It is estimated that 90 % of people with vision loss generally obtain glasses to correct their loss. It is estimated that only 25 % of people with hearing loss obtain hearing aids. Hearing aids are very good at amplifying the sound and bring the volume back to normal. However, all hearing loss is not conductive. Much of it is perceptive--unable to distinguish between many words.
The audiogram easily measures the hearing loss with a curve which we all are familiar with. However, it's the perception or discimination score that is far more important. This is the part of an audiogram when the audiologist turns up the back ground noise and repeats the works for you to say back to her. One frequently finds discrimination scores that are in the 80s and 90s which means that you are able to correctly identify 80-90% of the words stated. If it is 80%, you hear 8 words out of ten. Thus people with hearing impairment of the perceptive type with an 80 % score can discriminate 8 words out of ten. That is why people with hearing impairment don't hear the first word or two and always work backwards to determine the first word of a sentence. It is important for people talking to a person with hearing aids, to always speak in sentences. To say "yes" or "no" is seldom understood. So always say, "Yes, you can." or "No you can't" for proper understanding by the person with loss of hearing.
However, if your discrimination score, when the audiologist plays street noise or restaurant or kitchen noise and goes through the same work recognition test and your score drops to 40%, that means you hear four words out of ten and you no long can put a sentence together. That's why people with hearing aids watch your lips very carefully since lip reading helps understanding. Never talk to a person wearing hearing aids from his back or side. Wait until you have his attention and speak to him directly from the front.
People with hearing problems of the peception type with poor discrimination scores, have huge problems when dining. WIth back ground noise, they have great difficulty communicating across the table.
We are in the process of rating restaurants to facilitate those with hearing loss dine. We would like your help when you dine to rate the restaurant whether they are sensitive to people with hearing loss. When you make a reservation and ask for a quiet table was it quiet? Were they sensitive to your predicament and tried to accommodate?
Please respond to this blog with your rating of the restaurants. Although we are in the Sacramento area, we are interested in restaurants throughout California and adjacent states being rated for travelers. Our long term goal is to rate restaurants throughout the country for all travelers.
Delbert H Meyer, MD
Hearing score: 80%
Discrimination score: 40%
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