Please share your expertise - I'm so screwed!

[madmax]

Hey kids, I'm hearing impaired. I can hear some sounds and not others. Speach is hard, sirens, whistles - high frequency tones. I hear low tones better. Diagnosis: Sensory nueral hearing loss - both ears, progressive. Not a candidate for hearing aids.

Up until this week I thought I was doing pretty good. CC Tv, a husband who makes phone calls for me - I can't hear on the phone.

Well this week all hell broke loose. We moved to NC from NJ the end of June. My husband has a new job and they sent him to Atlanta for 2 weeks. On Tuesday I went to the grocery store. I had 3 bags and was trying to put one bag into another to consolidate when I dropped on bag and proceed to trip over it. I fell hard to my knees and my full weight landed on the backs of ankles via the rear end. Ok, so people help me up, I stand.. not too bad so far. Go home ice them. As the night progresses they swell more the pain is unberable. I crawl on my sore knees to get a waste basket to bring near the bed because I can't walk to the bathroom, I gather a lot of other stuff and pull myself up on the bed. By morning I was a mess, I was alone, no way to call anyone. I only have a cell phone which is pretty useless since I can't hear on it but, even if it worked - it doesn't work in this area.. I don't know why, too many trees or whatever.

This is way to long! Shorter version. Emailed my son in NJ who called someone I know in NC, who called the Apartment office, who came over and knocked good thing I left the door open or she wouldn't have entered using her key. Some sort of privacy issue, even tho she was told I couldn't walk and am hearing impaired. She called EMT's who took me to the hospital. Yada, yada, x-rays, not broken. Bad sprain to both ankles, torn ligaments, meds, ice, keep feet elevated at home. Done! A nice lady I never met before gave me a ride home. I only had 10.00 on me - not enough for a cab.

OK, after all that - this is what I'd like to ask of you guys.

Is TTY worth getting? Is it still available.

What devices are available for someone like me? I'm 57 and new gagets drive me nuts. But, ok - I'll have to learn to use them if that's what I have to do.

How should I set up an emergency plan - I really hate to bother people.

For the first time in my life I felt totally helpless. I wasn't born hearing impaired - it started in my 20's and progressed. Doctors have told me we're the worst hearing impaired people because we had normal hearing at one time and it's harder to adjust to the loss.

Please share your advice, knowledge and suggestions.

Thank you - Scared witless.

[recoveringrepublican]

1. I don't use TTY, but i711.com relay service

they do NOT take emergency calls though, but it might be helpful if it's not a life or death emergency. It takes some getting use to though, if you have questions feel free to pm me.

Also look into seeing if your state provides free relay phones. I live in Florida and I had a voice-over-relay Captel phone. When I would call people I could "hear" their voices and they could hear me respond, but there was an operator from Sprint who would type out what the other person was saying for me and the text appeared on a little screen on the phone. For people to call you using this service they have to dial a 1-800 number, if they call your normal phone number no operator will be on the line (unless you have two phone lines/fax, then you can set it up so they don't have to dial the special number). All of this was provided to me for free by the state. If you have a hearing aid provider or audiologist they may know who to contact.

I find it easier to use i711.com (sprint also has a relay service www.sprintip.com/index.jsp) then my voice over phone though.

You sound a lot like me. I'm 28, started loosing my hearing when I was 17, went through a lot of shit emotionally, but have now came to a point where I can see the benefits and enjoy being deaf (I don't hear high frequency sounds until they are as loud as a jet).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have a landline, even if you don't have service, you should still be able to call 911. Even if you can't hear, they can hear you, just say "I'm deaf (don't say hard of hearing, people seems clueless as to what that really means, and things just get too confusing), please send help to 321 elm street" over and over.

Right now my computer is on the fritz, but I'm more than willing to help you look into all this. If you are working please contact Vocational rehab, they might have better ideas for where you live.

[recoveringrepublican]

2. Also....

forgot to tell you the difference between CapTel phones http://www.captionedtelephone.com/ and online relay service. With Captel, the person you are calling will not know there is an operator unless you tell them (and there will be a delay, so it's just easier if they know). With online relay the person being called cannot hear you, the operator speaks for you as you type. A lot of business (and yes, public services unfortunatly) have no clue as to what this service is or they think it is a scam (due to idiots using it for bullshit).

I like relay as I got it down how to stop people from hanging up. You can type in special instructions for the operator. If I'm calling someone who I'm not sure is familiar with relay I instruct the operator to say "I'm calling for a deaf woman looking to make an appointment" or whatever your business is calling. Also if you use relay, be nice to the operators!! lol They put up with so much crap from scammers, pranksters, and frustrated deaf/hoh people.

[recoveringrepublican]

3. some New Jersey links

http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddhh/index.html


http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/10/new_jersey_sele.html

hope that helps somewhat....Also if you want a great source of information for the deaf/hoh please check out this board.

www.alldeaf.com

[Hawkeye-X]

5. She moved to NC not NJ

Check with the Vocational Rehab in NC...

http://dvr.dhhs.state.nc.us/


http://dsdhh.dhhs.state.nc.us/

[Hawkeye-X]

4. TTY is the essential need for 911 phone calls

Nowadays the E-911 (Enhanced 911) has to accept TTY calls. I'm sure with the people moving on withe video technology, the TTYs are selling extremely cheap (I still have a old one we barely use now).

Other technologies are avaliable like i711 (like recovering republican mentioned) but does not take 911 calls, if you happen to have a local emergency number handy, it will help as well.

If you have any other deaf friends and/or know sign language, you can utilize what we use now - a video technology (VP) that will allow you to communicate on the phone.

E-mail is also helpful.

Hope these info helps.

Hawkeye-X

[madmax]

6. Thank you, I'm so paranoid now.

I've never felt 'handicapped' or 'disabled' until this happened. I'm going to check out all your suggestions. And thanks Hawkeye for posting that I'm in NC now. I need to update my DU thingy.

How does a hearing impaired person handle calling AAA from the road if you break down. Holy Moley, I think I'll be giving myself migraines playing 'what if' scenarious.

My husband and I have never been apart in 25 years for more than 4 days. This Atlanta trip is 16 days - I fell halfway thru his trip. I love him but, I hate being so dependent on anyone. I find myself obsessing about 'what will I do if anything happens to him' and damnit it's a bitch to get older. Now I understand how my Mom felt.

[Lowell]

7. I can't help but wonder

about your health care plan. You sound like you are impaired enough to benefit from hearing aids to me. Have you checked again since you relocated?

Personally I don't like phones at all. And I find TTY aggravating because I can never find my glasses to read the text.

I think you should have your hearing re-evaluated in your new location. I lost my hearing as a result of exposure to a lot of gunfire and explosives nearly thirty years ago. Hearing aids help.