Be 'Somebody' and Speak Up for Hearing Accommodations
- Ruth Bernstein
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Sound Advice by Ruth D. Bernstein
I have been talking and writing about coping with hearing loss for many years. One of my first articles, “Everybody Is Somebody” appeared for the first time in a.b.c. Reports, the newsletter edited by Arlene Romoff. It has been reprinted several times in CHC's e-newsletter, the Buzz.
The theme of the article is that everyone who has a hearing loss or who knows someone who has trouble hearing is a somebody. They should speak up and ask for help in receiving the hearing accommodations they need, something I've been doing ever since I became an advocate.
In honor of my advocacy work, the Center for Hearing and Communication created a Lifetime Service Award in my
name, which I received at the annual Board and Awards
meeting on May 7, 2025. I was very moved by this special
recognition.
Acknowledging a Disability Takes Courage
People who have a hearing loss seldom acknowledge their disability. It’s easy to hide the fact you can’t hear, especially if you have a spouse, relative or friend who is willing to be your “ears.” Very few people find the courage to be a “somebody” and say, “I have a hearing loss. Please make eye contact with me when you speak and talk a little slower than you usually do.”
My Recent Opportunity to Be a Somebody
I had the opportunity to be a somebody this February when I fell, broke a bone in my hip and spent six weeks in rehab, recuperating. It was a very stressful physical and listening situation for me.
To minimize the stress, I decided to use captioning on my phone instead of wearing my CI and hearing aid. I informed staff I was deaf and needed to use captions to understand what was being said by the many people I dealt with on a daily basis.
They understood and came to appreciate one of my favorite lines, "the number you have reached is temporarily disconnected," as they waited patiently while I turned on the Live Transcribe captioning app on my phone. In addition to making it possible for me to cooperate with my treatment and take the stress out of listening situations, I was pleased that using the app was a learning opportunity for staff, some of whom asked for more information about captioning.
Speak Up and Help the Hearing Loss Community
My experience being a somebody was so positive, it reinforced that asking for the help we need is definitely worthwhile. I hope you have the courage to be a somebody. When you speak up and ask for the hearing accommodations you need, you will be helping yourself and the hearing loss community.
Thank you.
Ruth D. Bernstein Hearing Access Ambassador