Technology to Keep You Hearing

Consider ordering a Pocketalker to keep you hearing. Right now people are keeping their distance and often wearing masks, making it even harder to understand them without being able to see their lips and with speech being muffled through masks. People are not able to get to hearing clinics for help and some people are in care homes, or hospitals without hearing aids and unable to leave. Pocketalkers (personal amplifiers with headphones) are a very effective and easy to use option to effectively improve hearing, especially with healthcare workers and care-aids who are wearing masks and practicing physical distancing. Pocketalkers are easy to sanitize and wipe down, easy to keep in a pocket of a smock or gown, and can be supplied with sanitary headphone covers. If you would like to order a Pocketalker, IDHHC can have it shipped directly to your home, and arrange payment by credit card over the phone. The cost is $185 and can be shipped directly to you.

Physical Distancing and Communication for the Hard of Hearing

Many of us will be feeling isolated as we stay home and practice physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who have hearing loss often deal with feelings of isolation already, and will be particularly vulnerable to experiencing loneliness, anxiety and depression without social connection. Talking on the phone can be very difficult for people with hearing loss, and it has been shown that using video-calling technologies can improve speech understanding by 23% for people with severe to profound hearing loss (Jepersen & Kirkwood, Hearing Review, 2015). If you have hearing loss and a computer or other device that allows video-calling through FaceTime or Skype or any other video-chat application, give it a try! For the more technically-minded of us out there, try to think of people in your family or community with hearing loss that you could help by talking them through the set up to use video-chat technology. Let’s work together to stay connected!

Reduced Hours

Effective immediately and until further notice Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre offices will have reduced hours of operation and will not be providing in-person services unless they are urgent. Our staff team all have reduced hours and will be providing remote and virtual services. Please note that because of reduced hours, response to your inquiries may take 1 to 3 business days.

Please Note – Victoria Office Building at 1555 McKenzie Avenue
The outer doors to the building MAY be locked during business hours. If you have an appointment or require service please contact us to arrange access to the Victoria office. Please make appointments for the Nanaimo office as well.

Our phones will be answered:
10AM – 2PM – Monday to Friday in Victoria – 250.592.8144
10AM – 2PM – Monday to Thursday in Nanaimo – 250.753.0999

Please go to our website at: www.idhhc.ca to find information about all of the methods and opportunities to connect with our team in both Victoria and Nanaimo. Information on the website will be updated each week. You will find information about what services we are able to provide, as well ideas and information to help us all stay informed, safe and connected.

All of us at IDHHC will continue to support the members of our community. We encourage you to reach out to us if you need support, or reach out to one another if you can provide support to someone else. We are still here and will continue to do whatever we can, in any way we can, to support Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and families during this difficult time.

Staff and Board of Directors,
IDHHC

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