I shot this image while watching Frederick Wiseman's superb new documentary "Ex Libris: The New York Public Library", a 3-hour visit that examines all sides of that wonderful institution. One of the curiosities of Wiseman's style is that there is neither narrator nor captioning, so all you know is what the camera saw and heard.
Thus, I do not know who this handsome face belongs to, but he is a famous writer who gave a public talk at the public library! This segment of the film demonstrated the depth and excellence of the library's live presentations. The speaker's use of the microphone was masterful; he was talking, not singing. I wished to preserve the image to share. As a hard-of-hearing person, I'm especially sensitive to situations where the mic is used both well and poorly. This picture shows how to do it right!
A mic is designed for the voice to "flow over it", rather than receiving it 'head on'. Hold the mic an inch or two from your mouth--NOT halfway down your front!
Frederick Wiseman is 87 and this is his 41st film!!
www.zipporah.com/films/46
Tags: libs&libs man African American jacket microphone mic face speaking use how to technology audio speaker speech lecture recording movie film writer Frederick Wiseman Ex Libris unknown HOH famous NYPL library presentation public speaking new york city public library
If you are hard-of-hearing, look for signs like this one in public places. I call it the "blue ear", but actually it is an ear on a blue background! It denotes what's called an "Assistive Listening Device" (ALD).
There are various kinds of technical systems to boost hearing in a lecture situation--this ALD happens to be infrared (IR), but other common ones are "Hearing Loop" (induction) and "FM". Does your local library have such a system in its lecture room?
Ask and Suggest!
Tags: hearing ALD libs&libs Koret HOH hard of hearing blue ear sign SFPL library san francisco
"Assistive Listening Device". If you have hearing loss--enough so that you have trouble understanding speech at a lecture or performance--keep your eye open for--or inquire about!--systems like this which can help. This one involves checking out a headphone. Ask an usher or the box office. Seen at Zellerbach Hall (theater) on the UC Berkeley campus.
Only by speaking up--and advocating for yourself--will assistive devices like this one become more common in public life. Hearing loss remains the "invisible disability", usually not catered for in American society, while vision and mobility issues have come to be recognized and provided for.
For more information about hearing loss and what you can do--for yourself and others--see the website of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) here:
www.hearingloss.org/
www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing-assistive-technology
Tags: hearing hearingloss FM ALD HOH disability ADA ear logo poster technology theater speech deaf listen sign
My friend, Carrie, hearing instrument specialist (HIS), programming my new optional external microphone to be used together with my ReSound hearing aids.
If you have hearing loss (Perhaps you are afraid to admit it? Don't be! The longer you wait, the more you will fall behind in ability to communicate--it's a function of the aging brain.), now is the time to do something about it!! As in--buy AND USE hearing aids. Truthfully, one of the many reasons some needful people don't is the expense. These miniature computers for your two ears can be very expensive--as in thousands of dollars EACH. But, there's an alternative. Keep reading.
In America, there is a reputable way to avoid some of this cost and--not intending to advertise--the answer is Costco (for those of us who have access to a store). (For some countries, hearing aids/ear care is available through national health programs.) Costco's prices, for top quality name brand equipment, is about half what a private audiologist will charge. Volume trade is the way Costco achieves this. In my experience--and that of friends--Costco provides top quality service and support--write me privately with any questions about any aspect of hearing loss. I have info on self-help; have been studying the subject for over 5 years, and wearing hearing aids for 15.
If you are a US veteran with hearing loss, the VA hospital will fit you with an excellent hearing aid, free!
Important facts about hearing technicians in USA:
An AUDIOLOGIST (master or doctor of audiology--Au.M., or Au.D.) has graduate university training in audiology. This is one reason they are qualified to charge you more for their product. A HEARING INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST/DISPENSER (requirements differ by state) must complete more modest educational requirements--usually a high school diploma+special courses, not including university. In my 15 years of experience with hearing loss, and from considerable research, I find that the individual often makes the difference. Many of Costco's Hearing Specialists have been doing this work for decades and are very experienced and well informed, as well as helpful.
Unless your American provider has the letters Au.M.or Au.D. after their name, they are "short course" qualified, not university trained.
Read more here:
www.hearingtracker.com/ask/what-s-the-difference-between-...
Ask questions and feel good about your encounter, or don't buy!!
Please see my Album on HEARING.
EXPLORE-d!
Thanks, everyone!
Tags: HAs đź‘‚ hearingloss Costco woman technology hearingaids hearing ears disability accessible desk information hightech invisible microphone gadgets Costco hearing
Unfortunately, when a tour leader (birding, here) wears a hat like this it is VERY hard to understand what they are saying/sharing, unless they are facing you, which they seldom are. And when the tour group is upwards of 35-50 people it is pretty hopeless for someone like me who is hearing impaired. I have the latest technological ear equipment and considerable knowledge of the subject, and it's still a desert.
Leaders of outdoor/nature groups, take note!
Remember many of your audience are retired, and 1/2 to 2/3 of them are hard-of-hearing, whether they yet admit it or not!!
(The average period of 'denial' before getting hearing-devices is seven years.) And 'devices' only help up to a point.
From a professional page about speech(lip)-reading:
"Speech reading is often used synonymously with the term lip reading. Speech reading is using what you see on the speaker’s lips as well as facial expressions and gestures to understand conversation. One reason phone conversations can be particularly difficult for a hard of hearing person is the lack of a face to “read.” On the other hand, everyone, even those with normal hearing, uses visual cues. Next time you are in a very noisy room, notice how closely everyone watches as well as listens to understand."
Some tour groups use an outdoor microphone with a distant, portable speaker that a partner carries at the far side of the group. These systems work pretty well. But of course they cost money, take batteries, and need to be maintained and used properly.
Tags: hearing speechreading communication tourleading hat speaker bird watching birder tour leader hard of hearing