 | Charlie Lessons from Experience |
| Charlie Lessons from Experience |
We have let our ears be our eyes from birth. How could this be? It is called voice recognition. We use it every day on the telephone. Now that we do not see as well as we used to, our ears have become more important.
We more or less make it an automated habit to recognize people on the phone by their voice. You can also improve your visual recognition by giving attention to voice. This requires the person to say something. No problem. Make a statement or ask a question. "It's sure a nice day." or "How are you today?" If that doesn't work, say something like "Gee, I can't place your name." Nothing to be embarrassed about, as we seniors are known for having memory problems. You can also help the other person by saying "I'm so and so. I'm sorry that I cannot remember your name." Good luck.
Your ears can also help you cross the street. The simplest case is where a traffic signal makes a different sound for each street. Which sound for which street? Be patient and observant. Let the signal change several times and watch what traffic does. In some cases, you may have to push the signal button several times. Do not rush, and try to remember what happened for the next time you are there.
The most complex case is an intersection without signals. Plan ahead. Do your homework. It may help to have a sighted person with you to confirm your observations. Stand at an intersection, and listen and observe. Relate the time you hear an approaching vehicle to the time it passes you. Then relate that time to the time it would take you to cross the street. Don't cut it too close. Throw in a little extra time as a safety factor. Note that you need more time for vehicles traveling on the other side of the street. Note that different vehicles make different noises and at different loudness levels. Caution, some vehicles are very quiet. As an example, my daughter drives a hybrid vehicle, a Toyota Prius, which operates on an electric engine at low speeds and a gasoline engine at higher speeds. When she is at slow speeds, her car is very quiet. While this vehicle is really good for our environment, it makes discerning car traffic sounds difficult. By making a concentrated effort, your ears can complement your eyes. Maybe more factual in this case would be, "Let your ears help your eyes." Do not rely entirely on your ears. Also remember that a white cane is not a magic wand. You have to use the same caution with traffic, whether you use a cane or not. Again, this is not easy, but you can master it with a lot of practice. It is all part of the price of mobility.
Do you watch TV? I watch and listen to TV. I sit up close to the set. I have found that I can enjoy many programs with my eyes closed. Examples are the news, game, and talk shows. I have found that my hearing is improved by the use of earphones. This also lets me listen to TV when my wife does not care to hear the program. Some TVs have a jack so you can plug earphones in. If you mute the sound on the TV, you also mute the earphones. In my case, I tune the TV from the VCR. I have a small amplifier attached to the VCR. When the TV is muted, I can still hear the program via the VCR. I can also adjust the volume for better hearing. If this is too complicated, phone me.
Talking books are our most common use of letting our ears be our eyes. If you have not signed up for talking books, do so right now. Their eligibility requirements are easy. You just have to be unable to read normal print. This is my interpretation. The actual rules may be a little more. In my case, I believe that talking books are the best advantage of being vision impaired.
Each person receives a special tape player that lets you listen to talking books. You cannot use a regular tape player. The tape player is a very good piece of equipment, except that it is too heavy to carry with you around the house or while traveling, and it does not include earphones. The latter is no problem, as ear phones are not expensive, and they are available at Radio Shack and most other stores. Before buying earphones, put them on and listen to them. Everybody is not the same. It is important that they fit comfortably and are easy to use. Radio Shack and Circuit City have many different sets. Also take note of the length of the cord. A short cord ties you to the player. Too long of a cord can get in the way.
Why would you want earphones anyway? First, the speakers on tape players may not be very good. With earphones, the sound is sent directly into your ears. This cuts out some outside noises and sounds, and you will hear better.
The standard earphone has a cord that limits your mobility while listening. There are two types of wireless earphones. One transmits the sound by a light beam. You must always be looking at the transmitter. I do not recommend them. The other uses a radio signal very much like a wireless phone (not a cell phone). The range may be up to 100 feet from the transmitter. These are available at Radio Shack, Circuit City, and many other electronic stores. The cost is not cheap. Prices may range from $60 to over $100.
There are two very important considerations. First, ease of use. Are the controls simple and easy to use? Second, are they comfortable? You will be using them for long periods of time. How well do they fit your head? Are they too heavy or press too tightly on your ears? Do they make your ears too warm? It may take several days for you to find that there are problems. Check the store's return policy. Shop around.
The wireless ear phones are great at home, but you can enjoy your talking books while traveling. That is when I do most of my listening. Never a wasted moment. You will be amazed at how much listening you can do while waiting. As noted above, the free tape player is an anchor. You can buy very small and easy to use tape players that will play talking book tapes. The one I use is small, and it easily fits into my pocket. It is unbelievable how many hours I get from two AA betteries. Of course this is with a price. Such players cost at least $100 - $200, but there may be some cheaper ones, too. Try your local low vision dealer, or give me a call.
If your hearing is poor, investigate hearing aids. If you wear hearing aids, there may be some problems in using earphones. As the cow said when she was standing on her udder, "And you think you've got problems."
