Ever wonder which of the five senses you could live without?
I’d always say taste because then I could stop diving into those low-cash variety packs of cookies they’ve got on the go down at Halliday’s. I’m that guy. Those marshmallow chocolate squares tho.
Then I realized that as a musician, I’d be lost without my hearing. I try not to think about how much of a beating they’ve taken over the years in the bars.
Come again?
We’ve worked with the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for a while and we’re currently working on a great project together that we’re really excited about. More on that when they’re ready to show the world.
Recently, they asked us to take part in their Hearing Loss Challenge. The team spent three hours with earplugs in to simulate what it’s like to have a hearing impairment. Let’s just say it wasn’t what we expected!
Here’s what some of our team had to say after the exercise was over:
Denise Goodyear – Managing Partner
“I found this quite interesting! As a direct manager to many here, I found I felt more isolated and less in tune with everything going on around me. I often jump in on things to mitigate issues, but couldn’t quite hear what was going on around me.”
Motaz Khalil – Web Developer
It was difficult to talk to people and gesturing was common. We used our instant messaging program more than usual. Overall, it was mostly frustrating, and a little bit irritating because every muffled noise was a distraction. I could focus on my tasks a little better, but I had no idea what was happening around me.”
Jon Howard – Senior Web Developer
“I enjoyed being able to listen to my heartbeat and breath more clearly, but I did not enjoy having everything muffled. It felt like extra pressure around my ears, not sure if that was mainly from the plugs or not.”
Sid Williams – Graphic Designer
“Besides the obvious of having trouble communicating with people, I did notice that I heard my internal stuff a lot more. So my breathing, my heart, even when my teeth clicked together. Not sure if this is the experience of someone who is actually hearing impaired, but it was with the earplugs in.”
Erin Molloy – Project Manager
“I found the experience very valuable and it definitely gave me a look into what it would be like to live life with a hearing challenge. I wore the plugs throughout four meetings and found it challenging not only to hear, but also to control my own volume. My conference call was especially difficult as those I was speaking with who were not close to the phone we pretty hard to hear and I was asking them to repeat themselves. I would definitely encourage CHHA to continue offering this challenge to corporate partners as it truly spreads awareness in an extremely effective way.”
Listen for what’s not being said
In case you haven’t heard it before: don’t take your hearing for granted.
Turn it down, pay attention to changes in your hearing, and be considerate of those who may be living with this disability.
We think as a team-building and educational exercise this was incredible, get in touch with the CHHA-NL for tip sheets for employers and employees, as well as free rentals of hearing assistive technology throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Can you pass the Impaired Hearing Challenge? Reach out and take part in the challenge. It’s Dec. 2 and you’ll be surprised how it’ll open your eyes – and ears.
