[Ann Reflection] Using (Cell) Phone: Visual Voice Mail
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the following info comes from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
Visual Voice Mail (Voice to text messaging)
There is a new service being provided by Telus (and perhaps other carriers). It is called Visual Voice Mail. Telus describes itas: "Don't worry about missing important messages when you are unable to answer your phone. With TELUS Visual Voice Mail, there's no need to dial in to pick up your messages, you just read them on screen. Read it instead of listening to it Visual Voice Mail converts your voice mail messages to text and delivers them straight to you as SMS or email within minutes. The converted message will include the phone number of the caller embedded in the text. Keep record of your voice mail. You can view all of your messages in one convenient inbox and have a visual record of who called and what they said. " Telus provides this service for a monthly fee of $7.50. However it is currently being offered for a free 30 day trial. This is the link to the information. or you can call: 1 800 316 0979 or Visit your nearest store Comments from WIDHH staff using this service already: "It works well except if a person does not speak clearly when they leave a msg, a word will either be skipped or spelled phonetically. Also, if the voice message is long, it will cut out some of the mssage and leave a request for you to call and listen to the rest of the message."
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 10/14/2011 07:00:00 AM
[Ann Reflection] Using (Cell) Phones: How to buy one that is
hearing aid compatible and adapt hearing aids to it
How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cellphone
The following info come from Western Institute of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
There are so many cellphones on the market these days, it can be overwhelming when it comes to finding a phone appropriate for you. Following are some tips on what to look for in a cellphone so that it will be hearing aid compatible. Look for a Cellphone with a rating of AT LEAST M3/T3 In the US all cellphones are tested for hearing aid compatibility. The M# represents how well the cellphone will work with a hearing aid in microphone mode. M1 is the lowest rating and is an indication of high interference. M4 is the highest rating and indicates low interference. The T# rating represents how well the cellphone will work with a heairng aid in T-Coil mode. Again T1 is the lowest rating and T4 is the highest. The whereabouts of this information differs with all cellphone manufacturers. Commonly it can be found on the display card next to the device, on the product packaging, or in the phone manual. Some websites such as PhoneScoop maintain a database of this information. (note: when you go to the website, type in the name of the phone in the Jump to a phone box - top right of main screen. When the phone information comes up scroll down to features and click on 'show missing features'. You will find the M/T rating under Accessibility, Hearing Aid Compatible) Choose a Provider that Uses CDMA rather than GSM In Canada, both Telus and Bell operate on the CDMA network. Rogers, Fido and all other carriers operate on the GSM network. Phones connected to the CDMA network will interfere less with your hearing aid. Choose a "Flip" Style Phone A cellphone's antenna is a significant source of interference. Generally speaking, the antenna on a flip phone will be positioned farther from the speaker than on a candy bar phone. Be wary of phones with no visible antenna. Find a Phone with a Smaller LCD Screen The screen is also a significant source of interference. Often phones with very large or multiple LCD screens (such as iPhones etc)will have low M# ratings. Look for a phone with one small screen. Be Mindful of the Cellphone's Outer Casing There is a growing trend towards manufacturing metallic phones. The idea being that a metal phone is stronger when dropped than a plastic phone. While this is all well and good, metal phones will not work as well with your hearing aid. Try Before You Buy In the US it is mandatory that all phone retailers have a 'live' phone in store for you to try. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Canada. Still, many retailers will have working phones to demo. Test that the volume is adequate, and that you can hear clearly on microphone and T-Coil modes. Know the Return Policy In store testing is no substitute for the real world. Be sure to try the phone in a variety of listening situations: at home; in the car; at a noisy restaurant etc. Usually the return policy is based on both days and usage. Ensure that you have adequate time to do your own testing, and can exchange the phone if it is unsuitable for your needs. Look for a Headset Jack and Bluetooth Connectivity There are several accessories designed to assist you in hearing on a cellphone. Almost all of these rely on either a 2.5mm headset jack or Bluetooth connection. If your phones has these useful features, you will have a lot more options to assist you. Two of the most common accessories that you can plug into the 2.5mm jack are: 1. Silhouette cord - a small thin piece of plastic is worn behind your ear, beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid when the hearing aid is on the t-coil setting. The silhouette cord has a microphone for handsfree operation. 2. Neckloop - a 'necklace' style cord you wear around your neck. The neckloop emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid while the hearing aid is on the t-coil mode. The neckloop as a microphone for handsfree operation. Note custom hearing aids with t-coils are not always stong enough to use with a neckloop - you may have better success with a silhouette cord in these cases.
