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Re: Hands-Free Calling with the Latest Hearing Aid Technology
Jim Rau
Interesting Ron.
Phonak has had the same system out for a while now in their Paradise hearing aids. I tried them 6 months ago. There were two problems. First they could be very noisy on the other end. Since the hearing aid microphones are used to pick up the users voice they also pick up other ambient noise so the person on the other end hears all the ambient noise from the users end of the call. Second the system was unstable. It would randomly drop connections and change programs with no input from me. The phone app that Phonak had then was awful. I think they have improved it now. Even though my phone and hearing aids are new enough to support this system I'm not really interested in getting it. I think that the problems are indicative of the problems that will come with the new Bluetooth LE that they say will replace hearing loops. They have a lot of problems to work out before we see reliable Bluetooth LE audio.
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Hands-Free Calling with the Latest Hearing Aid Technology
Ronald Drach
FYI
Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/ Begin forwarded message: From: "Hearing Associates of Northern Virginia, LLC" <admin@...> Date: March 15, 2022 at 9:53:26 AM EDT To: consultrwd@... Subject: Hands-Free Calling with the Latest Hearing Aid Technology Reply-To: admin@...  Hands-Free Calling with the Latest Hearing Aid Technology Good morning! We are pleased to share an update that might be helpful to Apple users. Apple has released a new protocol (Low Energy Audio, or LEA, 2.0) that allows the newest generations of hearing aids to be used as compatible headsets for convenient, hands-free, calling. Whereas previously users had to have their phones in their hands to be heard by their caller, now your phone can reside in your purse, your bag, or your pocket, and you can enjoy effortless, two-way streaming of phone calls. Right now, this update is coming from Apple only. We have not heard yet from Android when we can expect similar updates, but we will let you know when we do. What is required to achieve this? * Hands-free communication is available with iPhone 11 or later running iOS software 15.2 or later, and iPad running iPadOS 15.2 or later. * Newer generation (e.g., Oticon More, Widex Moment, Starkey Evolv, or Resound One) hearing aids that utilize Bluetooth connectivity. * Most likely, a firmware upgrade that can be easily performed in our office in five or ten minutes. We would like to invite anyone who wishes to obtain a firmware upgrade to take advantage of this Hands-Free Calling to stop by our office on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. We will update your firmware on your devices as a courtesy while you wait in our waiting area or your car for a curbside option, and we will offer you a sweet treat! If you need adjustments to your hearing devices or wish to talk about upgrading your technology, please call us at (703) 748-3300 to schedule a visit. When you stop in to visit us for your firmware upgrade, make sure to introduce yourself to our new administrative genius, Kate Kelly! Kate joined our team in January. She is a super fast learner and is already finding ways to help us improve our efficiency around the office. Welcome, Kate! Thanks for reading, and hope to see you soon! Dr. Crovato, Dr. Yunes, and Dr. Trinka This email and any files or attachments transmitted with it may be confidential and proprietary information of Hearing Associates of Northern Virginia, LLC. The information is solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify us via the address which sent this information to you and destroy/delete the copy immediately.
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Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting - 03/15/2022
#cal-reminder
HLAAVeterans@hlaagroups.hearingloss.org Calendar <noreply@...>
Reminder: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting When: Where: Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin cbeyer-smolin@... Description: We invite VAAVC members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom. Date: March 15, 2022 This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Steve Sterry
Yes. But we don't know if the changes in LA are regional or VA wide. I have an appointment at the VA on Wednesday and will try to find out what I can.
Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A. 10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608 Phone (562) 947-2258 Email: steve.sterry@...
On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 6:40 PM Jim Rau <jimrau@...> wrote: I did that a couple weeks ago. The Washington Hot Line was unaware of the WEBEX in CA. The last I heard of was that VA mandated use of VVC. Washington promised me that the web people at VA were working on getting captions on VVC and should have it up and running in a couple months. They weren't interested in using a "work-around" by using ASR over a third party call-in number (which they can already do). Not surprising to get more than one answer from one VA. Sort of like "if dad says no ask mom".
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Jim Rau
I did that a couple weeks ago. The Washington Hot Line was unaware of the WEBEX in CA. The last I heard of was that VA mandated use of VVC. Washington promised me that the web people at VA were working on getting captions on VVC and should have it up and running in a couple months. They weren't interested in using a "work-around" by using ASR over a third party call-in number (which they can already do). Not surprising to get more than one answer from one VA. Sort of like "if dad says no ask mom".
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Steve Sterry
I just found out that the VA in Southern California has switched to WEBEX for video conferencing. I used it yesterday and found that closed captioning is available. We might want to check with the national VA to see if this is a universal switch and if close captioning is included for all areas.
Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A. 10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608 Phone (562) 947-2258 Email: steve.sterry@...
On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 4:40 PM Jim Rau <jimrau@...> wrote: Here are the "instructions" I said were needed for the survey.
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Jim Rau
Here are the "instructions" I said were needed for the survey.
Instructions:
This survey is designed to help us evaluate what accommodations VA currently offers for veterans who are deaf or hard of hearing. It also includes virtual appointments on the VVC (Veterans Video Connect) platform. We are not addressing mobility challenged or blind patients.
Communications access accommodations can be any of a wide range of things. One group of things is assistive listening devices. Some examples are pocket talker, FM and infra red audio transmission systems, and induction loops (hearing loops), or voice to text applications. Or it can be a person such as a stenographer that types voice which is displayed in text (CART), or a sign language interpreter. It can even be as simple as a white board or pencil and paper to write on.
Please select the one BEST answer for each question.
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Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting - Tuesday, March 15, 2022
#cal-invite
HLAAVeterans@hlaagroups.hearingloss.org Calendar <noreply@...>
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting When: Where: Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin cbeyer-smolin@... Description: We invite VAAVC members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom. Date: March 15, 2022 This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Jim Rau
What is posted are just the questions for your review and input.
The instructions are not yet written and will be included with the survey when it is sent out. We are considering whether we want to address just hearing loss issues or all communication access disabilities. I will draft some instruction for the survey and forward them to Carla. We will then post them on Veterans IO and Basecamp.
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Steve Sterry
Please see my notes in green: Veteran Communication access accommodation Question Title 1. Are you a veteran, veterans spouse, or veterans caregiver? No Question Title 2. Do you (or your veteran) receive health care from VA Yes No Question Title 3. Do you or your veteran require would you benefit from communication access accommodation? The term "communication access accommodation'' needs to be defined. Yes No Question Title 4. Have you or your veteran requested communication access accommodation from your VA facility? Examples of "communication access accommodation" need to be enumerated. Otherwise, any answer will be meaningless. Yes No Question Title 5. How was the request for communication access accommodation made? Verbally In writing Email Question Title 6. Was the request Granted Denied Ignored Question Title 7. If the request was granted was it provided not provided not provided yet Question Title 8. If communication access accommodation was provided was it Used not used did not work Question Title 9. Was VA communication access accommodation provided acceptable Yes No Question Title 10. Was getting communication access accommodation at your VA medical facility hard to get? No it was easy Had to work at it Very hard - had to get intervention Impossible
Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A. 10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608 Phone (562) 947-2258 Email: steve.sterry@...
On Thu, Feb 24, 2022 at 3:01 PM Carla Beyer-Smolin <cbeyer-smolin@...> wrote:
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External Veteran Survey
Carla Beyer-Smolin
Hi Everyone, Question Title 1. Are you a veteran, veterans spouse, or veterans caregiver? No Question Title 2. Do you (or your veteran) receive health care from VA Yes No Question Title 3. Do you or your veteran require would you benefit from communication access accommodation? Yes No Question Title 4. Have you or your veteran requested communication access accommodation from your VA facility? Yes No Question Title 5. How was the request for communication access accommodation made? Verbally In writing Email Question Title 6. Was the request Granted Denied Ignored Question Title 7. If the request was granted was it provided not provided not provided yet Question Title 8. If communication access accommodation was provided was it Used not used did not work Question Title 9. Was VA communication access accommodation provided acceptable Yes No Question Title 10. Was getting communication access accommodation at your VA medical facility hard to get? No it was easy Had to work at it Very hard - had to get intervention Impossible Thanks for your time and input!
Best regards,
Carla Beyer-Smolin Chapter and Membership Coordinator Hearing Loss Association of America 6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 320 │Rockville, MD 20852 301.657.2248 ext. 101 | cbeyer-smolin@...│www.hearingloss.org “Like” us on Facebook│“Follow” us on Twitter Sign up for our free Hearing Life e-News
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Re: Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting - 02/15/2022
#cal-reminder
Ronald Drach
Hey all!
