There are many sources for obtaining funds for hearing aids, assistive devices, special grants and continuing education. Located here is a small list of funding sources for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Similar information is available through resources in colleges, universities or major public libraries.

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf

3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202/337-5220
http://www.agbell.org/financialaid.cfm Continue Reading

This information is not intended to, nor can it, take the place of your audiologist repairing and maintaining your hearing aid or FM system. This is intended to help you, your student, or your child become more knowledgeable about how to take care of their own hearing aids and troubleshoot minor problems.

As with all mechanical devices, preventative maintenance and proper care of the hearing aid or fm system will help prevent future headaches as well as costly repairs. Being such, below are some care tips for your devices: Continue Reading

There truly is a myriad of technological inventions that can make life much easier for people with a hearing loss. Athough this page will not include everything there is in assistive devices for those with a hearing loss, it will provide some insights as to the available technology. If you are interested in a certain device, just click on the picture and it will take you to a site that offers that product.

A site that offers a variety of assistive devices specifically for those with a hearing loss is Harris Communications. Also our local Alaska dealer for a variety of assistive technology devices is ATLA, phone: 907-563-2599, or 1-800-723-2852. Continue Reading

What is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that bypasses the route of the normal hearing aid in order to provide beneficial hearing to those who have bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Usually those that receive little to no benefit from cochlear implants are candidates. Continue Reading

Listening Problems In the Classroom

In a typical classroom, there are many distracting background noises such as paper shuffling, whispering, talking, air conditioning/heater systems, overheads, and computers. These sounds may be almost as loud as a teacher’s voice. In addition to these distractions, a teacher’s voice may vary in loudness due to walking around the room, facing away from the class and writing on the board, and even their own personal preference for loud or soft speech. For most students with normal hearing, this is not a problem.

However, for those students with a hearing loss, background noises and distance interferes with hearing and understanding. The hearing aids not only amplify the teacher’s voice, but it also amplifies the sounds around the child as well. The incoming sound can be confusing and unclear. Continue Reading

What is a hearing aid?

A hearing aid is an electronic, battery-operated device that amplifies and changes sound to allow for improved communication. Hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, which then converts the sound waves to electrical signals. The amplifier increases the loudness of the signals and then sends the sound to the ear through a speaker. Continue Reading