I'm feeling quite angry! At least 1 in 6 of adults have a problem with hearing (though many won't admit it) and 1 in 3 over 60. Hearing loss is the third most common health condition behind arthritis and hypwertension. For most people, losing hearing is a matter of "when" not "if". Hearing loss affects all age-groups, indeed the Better Hearing Institute says that 65% of the hearing-impaired are younger than 65.
My right ear went dead one day; 'nerve damage' they said 'probably a virus, nothing can be done. We see a number of people each year who this has happened to'. So it could be you next!
Yes, I wear the latest hearing system and have no difficulty conversing with friends. But if they are talking across me rather than to me it is more difficult. If there is background noise it becomes impossible.
If people talk with a microphone, especially if there is a working loop system, that's great; - as long as they speak clearly to the microphone, without mumbling or turning away to make a joke!
There is still a good deal of ignorance around this subject and prejudice too, with, it often seems, an assumption that if I am having difficulty in participating it is my fault, or I don't have anything useful to say.
I once sent a cheque to the Treasurer of a large Church towards the cost of having a microphone and portable loop system for the Church hall and meeting rooms where people without hearing loss had had problems at a General Meeting. The Treasurer thanked me and then added 'it is my understanding that there is a loop-system in the Church already, so would you like me to put your contribution elsewhere?' All that was needed it seemed was a system which helped the poor old deaf ones hear the sermon!
Attending a policy meeting the Committee soon got tired of me asking for things to be repeated. The Chair suggested I email my ideas in future and he would transmit them. Frustration all round!
When effort and money go into making locations accessible for wheel chair users and people with mobility problems, why can't a little money be spent on having microphones and portable hearing systems in meeting rooms and halls?
Perhaps this equipment should be available for borrowing from say local libraries, Churches and meeting places
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