Stay Connected while at Home

It is well known that social activities and human interaction are important to a person’s overall physical and mental health. During the current pandemic, many of us are staying home due to shelter-in-place and quarantine policies. We are subject to separation from our family, friends, and colleagues, and this can potentially affect our overall health and well-being. Individuals with hearing loss are at an even higher risk of adverse effects from social isolation. 

However, social distancing does not have to mean social isolation.

For those with hearing loss, communication is essential! Here are some tips to help you stay connected to family and friends while you are staying at home during COVID-19: 

Connect with family and friends with video calls, such as Facetime, Skype, WhatsApp, and other platforms,  Face-to face communication is more enjoyable and less stressful with hearing loss. It allows you to use lip reading, facial cues, and body language. 

Use closed captions while watching TV, movies, or the news.  Additionally, most news briefings now have sign language interpreters present during the briefing sessions.

Wear your hearing devices even while at home. Your hearing devices can help you stay connected to your family, friends, and to the sounds around you.  Make sure you have an adequate supply of hearing aid batteries and cleaning supplies at home.  Clean and maintain your hearing aids weekly and charge your rechargeable hearing aids daily.

Connect and stream phone calls, audio, or video from your smartphone, iPad, tablet, or other smart devices directly into your hearing aids.  Direct bluetooth streaming can provide a clearer sound quality and reduce background noise.  Ask your audiologist to assist you if you need help getting connected. 

Use a caption telephone if you are having difficulty hearing on the phone.  Caption phones are available for landlines and as Apps for smartphones and tablets. For those who prefer written communication, connect with friends and family via text, email, or social media. 

Enhance your listening skills with computer-based  auditory brain training exercises from the comfort of your own home.  Try the clEAR Ears Train the Brain program https://www.lacelistening.com/ or the LACE program https://www.lacelistening.com/

If you need to visit a doctor or hospital, you will encounter physicians and healthcare workers wearing masks. Inform your doctor or nurse that you have hearing loss and may have trouble understanding what they are saying while their mouth is covered.  Ask them to write down any important information or instructions. There are also a variety of clear, see-through masks available.

Ask your audiologist about remote care and telehealth options.  At Comprehensive Audiology, we are now offering remote hearing aid programming and hearing consultations via telehealth and video appointments. 

Make time for exercise and relaxation. Your overall mental health and well-being is important.  

Stay positive! We are all in this together!

We, at Comprehensive Audiology, are here for you during this time! We are committed to helping you experience better hearing and communication. Please be assured that the health, safety, and well-being of our patients, staff members, and their families is our top priority. If you require our telehealth services or if  you need hearing aid supplies, please contact us.

Credit - Comprehensiveaudiology