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I have lots going on with a couple of deadlines coming up. Sorry I am going to have to miss tonight AGAIN. Hope to see everyone next month. Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Feb 14, 2022, at 8:00 PM, HLAAVeterans@... Calendar <noreply@...> wrote:
Reminder: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting When: Where: Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin cbeyer-smolin@... Description: We invite chapter members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom. Date: February 15, 2022 This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting - 02/15/2022
#cal-reminder
HLAAVeterans@hlaagroups.hearingloss.org Calendar <noreply@...>
Reminder: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting When: Where: Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin cbeyer-smolin@... Description: We invite chapter members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom. Date: February 15, 2022 This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Re: More information
Ronald Drach
Thanks
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Feb 12, 2022, at 9:42 PM, Jim Rau <jimrau@...> wrote:
Dr Cliff Olson explains bone conduction headphones on his YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygGQhjCIkbo
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Re: More information
Jim Rau
Dr Cliff Olson explains bone conduction headphones on his YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygGQhjCIkbo
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Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting - Tuesday, February 15, 2022
#cal-invite
HLAAVeterans@hlaagroups.hearingloss.org Calendar <noreply@...>
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting When: Where: Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin cbeyer-smolin@... Description: We invite chapter members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom. Date: February 15, 2022 This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Re: Microsoft Team Accessibility Webinars
Ronald Drach
Jim!
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Thanks for your comments. I am very disappointed in Teams especially given Microsoft’s long standing leadership in the technology field. I am lookin forward to this. Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Feb 7, 2022, at 3:59 PM, Jim Rau <jimrau@...> wrote:
Thanks Ron. It is good to see Microsoft getting into the "inclusion" game. Apple has been dominating until now. And using the work "inclusion is a good thing too. The other term that is better accepted these days is "communication access accommodation". Both are a big improvement.
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Re: Microsoft Team Accessibility Webinars
Jim Rau
Thanks Ron. It is good to see Microsoft getting into the "inclusion" game. Apple has been dominating until now. And using the work "inclusion is a good thing too. The other term that is better accepted these days is "communication access accommodation". Both are a big improvement.
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Microsoft Team Accessibility Webinars
Ronald Drach
I just registered for the captioning on February 9.
Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/ Begin forwarded message: From: Sheryl Rosenberg <srosenberg@...> Date: February 7, 2022 at 2:18:35 PM EST To: Hope Adler <hadler@...>, Katia Albanese <kalbanese@...>, Melissa Armstrong <marmstrong@...>, Ginevra Adamoli <ginevra.adamoli@...>, cook.geoffreyh@..., Ronald Drach <consultrwd@...>, Samantha Greenberg <sgreenberg@...>, Daniel Heumann <dHeumann@...>, Caitlin Hochul <chochul@...>, Emily Ladau <eladau@...>, Harry Lichtman <hlichtman@...>, Bill McCabe <bmccabe@...>, Rachel McGreevy <rmcgreevy@...>, Greta Menard <gmenard@...>, tessmendelson@..., Kara Moore <kmoore@...>, Rebecca Panoff <rpanoff@...>, Sarah Scanlon <sscanlon@...>, dshields@..., bobby.silverstein@..., Rebecca Skipper <rskipper@...>, Kristinjosh Vandagriff <vandagriffkj@...>, Diana Zeitzer <dzeitzer@...> Cc: Karen Herson <kherson@...> Subject: Microsoft Team Accessibility Webinars
Good afternoon!
In case you are interested, there are two upcoming webinars about Microsoft Teams Accessibility.
Using Teams with sign language interpreters, captions, and more February 9, 2022, 12:00 - 1:00pm U.S. Pacific Time Microsoft Teams is integral to daily communication at work, school, and in life. Join us to learn about the latest improvements to Teams for Deaf and hard of hearing and discover how to leverage the latest features for the most inclusive collaborative communication for everyone. You will learn how to effectively leverage captions, transcript, pinning and other features to effectively participate in meetings. We will also review best practices for adding sign language interpreters and CART to meetings.
Using Teams with a screen reader and low vision features March 9, 2022, 12:00 - 1:00pm U.S. Pacific Time Microsoft Teams is integral to daily communication at work, school, and in life. Join us to learn about the latest improvements to Teams for those who are blind and low vision and discover how to leverage the latest features for the most inclusive collaborative communication for everyone. Learn how to effectively navigate meetings, chats, and your calendar while using a screen reader.
Learn more and sign up to attend at https://sway.office.com/X0w6OiF9638N7Mb7
Best, Sheryl
Sheryl Rosenberg Communications Manager Concepts, Inc. 240-499-6118
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Re: More information
Jim Rau
Approving a guest speaker is not up to me. If it were I"d ask for more information. I think a discussion with Don, David, and Carla would be in order to talk about inviting a presenter.
The disadvantages of the Dome that I see are that the sound would not be corrected to our prescriptive hearing aid settings and environmental noise would be a problem. They are most likely adjustable for base/treble and volume, but I doubt for much else. Maybe they have more capability. I simply don't know. That's why I'd ask for more information. Right now I listen to music from my iPhone transmitted directly to my hearing aids. It sounds good to me, but I'm a musical illiterate and have a profound hearing loss so I have no credibility at all. Jim
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