This analysis focuses on the resource centers that assist in preparing for an experimental journey. It includes a detailed account of my six-hour experience with a hearing impairment. Each activity and its associated emotions are described, highlighting the challenges faced due to the disability. The paper also provides information about hearing impairment from various sources. The reflection on this experience concludes the paper.
When I initially learned about this experiment, I investigated intervention programs for individuals with hearing disabilities in Montreal. The first one I examined was CHIP Communicaid for Hearing Impaired Persons, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting people with hearing impairments. They advocate for programs similar to HEAR Hearing Education for Aural Rehabilitation, aimed at teaching individuals with hearing disabilities to thrive in their community and daily lives. CHIP also provides support groups for individuals with impairments and their families. Their Technical Aids and Resource Centre offers information on assistive listening devices, American Sign Language, guidance on accessing government services for hearing impairments, and grants. Another resource center I discovered was the Raymond-Dewar Institute, which is similar to CHIP but focuses more on the French community. The Raymond-Dewar Institute aids individuals with hearing impairments who are at least twenty-one years old. Many of their clients have been diagnosed with either a lasting conductive hearing loss or sensor-neural impairment. This center offers support groups for individuals who have become deaf later in life, cochlear implant workshops, and a wide range of French programs such as LSQ (Quebec sign language). In summary, CHIP primarily assists English-speaking residents of Montreal, while the Raymond-Dewar Institute serves French-speaking residents of Montreal.
There are several factors that can cause hearing loss in adulthood, including diseases like Meningitis, Mumps, or AIDS. One specific type of hearing loss is conductive hearing loss, which occurs when sound waves struggle to pass from the outer ear to the tiny hair cells in the cochlea inside the ear. This kind of hearing loss is commonly found in swimmers who develop an infection in their ear canal. The infection can cause vibrations in the eardrum (Tympanic Membrane), which then transmit these vibrations to three small bones located in the middle ear. These bone movements can affect the fluid in the inner ear. The middle ear contains air that is replenished through the Eustachian tube every time a person swallows. However, respiratory viruses can disrupt the function of the Eustachian tube and lead to fluid build-up instead of air. This fluid interferes with proper sound transmission through the ear bones and results in mild or moderate hearing loss.
Overall, there are two main categories for various types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss can be caused by conditions such as Otoe-sclerosis, which restricts bone movement and affects sound wave transmission; skin sores related to Eustachian tube failure; or birth defects that impact middle ear bone formation.Sensorineural hearing loss can occur due to exposure to loud noises, which can damage the hair cells in the cochlea and prevent the conversion of inner ear vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain. Inherited abnormalities in the inner ear can also cause hearing loss from birth or later in life. It is important to note that most individuals with inherited hearing loss do not have any other abnormalities. If someone’s ears ring after being exposed to a loud event like a concert, it may indicate possible inner ear damage. Using ear plugs in such situations can help prevent this damage. Additionally, aging individuals may experience age-related hearing loss. Elderly people who have been exposed to noise in industrialized societies are more likely to face long-term effects resulting in hearing loss compared to those in less developed societies where this impairment is less common. Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to age-related hearing loss. Other conditions like Meniere’s disease, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and head injuries can also cause hearing loss later in life. Diseases affecting the auditory nerve disrupt the connection between hair cells and the brain, leading to sensorineural hearing loss. An example of such a condition is auditory neuronal, which causes one-sided hearing loss and ringing in the ear due to a benign tumor on the auditory nerve.Hearing aids are frequently employed for managing sensorineural hearing loss, while cochlear implants may offer greater advantages for individuals with severe hearing loss. Over a duration of six hours, I engaged in various activities. In the first twenty minutes, I immediately developed a migraine. Subsequently, I took a thirty-minute nap prior to engaging in a walk with a friend and playing forty minutes of tennis. Upon returning home, I showered and watched television while attempting to communicate with my youngest son over the course of the next hour. During the fourth hour, I went grocery shopping and prepared a delectable late lunch. Eventually, within the last hour and a half, my friend chauffeured us north towards the Lauretians with an ice cream stop along the way. By reaching my friend’s family’s cottage approximately six hours plus fifteen minutes had elapsed since we embarked on our journey.
In preparation for my excursion, I conducted research on impairments and discovered a significant disparity between theory and practice. To replicate impaired hearing conditions, I utilized airplane safety plugs followed by headphones. Within the initial fifteen or twenty minutes of donning them, I experienced sensations akin to prolonged inversion – it felt as though blood was rushing to my brain. This discomfort prompted me to consume two extra strong Advils and briefly rest in complete silence.
Upon awakening from my respite, my friend and I proceeded to the tennis court. The experience served as an eye-opener that emphasized how much I had underestimated my auditory capabilitiesThe challenges of achieving accurate hits with the tennis ball made playing the game more demanding. On my journey back home, I realized that my visual capabilities relied heavily on my hearing, which I hadn’t fully understood before. Crossing streets now required heightened focus and trust in my vision, whereas before it relied solely on my sense of hearing. Communicating with my friend was exceptionally difficult in these circumstances.
