Advocacy
Note To Steve Jobs: Why Isn’t The Apple iPhone Hearing-Aid Compatible?
I can’t believe Apple failed to make its iPhone compatible with either hearing aids or cochlear implants. I’m in the market for a mobile phone again and just discovered the lack of compatibility. Given all the hype surrounding the iPhone launch, I’m surprised there haven’t been more complaints. Read more
Tell Your Congressional Reps To Support Hearing-Aid Tax Credits
It’s time to call your U.S. Senators and Representatives again to tell them to support the Hearing Aid Tax Credit – a $500 tax break for first-time buyers of hearing aids. This is the third year in a row bills have been introduced in both the Senate (S. 1410) and House (H.R. 2329). Read more
Untreated Hearing Loss Will Take A Huge Bite Out Of Your Income
Yesterday was Labor Day in the U.S., and that got me thinking about just how much harder it is to get through a working day now than before I lost much of my hearing. To quantify the problem, I went back to a study released earlier this year by the Better Hearing Institute, which found that Americans with untreated hearing loss earned less income than people with normal hearing to the tune of $23,000 a year, on average, or over $100 billion a year nationwide. Read more
Sleeping Through Smoke Detector Alarm Can Get Hard-Of-Hearing Killed
I’m a heavy sleeper. I’ve tried alarm clocks that wake up the neigbors, and I even tried my dad’s portable bed shaker that registers on the Richter scale. But the only way I can wake up to catch my bus in the morning is my mom emptying an ice cube tray on me. Read more
American Medical Association Studies Apple iPod Ear-Bud Volume Warning
The American Medical Association (AMA) will consider recommendations to make to manufacturers, regulators and consumers on dealing with the threat of hearing loss from Apple iPods and other portable music players with in-the-ear headphones. Read more
Apple Should Do More To Help Prevent Hearing Loss Among iPod Users
Ever since Apple was sued by a Louisiana man claiming his iPod caused irreparable hearing loss, I’ve been scratching my head about vendors’ responsibility to prevent hearing loss versus individuals’ responsibility to take care of their own health. Read more
I’m Still Waiting For CapTel Captioned Telephone Service In Massachusetts
Last night I finally got some answers to my questions about why CapTel service still isn’t available in my home state of Massachusetts, even after 35 other states have gotten the captioned telephone service up and running. Read more
CapTel Phone Captioning Now Available In 32 States
I’m still a CapTel wannabee. With Sprint Nextel’s recent announcement of the addition of CapTel Relay Service in New Hampshire, the real-time telephone captioning service is now available in 32 states. It’s also available to current and retired federal employees including military veterans, as well as to U.S. tribal members. But it’s not available in Massachusetts, where I live. Read more