Fairfax CERT: LEC111 Deafness and Hearing Loss: The Communication Challenges for Emergency Responders (09-22-2019)

Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: 4600 West Ox Road, Fairfax , VA
Registration: https://volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov/custom/1380/#/opp_details/185043
Emergencies can pose many challenges for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing due to their unique communication needs, and they may not always self-identify as having a hearing loss. This can also create challenges for public safety and emergency personnel and volunteers. This presentation will provide information about some ways to recognize individuals who have a hearing loss and some strategies for effective communication with them in emergency situations. Also included in this presentation will be a true/false questionnaire, an audio simulation of high frequency hearing loss at the mild, moderate, severe and profound levels; a listening quiz, and a lip-reading exercise. This training will be presented by Bonnie O'Leary, Outreach Manager and late-deafened adult from the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, and new CERT student Bob Silber, who grew up with a hearing loss and is fluent in sign language.