifteen minutes. She pops the dot off her cochlear implant processors, and they just dangle briefly, and no one really notices. Doing this helps her recalibrate her nervous system and regain her energy.
In the past, this participant had felt the pain of being lonely and unable to participate, but she’s gotten better at advocating for what she needs. She learned that we have the right to hear, and we have the right to expect friends and families to accommodate us. It’s also ok to ask a friend or family member to advocate for us if we are exhausted or confused.
Another participant shared how she saw people using remote microphones and speech-to-text apps at the HLAA convention this summer. So she’s been experimenting with inexpensive ($30) lavalier microphones, which come in pairs.
Positive Cochlear Implants Story
One participant just received cochlear implants, and it’s been a wonderful experience with her. She’s working on auditory training programs, which is going slowly but still very well. She’s excited.