The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that “approximately one in three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.” It can be hard to care for someone who has experienced hearing loss, and sometimes it can be frustrating to communicate. We asked Dr. Kelly Breese the owner of Hearing Aids of Sarasota and Certified Audiologist for tips for those who communicate with people with hearing loss.
Dr. Breese’s Ten Commandments for Assisting Those Who Have Difficulty Hearing
- Thou shalt not speak from another room.
- Thou shalt not speak with your back toward the person with a hearing problem (or their back toward you).
- Thou shalt not start speaking and then walk away.
- Thou shalt not start speaking and turn away from the person with a hearing problem.
- Thou shalt not speak in competition with something else (turn off the water or turn down the radio/tv, etc).
- Thou shalt get the attention of the person with the hearing problem by saying his/her name (do not start speaking while they are reading or are concentrating on the tv, etc).
- Thou shalt try to speak face-to-face at all times.
- Thou shalt try to remove obstruction while speaking (your hand from your face, the cigarette from your mouth, etc).
- Thou shalt try to speak distinctly and slowly.
- Thou shalt try to be patient.
GIVING BACK
In addition to her commitment to helping her patients, Dr. Breese volunteers her time to help the National Hearing Aid Project. The National Hearing Aid Project is a unique model and a one-of-a-kind collaboration. It addresses the fact that the demand for hearing aids among low-income individuals is too great for any one organization to handle alone.
The Project launched on August 1, 2016, and has helped form a network throughout the country that can generate the necessary resources and support to improve the quality of life for those with hearing loss.
The Project brings organizations together to fulfill specific roles in the process of getting hearing aids to those who couldn’t otherwise afford them. Accepting and reviewing applications, refurbishing donated hearing aids, performing hearing health evaluations, and soliciting support and services from others who can support the project—each contribution gets us one step closer to a healthier, hearing world.
Doc Side Audiology, LLC dba Hearing Aids of Sarasota, is happy to be a participant in this worthwhile Project. Additionally, Dr. Kelly is working on setting up her own non-profit utilizing a sliding scale fee, pending income. Call or text Dr. Kelly Breese at 941-366-2240 to learn more!
