Nicholas’ Service update
Helpdesk
It’s been an active month for the Helpdesk. Huge thanks to all the volunteer responders who covered the forwarded enquiries.
Even if the enquirer isn’t always aware of it, the requests can be complex as they touch on the multiple aspects of managing hearing loss, from the emotional to the practical. For example:
“I was wondering how someone would go about talking to their employer if they are struggling hearing people on the phone in a reception job. My mother (52 years old) has a new diagnosis of hearing loss and has hearing aids and has recently started a new school office job.
“She is also struggling to hear people coming to the reception desk speaking to her in close quarters due to background noise. Her normal hearing colleagues have said they also have issues with the background noise and hearing the children speak at the desk. She is making mistakes noting down names wrong from phone calls and the face-to-face conversations and she feels ashamed and embarrassed by her mistakes.
“I think an amplified phone and/or a hearing loop for the reception may help. But she is worried as she only started this new job in January and as she has got progressively worsening hearing loss – being investigated in hospital currently.
“Her hearing loss was not a big issue, and her hearing aids helped fine in her old quiet environment job with phone calls and face to face talking. But this new school office job is much busier and noisy.
“So because she did not declare hearing loss at her interview, she is worried she won’t be supported in any accommodations. She feels embarrassed to ask for accommodations. She also isn’t really sure how the whole government referral for adjustments thing works it’s quite confusing and I don’t understand it myself.”
The Helpdesk responders take the time needed to work through the issues and feedback this month reflects the care they take. It’s always rewarding to see enquirers setting out the steps they are now going to take in light of the support and advice given. Spontaneous feedback has included:
Dear Helpdesk Team, Thank you so much for your very helpful response. This has helped me enormously and I am so grateful for your support. I am arranging a meeting with our IT department to organise a hearing loop. Thank you.
Hello, Thank you for all your responses, they are really helpful and appreciated! I’m going to see if I can get an appointment with the audiologist or GP, depending who’s got more availability and discuss this with them as you’ve suggested. I find that the tinnitus is more prominent when I’m alone, at night generally and even more so when I’m just going to sleep or waking up in the mornings. It was always there since I was young but wasn’t overly bothersome whereas now it’s a daily thing. I appreciate your help and taking the time to explain. Kind Regards K
Hello, Thank you for all your responses, they are really helpful and appreciated! I’m going to see if I can get an appointment with the audiologist or GP, depending who’s got more availability and discuss this with them as you’ve suggested. I find that the tinnitus is more prominent when I’m alone, at night generally and even more so when I’m just going to sleep or waking up in the mornings. It was always there since I was young but wasn’t overly bothersome whereas now it’s a daily thing. I appreciate your help and taking the time to explain. Kind Regards K
Hello, This information is brilliant thanks so much for your time in going through everything much appreciated. Kind regards L
Helpful Hours
We hosted both current Helpful Hours topics in February and approval ratings continue to be high .
Huge thanks to Julia and Helen who took attendees through the content, bringing it alive with personal anecdotes and encouraging everyone to take the suggested steps and ultimately live better with hearing loss.
In all, this service has helped over 200 people with over 70 hours of volunteering. Do keep driving potential beneficiaries to the website and keep an eye on new dates being added.
Here, is some of the feedback we’ve received:
“Thank you very much for today’s webinar on ‘Getting the most out of your Audiology Appointment’. It is very clear, factual, and the talk was very helpful.”
“I am going to prepare [my appointments] in the way that you suggested!”
“I am very, very impressed and realise how much thought and work has gone into preparing this Helpful Hour.”
“The format was well laid out and easy to understand and follow.”
Teams
Apologies to regular visitors to the Volunteers Teams Channel for the low-profile of posts this month. Thanks to everyone who connects this way, and we look forward to your posts and comments again soon. Many thanks!
