Anyone who knows someone, or has a hearing loss, knows that their hearing loss is very difficult to live with. But does hearing loss qualify as a "dissability"? I found this article to be very interesting!
"Numerous state and federal laws have been passed which seek to minimize the effects of disability bias and give people with disabilities equal opportunities. People with hearing loss have the right under these laws to be free from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, education, and communication. This article surveys rights under state and federal disability laws, especially the rights of employees with hearing impairments, and provides links to references and other resources.
"IS MY HEARING LOSS A "DISABILITY"?
"Your rights under disability laws depend on whether your hearing loss is considered a legal "disability." Various laws use different definitions of disability, but the most common legal definition is the one used by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A hearing impairment is considered a disability under the ADA if:
"1) it substantially limits a major life activity; Example: Hearing is a major life activity.
"2) it substantially limited a major life activity in the past; Example: Your hearing used to be substantially impaired but is now improved due to surgery or an assistive device.
"3) you are regarded (or treated) as if your hearing impairment was substantially limiting.
"Example: You use an assistive device that improves your hearing so that you are no longer substantially limited in a major life activity, but you are nonetheless treated differently because your employer believes you to be substantially limited.
"This determination is made on a case-by-case basis. It's important to note that if you use "mitigating devices", such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other equipment that improves your ability to hear, these must be considered in determining whether you have a disability under the ADA. However, strategies that compensate for hearing loss, such as lip-reading or sign language, are not considered mitigating measures. This may change if the proposed ADA Restoration Act (HR3195) is passed. Then mitigating situations may not be considered. It is important that people with disabilities lobby for this or a similar restoration of the original intent of the ADA. State and local laws and other federal laws may use a different definition of disability, but the ADA's definition is helpful to identify the factors necessary to determine if you are considered to have a disability under the law."
~ Article written by Sam Diehl, J.D. - Attorney, Gray Plant Mooty, Minneapolis, MN
View this article in it's originality and entirety @ http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_solutions/legal_rights.cfm
If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
FDA Warning on Ear Candles
Go to your primary physician or a CVS Minute Clinic to get your ears cleaned!! Don't use "Wax Candles", THEY DON‘T WORK!
"If you didn't already know, sticking a burning candle in your ear will probably create more health problems than it will solve. But if you're still indulging in the odd episode of ear candling, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning to set you straight. Not only is the process ineffective, the FDA warns, but ear candling can cause facial and inner-ear burns, bleeding, fires and can even -- ironically -- lead to the ear being blocked by excess wax..."
~ Article contributed to by Katie Drummond, AOL News
View this article in it's entirety @ http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/fda-issues-warning-about-ear-candling/19366095
If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!
"If you didn't already know, sticking a burning candle in your ear will probably create more health problems than it will solve. But if you're still indulging in the odd episode of ear candling, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning to set you straight. Not only is the process ineffective, the FDA warns, but ear candling can cause facial and inner-ear burns, bleeding, fires and can even -- ironically -- lead to the ear being blocked by excess wax..."
~ Article contributed to by Katie Drummond, AOL News
View this article in it's entirety @ http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/fda-issues-warning-about-ear-candling/19366095
If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!
Monday, February 22, 2010
What if Your Hearing Loss HURT?
Something to think about!
"Nearly everyday I speak with someone who clearly suffers from the affects of hearing loss. Whenever I speak with someone who denies the handicap imposed by their hearing loss I often wonder what if the body hurt every time a syllable was missed or if there was a twinge whenever a hair cell was damaged. This is not to say I want people to suffer physically on top of their hearing loss. I just think we would have a better understanding of just how often hearing loss interferes in our life if we were notified we missed something. Similar to a back injury. We do not even consider the number of muscles, nor the frequency in which they are used to maintain our posture and breathing until we pull or damage one. Even pulling one back muscle can make daily life nearly intolerable. Unfortunately, as hearing impaired people go through their day there is no shooting pain, ache or twinge. Time just marches on and our mind gradually forgets the sound of gravel under our feet, the blinker in the car, and the cricket in the garage. People don't stop to clarify the words they don't know weren't understood. We too often just adjust to the new softer world wishing people would take the marbles out of their mouth and speak clearer. Fortunately it doesn't hurt, but I often wonder how easy it would be to live in denial if it did?"
~ Article written by Matthew Rumsey, AuD., CCC-A, Yankton, SD
View this article in it's originality @ http://betterhearing.org/blog/post.cfm/what-if-hearing-loss-hurt#comments
If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!
"Nearly everyday I speak with someone who clearly suffers from the affects of hearing loss. Whenever I speak with someone who denies the handicap imposed by their hearing loss I often wonder what if the body hurt every time a syllable was missed or if there was a twinge whenever a hair cell was damaged. This is not to say I want people to suffer physically on top of their hearing loss. I just think we would have a better understanding of just how often hearing loss interferes in our life if we were notified we missed something. Similar to a back injury. We do not even consider the number of muscles, nor the frequency in which they are used to maintain our posture and breathing until we pull or damage one. Even pulling one back muscle can make daily life nearly intolerable. Unfortunately, as hearing impaired people go through their day there is no shooting pain, ache or twinge. Time just marches on and our mind gradually forgets the sound of gravel under our feet, the blinker in the car, and the cricket in the garage. People don't stop to clarify the words they don't know weren't understood. We too often just adjust to the new softer world wishing people would take the marbles out of their mouth and speak clearer. Fortunately it doesn't hurt, but I often wonder how easy it would be to live in denial if it did?"
~ Article written by Matthew Rumsey, AuD., CCC-A, Yankton, SD
View this article in it's originality @ http://betterhearing.org/blog/post.cfm/what-if-hearing-loss-hurt#comments
If you think you have a hearing loss, or know someone who does, give me a call @ (877) HEAR-CLR for a FREE HEARING TEST, and lets get you/them fixed up (most times within 24 hours)!
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