A new sound system!
Today I had a meeting with a lady named Geraldine in NAD ( National association of the Deaf) I was referred to her by my access officer in college when I was inquiring about a note taker or even an interpreter or lipspeaker, so in I went and met her so she could assess my needs.
She was lovely, and we talked about my histor in my deafness, college and everything that is affecting me, then she asked about my hearing aids, ofwhich im getting my new Bilateral ones next month. She apparently has an inductive loop system on reserve for me, which im thrilled about because they are not cheap! so as soon as I get my aids, its mine to use and keep while im in college! YEAY! 
She asked my permission to get on to my audiologist to find out more on the technical side of things and I said go right ahead! She said if needed they will refer me to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for futher tests as to why my hearing is deteoriating as Im so young, which is good as I was just willing to accept fate!! but she told me thats never an option and that there are far more things to be done before we just give up!! Fair enough!
So then she brought out a few systems for me to try, plug in headphones and up the sound goes!! its a mic mini system and its not bad!! not excellent either but thats what she had to offer for now! So I took it, at least its somewhat discrete it just looks like a walkman I leave on my desk and it acts using a Micraphone and I hear things louder! but tons of bacground noise too!! But I tried a load of them and took the best one for me!!
If I still need an assistant I was told to get back on to my Acess officer so we will see how I get on, and when I get my aids.
The only thing that worries me is, my audiologist tells me one thing and my specialist tells me another!! and im afraid they will thing, oh she is grand!! nothing to worry about, and I really am Dying when it comes to college!! But at least now the wheels are turning and questions are being asked and that can only be a good thing……right??!!
January 31st, 2006 at 6:40 pm
This is very good news Lette
Sounds as if you’ve got a lot of people on your side now, and even talking to each other (often that’s the really hard part). And if the NAD person can loan you appropriate gadgets, well, that’s all going to help too. I’m really pleased for you!
February 1st, 2006 at 7:03 pm
NAD lady sounds good and willing to work on things as and when you need it. Sometimes things don’t work out well and more playing/fiddling/experimentation is needed.
I’m glad she wants to find out why you are losing hearing. Not investigating that or wanting to find out is shocking!
As for audiologists, specialists and everyone saying different things - sadly I think that is normal. Sometimes you have to take what you believe to be the most sensible information and discard the rest.
It may take time to get all the help you need working properly, but once you do things should be a lot easier. I believe everyone should be told that education/life/etc is not a race and it is better to do something slightly more slowly (over more time) than to do it in ‘normal’ time and regret it. I took several years out at various times in my education either to get support sorted, or get my health sorted. I wouldn’t have got a 2:1 in my degree if I had tried to do my final year with my shoulders before investigation and treatment. I also enjoyed my final year more because I wasn’t worried about health. If you need to retake a semester, or have extra time ask for it because the worst anyone can say is ‘no’ and then they are forced to offer you something else instead.
I also did a lot of the legwork in my second degree for the help I needed. I went round individual tutors and asked for a 30 min tutorial to discuss my needs and issues and the courses that I would be taking with them. I found many of the tutors appreciated the time to ask me as many questions as I asked them. They often had realistic concerns and didn’t know how best to politely phrase them. I made a big point of saying that I would not offense at anything they asked, and would not be upset if it was something I didn’t want to answer. I think this helped a lot as many people got tongue-tied as to how to ask perfectly reasonable, but persoanl questions.
February 1st, 2006 at 7:16 pm
yeah, i have to say in college the tutors are great in the sence that we are always talking and discussing our work everyday with the tutors so what ever needs to be adressed in the learning sence is sorted, but the medical thingy is different, and somewhat new to me, I thought the hearing aids was all there was to it but now they are looking for more choices which i suppose is great, but…. at the same time, I just want it all to end! I hate the ongoing fussing! but it has to be done!
February 2nd, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Lette, I’m so happy that you’re getting the assistance that you need and that you have people pushing to learn more about your hearing loss. *HUG* It sounds like you’re in a fabulous environment full of people that really want to see you succeed.
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:36 pm
yup, hopefully anyhow, its going that way right now!! long may it last!