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 9/30/2011 07:00:00 AM
[Ann Reflection] Using (Cell/Work) Phones: 2 ears are better than
one! Using your FM system with your telephone
2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone
If you are having difficulty hearing on the telephone with one hearing aid, consider using your FM system so that you can use both hearing aids. You can either have the signal transmitted to your FM receivers snapped on to the bottom of your hearing aids, or to a bodyworn receiving unit with an induction loop such as the Phonak MyLink receiver unit. The bodyworn receiving unit will transmit sound to your hearing aids through the induction loop. The hearing aids must be set on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' position. Remember that when your hearing aids are on the t-coil position you can't hear anything other than the phone. Consider asking your audiologist if one or both of the aids can have an 'MT' program put in (this means the microphone and the telecoil are working at the same time-so you can hear around you and you can hear on the phone. You don't have to worry about feedback because the ear piece of the phone doesn't need to be next to your hearing aid anymore - the sound is being sent by the FM transmitter to the FM receivers or the FM induction loop around your neck (ie the Phonak MyLink). Parts required:
Your FM system
You will need to purchase a device made by Nexxtech. It is a Telephone Recording Unit. Part #4318237. This is available at The Source. To Connect the FM Transmitter to the telephone: 1. Unplug the telephone receiver from the telephone. 2. Plug the Telephone Recording Unit into the telephone. 3. Plug the telephone receiver into the Telephone Recording Unit. 4. Plug the 3.5mm jack from the Telephone Recording Unit into the Audio jack located on the 'battery charger' unit connected to the bottom of the FM transmitter (This is on the right side of the battery charging unit, upper jack. It says 'Audio'). The battery charger unit must be attached to the bottom of the Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink FM transmitter.
The Phonak FM transmitter (Smartlink, Zoomlink, Easylink or Microlink) should be 'off'. It will turn on automatically when you pick up the phone and start to make a call. If you are using 'boot' receivers snapped to the bottom of your hearing aids, when you pick up the phone the FM transmitter will automatically start transmitting the sound to your receiving units. If you are using a body worn receiving unit with an induction loop, you will need to make sure it is turned on. Wear the loop around your neck. Your hearing aids need to be on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' program when you are speaking on the phone. If necessary, adjust the volume by adjusting the volume on your hearing aids (if you are using the FM receivers boots) OR on the bodyworn receiving unit. The earpiece of the telephone handset does not need to be near your hearing aids but you will still need to speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone handset.
Note: for systems other than the Phonak Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink - you just plug the callcorder into the 'auxiliary audio input jack' of the FM transmitter. For some FM systems the jack is a 2.5mm, or a 3-pin eurojack - and the Call Corder will not fit. You will need to purchase a dual mini jack coupler (Radio Shack part number was 274-886). Plug the call corder into the coupler jack, use the DAI (direct audio input) cord that came with the FM system and plug one end into the remaining side of the coupler and then plug into the auxiliary audio input jack of the FM transmitter.
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 9/07/2011 07:00:00 AM
[Ann Reflection] How to Make Paper Balloon Lanterns
As fans of lantern making and lantern-making, I bet you already know how to make paper balloon lanterns. If you don’t, you can follow the instruction here, or attending our workshop:
Once you master this basic balloon lantern, you can make lovely puffy fish, angry bird, monkey, rabbit, bee, flower, eerie robot or insect! You name it.
Here are some examples what others start with balloon lantern:
Send us the picture of your creation too so we can post it here :>
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/31/2011 05:14:00 PM
[Ann Reflection] Communition Strategy for hearing impaired:
Visualizing the S...
Tuesday Tips: Planning Ahead – Visualizing the Scenario
Imagine you were visiting Montreal and you know some French, enough to get by. However, you haven’t used your French in eons. You want to go to a local boulangerie to buy some fresh baguettes. If you’re like me, you would practice in your head exactly what you want to say (I want one baguette, please – en francais, of course). Then you are going to practice what they might say back to you (That will be $4.95 – again, en francais). Of course, you may want to practice something that’s totally off topic (Where did you get that dress), but that wouldn’t fit the context (or maybe it will). Visualization is a technique that is often used by athletes in preparation for difficult maneuvers. We can use the same when approaching difficult communication situations.
