Why doesn't even husband get it?

[Talking Hands]

I am totally fustrated. We have 2 appliances that needed repairs from Sears. DH called them and set up appointments and they were to call back and tell us a time last night. Both were supposed to be after 1pm today. Well apparently one came early and I did not hear them knocking or the phone ringing. No message left on the answering machine.
Of dh forgot to tell them that I am essentially deaf. So now we have to wait until Tuesday for them to come. What a pain.
Why is he so afraid to let people know that I am deaf and if they need to call the house they need to go through Relay to contact me via TTY. I do have an amplified phone but it is also a TTy and I pick it up that way normally so it is only useful if I am calling out. I am getting one for the regular phone line but it isn't here yet. It cost extra money to get the equipment so I know what is going on so we are doing it a step at a time. Next comes the box for the door and phone so the lights will flash when either is called. It will be different flashes for different things. That runs several hundred dollars.
I don't want to wear hearing aids 24/7! Only for work and school. At home I want my home adapted to me!

 

[pwcarlson]

Alot of people don't get it. I'm a parent of a deaf young adult(18). My parents and family don't get it and my husband gets half of it. But at least he tried. My parents are surprised that my daughter can read and is graduating from high school soon. I guess the term "deaf and dumb" is still alive and well out there. I don't blame you for not wanting to wear aids 24/7. I would not be a good candidate for aids myself. Hate having things in my ears.

Most states have an 'equipment distribution program' which can help you get the needed things for you home for either free or at an reduced rate. You can also rent a tty with vco thru your local phone company. if it breaks then they fix it. It costs $5/monthly here in MN. It is billed to your phone bill.

Even with the flashing lights our dd still can miss the phone or door or whatever. The best thing is a specially trained dog. We are trying to train our dog to alert our DD when there is a sound she should bee aware of. Good thing with theses 'hearing dogs' is that they can be any size and shape and can go everywhere with the deaf person.

What ever you decide, GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

 

[teri]

That must be so frustrating... sensorineural hearing loss runs in my family, so several of my elderly relatives had these issues in their later years, and no adaptive equipment... ::::sigh::::

 

[Mazzy]

I'm sorry you are having problems at the moment, once you get your flashing lights in place things will become a lot easier for you I'm sure.

I am partially deaf (live in the UK) and very luckily our local government officers have supplied me with flashing lights for my doorbell which help a lot. I do wear my hearing aid every waking minute though, it goes in first thing in the morning and out last thing at night.

My husband is hearing too, and I have known him for 15 year and still have problems! Not so much him not telling people I'm deaf, he does that, but his communication skills sometimes are not too good with me, he comes home from work and seems to 'forget' he has to look at me when he is talking! I guess it is hard for the hearing to appreciate what it's like, but hopefully once you get your home appliances fitted you will find things easier

 

[piratesmate]

In addition to state programs, you might check into community programs - like Rotary Club, Elk, Moose, whatever. (Sorry I don't know which!) About 20 years ago I had a good friend who has deaf & one of those clubs helped them with lights for the door, etc. They had a hearing dog as well.

 

[Talking Hands]

I saw my audiologist today and have the form to get both a flasher and an amplified phone from Deaf Services Bureau. I will probably go tomorrow. I picked up my hearing aides today and they are really neat. I am so suprised at how loud the world is. I still have to have the mold made as right now I am using a temporary type ear piece. That will be done in two weeks and she tells me they will be even better with molds that are fit to my ears.
I didn't really want hearing aids as I am comfortable in ASL but needed them for teaching and interpreting. Well I don't know if I want to take them out. I am hearing so much. I found that my favorite BBQ plays music non-stop and kids do cry in the grocery store and they actually play music there, And I can hear my husband whisper and my cat purr. How neat.
I have had to readjust all the settings on the tv and the phone ringer so now the hearing of the family don't jump when I am listening to them. Also my computer keys actually klack! I didn't know that. WOW! This is an experience!

 

[SueM in MN]

WOW!
Neat.