SWANSEA HARD OF HEARING GROUP
Newsletter
September 2016
Hello again. The next meeting will be on
Date: Friday 2nd September Time: 3.30p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Venue:Discovery Room in the Central Library in the Civic Centre.
For those who haven’t been there before, the room is at the far end of the first floor – there is access by both lift and stairs. Parking is free and the Metro bus stops outside.
Last meeting
We had a good speaker from the Fire and Rescue Service who gave us an excellent summary of their activities. We saw a dramatic video highlighting just how fast a fire can spread. The Fire Service are keen to carry out fire safety checks in your own home and will provide and fit free smoke alarms. For those of us with poor hearing, the alarms can include a vibrator that goes under your pillow and will wake you at night. If you are interested, you can contact them at or on 0800 169 1234 or at any Fire Station.
Next meeting
Steve Pascoe, Chief Audiologist at Singleton Hospital, is coming to bring us up to date with developments within the NHS audiology services. He will be happy to answer any queries you may have about NHS hearing aids.
Another important part of the meeting will be to welcome Mike Hedges, Assembly Member for Swansea East, as our new President. Mike has been a strong supporter of our Group since we started as he has personal experience of our problems through his sister who is deaf.
Outings
The last one this year willhave happened by the time of the meeting. We have funding for one more and this will be arranged in the spring of 2017.
Taking noise off the menu
Action on Hearing Loss have a new campaign – Speak Easy – to reduce unwanted background noise in restaurants and pubs. This is something we can all relate to – being hard of hearing is bad enough in itself, but a nightmare with obtrusive back-ground music. It is also something we can all do something about by asking for the music to be turned down.
Whilst many people with perfect hearing would also welcome less noise, we stand more chance of success if we explain how much it affects us. We don’t have to be aggressive about it – just a polite request and explanation will often work. If we all try every time, the message will get through eventually. Well worth trying!
Television sound
The latest issue of the Action on Hearing Loss magazine has several fascinating articles but one small item might help some of us. In the early days, television sets had their loudspeakers built in to the front, often underneath the screen. The modern wide screen, however, has much smaller loudspeakers at the back. This means that the sound you hear is all reflected off the wall behind the set. Inevitability, the sound quality is impaired.
The answer is to get a pair of separate speakers to place alongside the screen. These need not be expensive; the small ones sold with computers will do. These can be plugged into a socket on the back of the TV and will make quite a difference to the clarity of the sound you hear.
Mishearing
Receptionist thinks caller said “Can I speak to a Ned, please”.
“Sorry, Sir, we don’t have anyone of that name”
“Yes you do – she’s my wife”
“Could you give me the name again”
“CAN I SPEAK TO A NED”
Thinks, ‘she’ ‘a ned’ ‘ah’ – “Annette – putting you through”
Finally
We look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it on Friday2nd September.
Doug 07866 191179 (text or phone)
Jean (01792)
Alison 07974 120996 (text or phone)