Specific diagnosis and medical aspects involved
1. What is the extent of hearing loss?
- Does the individual have any hearing at all?
- Will individual benefit from amplification?
2. How does the individual communicate with others?
- Does the individual use ASL, signed English, etc?
- Does the individual read and write?
- Does the individual rely on other people, pen and paper or personal devices to communicate/
- Does the individual have audible and understandable speech?
3. Does the individual use a hearing aid(s)?
If hearing aids are being used, the person will likely benefit from amplification in other forms as well. Use of a hearing aid can also create opportunities for using hearing aid specific assistive listening devices (ALDs) like hearing-aid compatible telephones, personal neck loops and audio induction loop assistive listening devices.
4. Does the hearing aid have a telephone coil (T-switch) or direct audio input feature?
A T-switch is a small switch on a hearing aid that acts like an antenna. When the hearing aid is ON, it will receive magnetic signals directly from the telephone allowing the individual to receive the communication directly through their hearing aid.
Specifics about the occupation and job tasks
1. What occupation is the person involved in?
- Technical/skilled
- Non-technical
- Sales
- Administrative
- Medical
- Other
2. What job tasks are performed and which of the tasks are difficult as a result of the hearing loss?
- Communicate using the telephone or two-way radio
- Respond to normal signals, emergency signals, abnormal machine sounds or vehicles
- Communicate in meetings, one-to-one, in training or classes
- Take vital signs
3. How are the job tasks typically performed?
- Ask as many questions as necessary to get a clear concept of how the job is performed. This includes information regarding equipment available, equipment used, methods of performing tasks, etc.
4. Is background noise a problem in the work environment?
- What is causing the noise?
- Machines
- People talking
- Music
- Busy hallway, other area
- Traffic
5. Is communication a problem?
- Who does person communicate with?
- Supervisors
- Co-workers
- Clients
- Customers
- How does communication typically take place?
- Face to face
- Telephone
- Computer/e-mail
6. Are there potential workplace hazards?
- What measures have been taken to correct the hazards such as audible and visual fire alarms or vibrating pagers?
7. What, if any accommodations have already been implemented?
8. Is education of supervisory personnel and perhaps co-workers necessary?
