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Hearing Technology for Employment Success

"Not only is it

effective,

it’s cool."

Nichelle, a young lady who is hard of hearing, was referred to Easterseals Northern Career Pathways (now Career
Pathway Connections) program for a variety of support services with the goal of finding a career. One of the services
requested was regarding assistive technology. We demonstrated various assisted listening devices that can assist
Nichelle not only on the job, but at home as well. Nichelle currently uses “behind the ear T-Coil hearing aids” and
lip reading as a compensatory strategy for her hearing loss. She is also in the process of learning American Sign
Language as her hearing is decreasing over time and would like a new way to communicate.

Easterseals was able to introduce and give Nichelle a chance to experience FM hearing technology for the first time.
Through this exploration of the technology, it was determined that an FM (radio) based Assisted Listening Device
(ALD) could be an effective option for use on the job. This device uses a common FM ALD system to hear a person’s
voice coming from across the room via a portable transmitter with microphone (which the speaker wears). Nichelle
then uses a portable receiver that she wears with a wire loop around her neck which boosts the speaker’s voice,
transmitting the speaker’s voice directly into her hearing aids via the T-Coil.

Nichelle, was amazed by the technology and how it gave the ability to hear a speaker’s voice at a distance with such
clarity. Based on the demonstration, Nichelle was eager to set up a device loan to try out this type of system at her
orientation and training.

With financial assistance from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Nichelle was able to purchase the FM
ALD system and other devices to help her achieve success and independence on the job. Not only is it effective, it’s
cool. Now Nichelle is getting ready to head out into the workforce with this technology, confident that communication
won’t be an issue that will hold her back.

- Angela Gargano, Vocational Evaluator | Career Pathway Connections

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