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I have recommended digital aids on a number of occassions but only where the student has tried them out for a week or so in for example lectures, groupwork and found that they have made a difference. Otherwise it would be a waste of money and also can give the student false hopes if they aren't suitable. In order try them out I have liaised with their audiologist who, along with the student has then written a short account of what has improved, particularly in the educational setting since this is what the LEA is interested in. I have then used that written account to make the case to the LEA. On 31 Aug 2004 at 12:30, Chris Baxter wrote: > As a (slack) wearer of hearing aids over the past decade or so I can also > endorse the views expressed by Ember and Fran. > > I have digital aids through my Access to Work funding and I do use them > more than I ever used analogue, because they work! I only use them with > radio aids and loop systems (if the system is powerful enough) and still > prefer to rely on interpreters for large meetings where hearing would be a > complete nightmare. > > The reason I am telling you all this? It is important to have support you > are comnfortable with and can use in different situations, and is up to > date. I never use my digital aids socially, because my social groups > include people who know how best to communicate with me. I might use them > at the theatre but would probably prefer a signed performance. > > I have to 'hear' at work and this is where I use them, I have to be able to > concentrate as well, I can only do this if the hearing enhancement system > allows me to, ananlogue hearing aids make concentration very difficult and > exhausting it makes me perform at less than my potential. > > We were promised digital aids by the government two or three years > ago 'everyone who needs them will get digital aids' unfortunately we fell > into the postcode lottery which is the NHS and the bureaucracy which says > it will fund only the 'bog standard' which don't suit people with > complicated hearing loss like mine for example. > > Having said all of the above I would sum up : I think it can be appropriate > to request digital aids in some circunmstances and a specialist assessor > should know what those are, I believe the DfES might need more information > about digital aids. I would probably not recommend a 'spare' at £1,500 each > it would eat up a lot of the allowance and the audiologist responsible for > providing the aid should be able to provide a 'back up'. > > I hope that helps, I'd be willing to talk to anyone either on or off list > who wanted to know more about digital aids and how they could be > appropriately funded throught he DSA - in my opinion. > > Chris Eileen McCabe Acting Manager Disability Services University of Westminster email: [log in to unmask]; tel: 020 7911 5163 fax: 020 7911 5162; minicom: 020 7915 5475 This e-mail and its attachments are intended for the above named only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in error you must not copy or show them to anyone, nor should you take any action based on them, other than to notify the error by replying to the sender. The views expressed in this email are not necessarily those of the University of Westminster.