Any Deaf, Hard of hearing Nurses?

Babs0512 · Nov 17, 2008

I have some hearing loss, probably due to the constant ringing in my ears. My hearing loss isn't enough yet for hearing aids, but just for future reference, how did you all afford hearing aids? Did your insurance cover them?

Blessings

allycat4 · Nov 17, 2008

INsurance for aids?/ I am waiting for the day to happen!!I pay out of my pocket. It depends where u go. Some places may offer payment plans with a initial down payment. Others like most hospitals won't. There are progams out there like DSCC which are funded by the state where they offer financial assistance fully or partially based on your income. But if I am not mistaken its mostly for children. Or pay on ur credit card where its mostly accepted anywhere. Its tough cuz they are expensive. I do know that public aid pays for them to people who don't work but they are restricted to certain places to go and how much to spend.

TexasNurseEducator · Nov 21, 2008

How do you contact this association? I have a Nurse Refresher student that I would like to pass the info on to. Also, does anyone know of a stethoscope that fits over the ear. She has hearing aids in the ear and the littman does not work for her.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Nov 26, 2008

Cardionics makes a scope with earphones that go over the ear. They also make a thing that hooks into a boot jack on the back end of a BTE hearing aid.

I have been reading an article in some diabetic magazine that my director left me and it had a picture and description of a BTE hearing aid with no ear mold. It just has a little microphone sticking in the ear canal from the part that goes over the ear. I wonder, has anyone tried that thing and would it work with a stethoscope jammed in there, or would ya have to take the hearing aids out?

derektrn97 · Dec 7, 2008

completely deaf here and extensive exp as an ER Nurse prior to losing the last bit of it. Look me up and maybe we can help each other with ideas about getting past the stigma of "deaf people".

no luck so far with reacquiring a job, even though I am totally qualified.

TorontoGrad2009 · Dec 11, 2008

Hi all,

I am also hard of hearing. I am a nursing student and I am deeply concerned about how my hearing loss will impact my abilities to succeed in nursing.

I recently got hearing aids which help me a lot when I have to communicate with patients who can't speak louder than normal.

What troubles me is when I have to use the stethoscope. I have to take the hearing aid and then stick in the stethoscope. I got my hearing aids from the Canadian Hearing Society and I asked them if they can make a stethoscope which goes over the hearing aid. Unfortunately, I was told that such thing does not exist yet

Also, I was wondering if I should take them out (the hearing aids) when I have a job interview. What do you think? I am really concerned that they would think that I wouldn't be an effective nurse.

Any thoughts or comments is appreciated.

derektrn97 · Dec 11, 2008

Toronto,

look above my post and read that post. I have personally worked with paramedics and doctors using bilateral hearing aides. It can be done, you may have to prove proficiency in your assessment skills, but once you have done that, with or without the use of stethoscopes aides, you should be okay.

Whatever happens, keep us informed about how it goes.

theatredork · Dec 30, 2008

Cardionics makes a scope with earphones that go over the ear. They also make a thing that hooks into a boot jack on the back end of a BTE hearing aid.

Thank you so much for posting the name of that stethoscope company. I have been looking for something like that for ages. It's cumbersome to take my hearing aids out every time I need to listen to lung sounds. I wear bilateral ITE hearing aids and I often only listen with my better ear to cut down on time.

I've had these hearing aids for over 5 years, and I'm actually thinking of going back to BTE models. I have a moderate-to severe loss in my left ear, and moderate loss in my right ear. That last audiologist that did my hearing exam said I would benefit more from the BTE model.

allycat4 · Dec 30, 2008

burn vict. rn...

its true...bte aides are bigger and carry more power. you can't built lot of power in the ite aides. they are made for patients with mild - begin moderate loss. when u hit moderate to severe..u definitely need bte aides type of power to keep listening skills intact and those nerves stimulating in the ears.

I have met at a cochlear conference where people like you and i who wear aides eventually get cochlears because they don't benefit from aides at all. They are working people just like yourself who just don't give up. They really do fine at their jobs also. Its nice to meet people like that. They inspire me and give me hope to keep on going despite our hearing problems.

Glad you found your steth and good luck. Stay strong.

tmwhalens · Jan 17, 2009

I am HOH, and have been since birth. My biological mother (I am adopted) was HOH, and because of that she did not hear a train coming as she was driving across the tracks. She was taken off life support two weeks later. My left ear is worse (severe) than my right one (moderately-severe). I should have pursued a career in nursing many years ago, but did not because of my handicap. I have reached a point in my life --- actually, I met the Lord in prayer about a month ago --- where I am tired of letting my handicap stop me from reaching my dreams. I know that I have the intelligence to do well in the classes and on the state boards, it will just be a matter of self-discipline and making sure that I find accomodations for my hearing loss. Great to meet everyone else here!

allycat4 · Jan 17, 2009

tmwhalens,

Very sorry to hear your story about your mom. I was touched by it.

Do you wear aides? two of them?

You sound confident in yourself so you should start off by sitting down with an advisor at a community college or university and see what help they will offer if you apply for the nursing program. I am aware of myself that I used a notetaker in some of my classes. They have interpreters and other services to offer at the disabilties office in all schools. Maybe this can be some help that if they explain how they will accomodate you then that will push you to pursue your nursing career. If you read in some of the other threads here, many HOH nurses have bought special stethocopes for their clinicals and jobs. So there is hope and you can do it. I hope I helped ease a little and but go ahead and make that phone call to your school that your interested in. Talk to couselors and advisors and the disablities office and show them that you want this dream.

Good Luck. :up:

tmwhalens · Jan 20, 2009

tmwhalens,
Very sorry to hear your story about your mom. I was touched by it.
Do you wear aides? two of them?
You sound confident in yourself so you should start off by sitting down with an advisor at a community college or university and see what help they will offer if you apply for the nursing program. I am aware of myself that I used a notetaker in some of my classes. They have interpreters and other services to offer at the disabilties office in all schools. Maybe this can be some help that if they explain how they will accomodate you then that will push you to pursue your nursing career. If you read in some of the other threads here, many HOH nurses have bought special stethocopes for their clinicals and jobs. So there is hope and you can do it. I hope I helped ease a little and but go ahead and make that phone call to your school that your interested in. Talk to couselors and advisors and the disablities office and show them that you want this dream.
Good Luck.

Heeyyyyy (waves hand). I wearing hearing aides in both ears. I have been to college before (AS Computer & Information Technology), so I am quite familiar with the whole "advisor" deal. I know what needs to be done in order to apply for the nursing program. Get my CNA license and CPR certification, then take the pre-requisites for the nursing program. That's about it, unless there is something I'm missing here? I would probably...maybe...not sure...need a notetaker. You know, it appears that I am going to be on my own in terms of finding an electronic stethoscope. The last time I talked to the disabilities department and the nursing department they seemed to have no clue about those types of equipment. It was almost like "a HOH nurse? I've never heard of that!".