7 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024
The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s Manitoba chapter hosts support group that help people to deal with hearing loss.
Hearing loss needs to be identified and addressed as early as possible through hearing aids or other assistive devices.
— Jo-anne Jones, president of the Manitoba chapter
One of the aims of the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association is to address the needs of people with hearing loss and make sure their concerns are heard.
Hearing experts say it’s important for individuals to get their hearing tested and to get a hearing aid if one is required.
Hard of Hearing Association continues advocacy efforts
MANITOBA CHAPTER WORKING TO ENSURE PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS HAVE A VOICE
By Jennifer McFee T he local chapter of a national registered charity advocates for the hard of hear- ing to ensure their voices are heard and needs are met. The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s Manitoba chapter speaks out through education, outreach and advocacy efforts. At the same time, the organization aims to address the needs of peo- ple with hearing loss. Its volunteer advocates are well equipped for the work since they’re hard of hearing themselves. “Being hard of hearing is non-visible. A lot of people are getting more used to accepting hearing aids now, but for a long time there was a stigma,” said Jo-anne Jones, president of the Manitoba chapter. “It’s important to get your ears tested and get a hearing aid if you need one. If you don’t, the audi- tory cortex is not getting stimulation.” In some situations, being hard of hearing can lead to social isolation and lack of stimulation. People who are hard of hearing can also face an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzhei- mer’s, she noted. “One of the sad facts is people with hearing loss tend to be re-hospitalized more than somebody without because you don’t always hear correctly the instructions given by the doctor,” she added. “We try to educate people about that too.” Through presentations at post-secondary insti- tutions and booths at health fairs, representatives from the Manitoba chapter share knowledge and information with others.
“We did a presentation explaining what it’s like when you have hearing loss — basically it’s a gar- bled message that goes to the brain, which then needs to translate it,” Jones said. “We explained that hearing aids are a great help but, unlike eyeglasses, they don’t make your hear- ing perfect.” CHHA Manitoba representatives also speak about how to help people who are hard of hear- ing, such as facing the person you’re speaking to in case they’d like to lip read. For those who wear facemasks, they might consider wearing one with a clear front that shows the mouth for lip-readers. “One of the biggest problems for the hard of hearing, especially during COVID, is that many things are done by the telephone, which is very dif- ficult because we cannot see the faces or lip read,” said Jones, whose phone acts as an assistive de- vice that shows spoken words as text while also streaming the conversation directly to her hearing aid. At the same time, the Manitoba group works with government departments to better support people with hearing loss. “Hearing loss needs to be identified and ad- dressed as early as possible through hearing aids or other assistive devices,” Jones said. “Once hearing aids no longer provide sufficient amplification, cochlear implants may then become an option.” The local chapter lobbied the provincial gov- ernment to expand health coverage to adults for replacements of cochlear implant external sound processors. There’s now coverage up to 80 per cent every five years. The province already covers
the initial surgery; however, the cost to replace ex- ternal processors can be costly, so this coverage makes a big difference. The group also continues to lobby the provincial government to consider hearing aids a medical necessity and have them covered under Manitoba Health. “That did not happen but the government did come to the party, and now for seniors 65 and above on a limited income, there’s a grant of $2,000 towards the cost of a hearing aid,” Jones said. “That is being accessed by a lot of people. That’s part of the advocacy. We’re a very small group that is working very hard.” In addition, CHHA Manitoba seeks grants to in- stall looping systems at some service desks. A looping system is an assistive listening device that allows people to receive sound directly into their hearing aid or cochlear implant processor equipped with a telecoil. They also encourage entertainment venues to ensure assistive listening devices are available to their patrons, including closed captioning in movie theatres. Currently, the Manitoba chapter is hosting four support groups in an effort to teach people how to deal with hearing loss. “They can learn coping skills, how to lip read and about other devices they can use with their hearing aids,” Jones said. Another support group meets monthly for those with tinnitus, which is abnormal noise perceived in one or both ears or in the head. There are two Zoom groups as well as two in-person groups run- ning in Winnipeg.
Learn more about the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s Manitoba chapter at chha-mb.ca.
Powered by FlippingBook