Hearing Loss Myths

Hearing Loss affects only old people and is merely a sign of aging.
Only 35% of people with hearing loss are older than age 64
There are close to six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44
with hearing loss, and more than one million are school age
Hearing loss affects all age group
Types of Groups
Primary groups are an important part of your self concept
Secondary groups are planned, time limited association , a prescribed
structure, a designated leader, and a specific, identified purpose
People join secondary groups to meet personally established goals, to
develop more effective coping skills, or because it was required by the larger
community system to which the individual belongs
Group Dynamics
Group Dynamics- represent a complex blend of individual and group
characteristics that interact with each other to achieve a group purpose
Group Dynamics- Communication variables, clarifying, reflecting, linking,
paraphrasing, summarizing
Member variables- motivation, functional similarity, previous experiences
Group communication is more complex than individual communication
because each member brings than individual communication because each
member brings to the group a different set of perspectives, perception of
reality, communication style, and personal agenda.
The Hearing Imparired
Some clients become so frustrated that they omit needed care
So it can interfere with trust (which you are supposed to establish first when
meeting a client) and the therapeutic relationship, and the delivery of
optimum care
Known as a communication barrier: which can be enhanced by the staffs
inability to empathize, failure to accommodate/ adapt to communication
needs, negative attitude
Strategies

Identify communication needs- It is important to know the age of onset and

the severity of the deficit, Hearing loss that occurs after the development of
speech means that the client has access to word symbols and language skills
Deafness in children can cause developmental delays.
Clues to hearing loss include occur when clients appear unresponsive to
soungs or respond only when the speaker is directly facing them
Instead of guessing what the patient wants or the problems they have find
someone to help them express their needs like an interpreter
Aids include- hearing aids,
Study

BACKGROUND: In group setting background

noise and an obstructed view of the speaker

are just a few of the issues that can make
workplace communication difficult for an
individual who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Accommodation strategies such as
amplification of the speakers voice or the
use of text based alternatives exist to
address these issues. However, recent
studies have shown that there are still
unmet needs related to workplace
communication in group settings for
individuals who are deaf or hard hearing.
OBJECTIVE: Identify the most common
strategies used by individuals deaf or hard
of hearing to improve communication in
group settings and perceive effectiveness
RESULTS: Those who used an interpreter
demonstrated a strong preference for having
a qualified interpreter present in the

meeting rather than an interpreter acting

remotely.
CONCLUSIONS: A more accessible
workplace for individuals who are deaf or
hard of hearing would incorporate more
ubiquitous text based strategy options.
Also, qualified interpreter, when used,
should be present in the meeting for
maximum effectiveness.