WORLD HEARING DAY - 3RD MARCH

I needed to meet the deadline – the day is yet to end in some part of the world, March 3rd, World Hearing Day ??

I got a call this morning, India time, from a gentleman from 3M. He had been given my number by a very good friend. This person from 3M had called to request me for  an appointment for a hearing test. A pause, reflection and I conceded, fixing and date and time for the test. First step done.

Yes, I have difficulty with hearing – my right ear is weak. But this is not something I worry over or have discussed with friends. My mind’s whirling – how does he know about it? What is the give-away? The answer is simple. In a social situation, you will find me often requesting someone who spoke to repeat themselves. Particularly individuals who speak at a particular decibel. I often cannot hear what my husband says (in many ways that helps ??). In official contexts, on calls, I will often be seen shutting my eyes – like I am deep in thought, but I am actually trying to focus on hearing what a colleague is saying on the call. Lest I am perceived as dis-interested, I will alternate this with leaning towards the screen with my eyes wide open – Yes, I am paying attention to the lip movement of the speaker so I can string the sentence together.

Sigh… simple no? Take a test, use the cool assistive devices that are available in the market-place? Commit to my disability and raise a request for accommodation support on the excellent request tool we have at work, which I myself have launched? If only we demonstrated all the behaviours we preach all the time… well, I will get there, and soon….

Hearing disabilities can be of varied strengths. They can be conditions acquired at birth, an injury, or age-related. As per UN statistics, around 5% of the world’s population experiences hearing loss. Different terms describe different levels of hearing loss. ( of that will actually make for another write up). The good news is that there are many solutions available to deal with the condition. They range from implants to cool assistive devices that facilitate hearing, ranging form listening devices that are adaptable to suit the environment to loops, amplifiers and beyond.

Discussing this brings to mind, an interesting experience of many years back. It has stayed with me all these years. A very senior leader I worked with (a time when I paid little heed to disability inclusion) used a very suave hearing kit. He would open his teak-finished box full of hearing aids with great panache and take his time in identifying the right one to plug into his ear, depending on the size of the room and the audience. Lo and behold, he was fully engaged in the conversation after that!

Of course, technology has enabled significant strides since those days. Messages devices, close captioning, CART are some of the technologies that enable participation with your whole-self in meetings, entertainment with ease.

While all of this are self-help tools that can assist people with hearing loss, each of us as family, friends, colleagues can do our bit.

-         We often tend to shout when speaking with a person with hearing disability. There is no need to shout- shouting only distorts the content. Instead, speak slowly and clearly.

-         Face the person and speak. It will help the person lip read with more ease. On virtual calls, look directly into the camera to say your bit

-         Keep sentences short, set context for the overall discussion, so lost words can be auto-filled by the individual who experiences hearing loss

-         Avoid closing your mouth with your hand, resting your hand on your jaw etc. when speaking. It allows for what you are saying to come out more clearly.

-         In a face to face situation, if you know which ear is the stronger one, position yourself closer to that ear – it makes the conversation easier.

The list of tips is long. The bottom-line is to be simple, slow and clear, repeating information if required with patience!

I promise, I will  raise an adjustment request, soon after the test that my dear friend so kindly enabled. I am sure there are many out there, in a similar situation like me. May I invite you to embark on the self-help journey?