My friend’s communication was challenging, causing frustration and irritation. To improve my mood, I opted to take a shower which turned out to be as invigorating as my nap. It provided me with new sensations, particularly the incredible feeling of water on my skin that left me feeling rejuvenated. Afterward, I joined my son in the living room where he was watching TV. Despite continuously increasing the volume and repeatedly asking him to repeat what was being said on TV, my frustration and irritation persisted as I still couldn’t grasp it.
Feeling frustrated with my son, I went out to buy fresh fruits. Walking to the market, I felt uneasy and couldn’t hear any vehicles passing by. Inside the self-serve fruit market, everything went smoothly and I could see the total at the cashier. Encouraged by this success, I also visited the fish market where things didn’t go as well. I ended up yelling at a confused clerk, possibly because he noticed my headphones and thought I was being rude. Despite buying Red Snapper and Salmon, I still felt disturbed.
Upon my return home, I found myself alone in the kitchen, a rare occurrence like my earlier nap and shower. In that moment, all of my attention was fixated on the food before me. It felt as if I were engaged in a passionate affair with my meal, completely undistracted by anything else. The sensations inundated me – I could perceive the texture of the ingredients and inhale the fragrant components while preparing the Red Snapper.
Later during a late lunch, both my friend and son joined me despite their hearing difficulties. Their expressions and gestures served as indicators to assess how successful my cooking endeavors had been. It brought immense satisfaction to know that they appreciated my skills despite my impairment. Subsequently, my friend and I embarked on a trip to the Laurentians where he exhibited remarkable patience towards me as I navigated life with a hearing impairment.
As we leisurely savored each moment of our journey, I became more observant than ever before. Even seemingly trivial things captured my attention – license plates were meticulously examined as I attempted to establish connections with those inside passing vehicles. Though this activity may have seemed purposeless, it surprisingly provided an exhilarating experience.When we arrived at Mont Saint Sauver, my dear friend and I immediately prioritized indulging in ice cream. We both opted for a blizzard made with Oreo and Smarties, which provided an indescribably heavenly experience that rejuvenated all of my taste senses. Additionally, I had the privilege of trying my friend’s strawberry sundae, which was absolutely astounding. These new flavors prompted me to contemplate how the loss of one sense can impact others.
Throughout my assignment, I closely observed these differences and concluded that losing one sense leads us to appreciate the remaining ones more deeply. We are able to savor flavors more intensely, have an enhanced sense of touch, and a heightened ability to smell. However, this does not mean our senses become stronger overall; it simply signifies that losing one sense causes us to value the others more profoundly.
This transformation occurred within me during this course as well. It has taught me valuable lessons about myself and instilled gratitude for what I possess instead of dwelling on what I lack. This exceptional learning experience has reshaped my perspective on individuals with impairments and directed me towards Therapeutic Recreation—a field that greatly interests me.
I firmly believe that people with various impairments should have access to fitness activities and other community eventsEnrolling in this thought-provoking course has brought immense satisfaction into my life. I have decided to include a table on different levels of hearing impairment in my paper because it intrigued me during my research. After conducting the experiment, I found that my hearing loss falls within the moderate category, which is between 30 to 50 decibels (dB). This means that even when someone communicated with me from close range, I could only understand a small amount and had difficulty following the conversation. Dealing with this disability was challenging as many details were missed out. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and take pride in using all five senses.
The table below shows the various levels of auditory impairment (source: http://www.opi.state.mt.us).
The educational implications of hearing threshold level can be summarized as follows:
– Slight to Mild hearing loss (15 to 30 decibels dB):
Individuals with this level of hearing loss may struggle to understand faint or distant speech. While louder sounds, such as vowel sounds and sounds with vocal vibration, are audible, voiceless consonants like “th” and “s” may go unnoticed. Amplification can generally help these individuals as speech is vital for communication.
– Moderate hearing loss (30 to 50 decibels dB):
Individuals with this degree of hearing loss need to be close to the speaker in order to comprehend speech. Many speech sounds at a normal conversational level will be missed. Amplification often benefits most individuals with this level of hearing loss since speech plays a crucial role in their communication.
Severe hearing loss is characterized by 50 to 70 decibels (dB). In order to be understood, speech must be very loud and delivered at a close range. Engaging in group conversations becomes challenging. However, loud environmental sounds can still be heard. The use of amplification is likely to be beneficial. Additionally, considering non-speech language alternatives like sign language may also provide benefits.
Individuals with a hearing loss of 70 decibels (dB) or higher experience profound hearing loss. These individuals primarily use visual communication rather than relying on hearing for communication. Sign language combined with amplification can be beneficial for speech reading and perceiving the rhythm patterns of speech and loud environmental sounds.
References:
Internet sites:
– http://www.opi.state.mt.us
– http://www.med.govt.nz/pbt/infotech/disability.html
– http:// www.cad.ca
Books:
– Burkey, John .M. (2003). Overcoming Hearing Aid Fears: The Road to Better Hearing, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press
– Marshak Laura E., Prezant Fran, Seligman Milton (1999). Disability and the Family Life Cycle. New York: Basic Books
Resources for people with Hearing Impairments in Montreal:
– CHIP is located at the Mackay Centre, 3500 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J5. (514) 482-0500 local 215,
– The Raymond-Dewar Institute is located 3600 Berri St., Montreal, Quebec,H2L 4G9. (514) 284-2581. www.raymond-dewar.qc.ca
