Hey there,
If you’ve checked our website blogs or social media posts recently, you may be aware that this August is kind of special… It’s Hearing Health Awareness Month!
This is a great time to keep everyone informed about the dangers of hearing loss. And today, it’s never been more important.
The pandemic has led to many wearing face masks. But while these reduce transmission, they’ve become troublesome for the hard of hearing – and especially those who rely on lip reading.
“Hearing Health Awareness Month” is our chance to educate and support those in the community who have new concerns.
Not everyone is as brave as you. But the team aims to help as many as possible embark on their journey to better hearing this August.
Would you like to help?
If you would like to be part of spreading the word, there are a couple of activities you can do.
First, consider who among your friends and loved ones may be suffering from a hearing challenge – this may be something that has become more apparent to you in recent times.
Then, ask them if they would consider a comprehensive hearing assessment. Just this simple question from someone with experience can make it far easier for others to seek help.
Second, if you’re feeling ready to reach out to more people, the team is looking for people to share their journeys to better hearing.
These will be posted on the website and will allow others to understand how successful hearing treatment can provide amazing results for people across Florida.
We appreciate all you do.
Updates from Our Offices at Preferred Hearing Centers
After a short period where the office was closed due to high transmission rates, it was fantastic to reopen again on July 20 for hearing tests and patients’ urgent needs.
The team has now put in place a stricter set of protocols. Anyone who comes to the centers must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth.
The staff will also take forehead temperature checks of everyone passing through our doors and will continue to wipe down surfaces before and after appointments.
Patients may experience a few delays with new orders and repairs to their hearing aids. This is due to disruptions in manufacturer supply chains resulting from the pandemic.
While this is out of our control, the team hopes wait times will reduce over the following month.
And in other news, everyone is so happy to welcome two new staff members to Preferred Hearing: Iris J. Lazo and Alison J. Brooks. They are looking forward to meeting you in person!
Why Face Masks Hinder Sign Language
Throughout the last few months, many with even a minor hearing loss have faced communication challenges due to face masks.
But a group that has been one of the worst affected are those who communicate purely through American Sign Language.
One person who knows all about this is Lori Whynot, a Northeastern University professor who interprets for the governor of Massachusetts.
Wearing a mask while signing “is like listening to a muffled message,” she explained to News@Northeastern, with mouth movements key to “modifying verbs and nouns.”
This is why sign language translators need to show their faces when on TV. But also, why clear face coverings remain crucial for daily communication.
If you’ve experienced difficulties due to face masks, contact the team at Preferred Hearing Centers.
Patient Resources
Why Have Face Masks Created a Barrier for The Hard of Hearing?
Get a detailed insight into why face coverings have made communication particularly difficult for the hard of hearing…
Helping a Loved One Understand the Benefits of a Hearing Aid
If you know a loved one who might benefit from advanced hearing care, find out how to address this topic with them…
Have a question or need help? We’re here for you!
Call us at
(407) 499-8328 (East Orlando, FL),
(407) 329-9486 (South Orlando, FL),
(407) 942-7715 (Winter Springs, FL).
Have a great August!
The team at Preferred Hearing Centers
