March 2011
Department of Children & Families
March 2011
Our Responsibility
• Effective Communication
• HHS Agreement
• Assistive Listening Device (ALD)
March 2011
Department of Children & Families
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In This Training…
• Basic Facts
• Tips
• Instruction
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Department of Children & Families
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Effective Communication
• Auxiliary Aid Plan
• Ask
• Customer/Companion Communication
Assessment and Auxiliary Aid/Service
Record form
• Single Point-of-Contact
• Critical Partner for ALD or Service
To best serve our customers and their companions
who are deaf and hard-of-hearing , it is important
that we all understand their needs
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Department of Children & Families
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Basic Facts
DEAF
• Sense of hearing is nonfunctional,
with or without assistive technology
• Communication is visual
• Congenital or acquired
• Qualified/Certified Interpreter
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Department of Children & Families
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Basic Facts
HARD-OF-HEARING
• Mild to profound
• One or both ears
• Prefer to communicate orally
• Body language
• Amplification
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Department of Children & Families
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Basic Facts
LATE-DEAFENED
• Hearing loss that began into or after
adolescence
• Moderate to profound
• May have hearing aids
• Occurs suddenly or gradually over the
years
• Similar needs to Hard-of-Hearing
• Prefers oral communication
• Assistive Listening Device
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Recognition
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Visible hearing aid
Strain to hear
Squinting or looking intensely at your face
Leaning in when you speak
Cocking their head to one side
Cupping their palm around their ear
Ask to repeat
Not responding to questions appropriately
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Misconceptions
• Hearing aids restore hearing
• People will tell you if they
can’t hear you
• Speech-reading replaces the
need for an interpreter or
other accommodation
Respect allows you to move beyond
stereotypes and deal with the
person’s need for communication
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Levels of Hearing Loss
• People don’t necessarily lose hearing in all
pitches equally
• High or low tones
• Background noise
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Communication
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Sensitivity
Courtesy
Common sense
Shared responsibility
Respectfully ask
Do whatever works in your
situation to help both of you
communicate more effectively
-Modified from "Deaf & Hearing People: Working Together," National
Technical Institute for the Deaf Center, Center on Employment
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TIPS: Show You Care…
• Ask the person how to get his or her
attention (tap on shoulder, waving)
• Get the person's attention before you speak
• Avoid noisy background situations
• Be sure that your face can be clearly seen
• No objects in your mouth (gum, cigarettes,
or food)
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace
-Modified from "Deaf & Hearing People: Working Together," National
Technical Institute for the Deaf Center, Center on Employment
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Show You Care…
• Light sources (windows and artificial lighting)
should be on your face and not behind your
head
• Use facial expressions and gestures
• Let your listener know if and when the topic
changes
• Rephrase don’t repeat
-Modified from "Deaf & Hearing People: Working Together," National
Technical Institute for the Deaf Center, Center on Employment
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Show You Care…
• Don't shout
• Talk to not about
• Ask for suggestions to improve
communication
• Encourage questions for clarification
• Be patient, positive, and relaxed
-Modified from "Deaf & Hearing People: Working Together," National
Technical Institute for the Deaf Center, Center on Employment
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Department of Children & Families
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TIPS: Reducing Background
Noise
• Indoors away from distracting noises
• Meeting room at the end of hallway or less
“traffic”
• Turn off distractions that you can control
• Close the door
• Empty rooms with hard walls
• Person with a hearing loss should sit with
their back against the wall - helps reduce
interference
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Department of Children & Families
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Group Situations and Meetings
Before
• Layout
• ALDs or Amplifying system set up and ready
• Quiet, well-lit room
During
• Choose their seating preference
• Watch for signals to speak
• Ensure that one person speaks at a time
• Speak clearly and slowly
• Do not talk with your back to the audience
After
March 2011
Department of Children & Families
• Notes taken for future reference
• Review critical issues to ensure understanding
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What is an Assistive Listening
Device (ALD)?
• Use with or without hearing aids
• Can improve hearing in the presence of
background noise, listening on the phone or to
television and improve hearing at a distance
• Less stress and fatigue
• Improved hearing
Any type of amplification
device that can communicate
more effectively
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Department ALDs
Pocketalker
Motiva Personal FM
Listening Device
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Instructions: Pocketalker
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Best for one-to-one
Ear buds or headphones
Amplify sound 10 feet or less
Check and demonstrate
Test for improvement
Return for next use
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Department of Children & Families
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Instructions: Motiva Personal
FM Listening System
• Large groups/meetings
• Amplifies sound
• Transmitter, microphone,
receivers, ear buds/headphone
• 10 feet or more
• Works properly
• Test for improvement
• Return for next use
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Department of Children & Families
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Additional Resources
DCF Internet: www.dcf.state.fl.us
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Department of Children & Families
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Summary
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Auxiliary Aids Plan
Single Point-of-Contact
ALDs
Effective Communication
Sensitivity, Courtesy and Common Sense
How and when to use ALDs
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Department of Children & Families
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Congratulations! You have
completed the DCF “Use of Assistive
Listening Devices” training.
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Department of Children & Families
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