- Envision the scenario that is about to happen. Important visual and aural cues are missing with hearing loss, but the brain can fill in the gaps if you know what is happening. - Anticipate what is going to be said. In a place like boulangerie, there are certain phrases that are commonly used. Practice those phrases. The practice would help your brain to be prepared for what is about to be said. - Different situations means different possibilities. So what you might expect in the bakery would be different from what is said in a doctor’s office from what is said in a restaurant. Context is everything. Visualize the scenario and anticipate the speech and your brain will be warmed up for each and every difficult situation. Just like many things, planning ahead can help you to avoid unwanted pitfalls.
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/30/2011 07:00:00 AM
[Ann Reflection] Ann's fish lantern will be at fringe
festival in Centenn...
Ann's fish lantern will be at fringe festival in Centennial Square tonight :> See the full gallery on Posterous
Posted via email from Ann Reflection
-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/23/2011 03:03:00 PM
[Ann Reflection] How technologies shape our health care? Health
avatar? Tailo...
How technologies shape our health care? Health avatar? Tailored therapy according to dna? Doc get paid by outcome? shaphttp://www.fastcompany.com/1773215/six-major-disruptions-still-to-come-in-health-care Posted via email from Ann Reflection
-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/16/2011 11:53:00 AM
[Ann Reflection] Communication Strategy for hearing impaired:
Restaurants
Tuesday Tips: Restaurants Restaurants must be the bain of all hearing aids. Hearing aids do well with isolated noises, but with noise from all directions, it becomes quite confusing. A few strategies when dining out, however, can help minimize problems.
- Pick your restaurants carefully. Restaurants with a lot of ambience tend to be bad. Ambience in restaurants usually come in the form of low-lighting, background music, and hard, funky surfaces. The best restaurant from an acoustic standpoint is one with upholstered furniture, no background music, good lighting, and low ceilings. - Go early for dinner. You can miss the bulk of the noisy dinner crowd and you usually have your choice of any seat in the house. So pick the potentially quietest corner or table in the restaurant. - Choose your table wisely. If you can choose a table, pick one that’s in the corner. Two walls mean a little less noise. However, make sure you’re not right by the kitchen; otherwise, you’ll hear all the cutlery and chopping emitting from there. If there are booths available, they are often better for communication. The enclosure of your table can reduce the amount of noise that you hear. - If you do get to choose a seat at your table, pick according to where the noise is. If you have hearing aids, you should set the aids to the noise mode and sit with your back to the restaurant while facing the wall. The wall doesn’t make as much noise as your fellow diners, so it’s better to be facing it. If you don’t have hearing aids, then sit beside the wall so that at least you can hear some of the conversation from one ear. Sometimes, you can do all the above and still have a difficult time in the restaurant. Be patient and have a good humour about misunderstood conversation. Sometimes the misunderstanding can lead to good joke for everyone to share.
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-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/14/2011 06:39:00 PM
[Ann Reflection] Tuesday Tips for communicating with hearing
impaired: Reduci...
Reducing Background Noise It doesn’t take too much to make a conversation easier to hear. Just reduce the background noise. I’m not asking you to stop the world from turning and getting all the noise out of the world, but you can do some simple things to reduce background noise.
- Turn down or off any unnecessary music or sound. That could be your own TV or the radio. You may have to ask the owner of the device to turn it down. A conversation is lot easier without music covering over all the words - Close the windows. If the windows are open and you get all the traffic noise, shut the sound out by closing the windows. It’s a tough call during a hot summer day, but less noise makes a huge difference - Move away from the noise. If you can’t control the sound, at least move away from it. Just stepping a few feet away, or even out of a room, from the noise, it will be a relief to your ears and your conversation partner. There’s no one end-all answer to reducing background noise. Use your best judgment and reduce any background noise that you can reduce.
Posted via email from Ann Reflection
-- Posted By Blogger to Ann Reflection at 8/14/2011 06:32:00 PM
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