Funny Text Message

My husband sent me this text today:
I hope you didn't like the shoes that were up on the table in the Florida room.

Oops, I had put them up on the table (not a table for eating I want to make clear) to keep them out of my puppy Blondie's reach. Ha! She got into them anyways.

The Crime Scene

The Accused

Resource on Hearing Loss and Work

If you have a hearing loss and are employed, I have found an excellent resource for you to use when you need to advocate for yourself, request an accommodation, or simply educate others. It's an online, free brochure titled "Working Effectively with Persons Who Are Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, or Deaf". This document is available through Cornell University's Employment and Disability Institute. The brochure, written for human resource personnel, describes the experience of hearing loss and gives suggestions for possible accommodations. I found it insightful and empowering in tone. If you would like to read it for yourself, you can download it from this webpage.

A Workplace Accommodation

My boss found out about this telephone amplifier and purchased one for me. It's an HA40 by Clarity. The device plugs directly into the back of my phone, with the phone cord plugged into it.

I was skeptical at first thinking that it would not make a difference. I already had volume control on the phone and usually kept that it in the upper range for the few calls I made or received. But what the Clarity does is increase the high frequency sounds more than the lower frequency ones. Because I have a high frequency hearing loss, this helps the callers sound clearer and easier to understand. The Clarity has two adjustable controls - one for volume and one for tone so I can adjust it for each caller's voice. In spite of my low expectations, I must say it works. I was reminded recently of what a difference it makes when the 9-volt battery inside died. Going back to the standard phone until I bought a replacement battery was a pain. I had gotten used to the better sound quality.

If you are reluctant to use the phone at work like I was and you have a mild to moderate hearing loss, then I would recommend the Clarity HA 40. At less than $50, it's a fairly low-cost accommodation and available at Office Max and other online retailers.