What is a Peer Mentor?

Peer Mentors are people like yourself who are deaf/hard of hearing, use accommodations, and work alongside with audiologists to make sure you get and understand what you want. Peer Mentors are determined to remove communication inacessibility challenges.

Wait, Why would Peer Mentoring be needed?

The number of people in America who are hard of hearing or deaf is increasing dramatically. There is more noise in everyday environments. People are living longer. These are the two primary causes of hearing loss in the United States. Many people do not know where to go for help. Certified audiologists can help by measuring hearing loss and provide amplification, however, a significant number do not address the psychological and interpersonal challenges of people who have hearing loss. It is no wonder that hearing aid satisfaction has only been provided to 60% to 70% of the users today. Manyof the others put their hearing aids away in a drawer or return them for credit. Many are not satisfied with the services that audiologists provide.

Have you or someone you know gone to an audiologist and experienced frustration that he/she did not:

• explain the test process or the test results in ways that you can understand,
• take the time to provide you with options to enhance communication,
• describe your technology choices and modifications,
• did not allow you to try many different brands of hearing aids, and allowed trial periods until you found the right fit,
• allow for return visits and adjustments at no extra charge,
• described other communication technologies and help you find sources for them,
• provide you with practical communication strategies,
• share information about courses or organizations that will support your communication needs,
• or makes recommendations based on test scores but not with consultation with you.

For economic reasons, many audiologists are not able to provide the time to meet the needs of consumers. The high price of hearing aids does not allow for the addition of extra fees that will pay for more time and attest to the psychological and social problems related to hearing loss.

The self-help movement has provided the support needed for many hard of hearing consumers. Organizations such as Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), National Association for the Deaf (NAD), or Association for Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) have provided support on national and local levels. Still there is a need for one on one help. The Peer Mentoring Program can fill that need.

What can Peer Mentors do for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Peer Mentors can provide help when professionals can not. Their special ability to do so is because they have sustained hearing loss and have successfully coped with its challenges.

Peer Mentors can:

• understand and empathize with the experience of the hearing loss;
• review and supplement information from audiologists and explain test results in clear and meaningful ways;
• supplement and clarify information that audiologists provide to consumers;
• act as the liasion between audiologist and consumer;
• introduce to deaf and hard of hearing consumers the wide variety of assitive listening devices available;
• help consumers successfully adapt to the use of assistive technologies;
• teach hard of hearing and deaf consumers how to use communication strategies to maximize communication success;
• help individuals understand and cope with the psychological and social impacts of hearing loss on themselves, their families, and peers;
• provide informational support to consumer's family, friends, and places where they work and play;
• help consumers to evaluate communication environments to create user-friendly contexts;
• help consumers develop an understanding of law and public policy related to disability and hearing loss;
• share with consumers strategies for advocacy to help ensure their civil rights;
• dispel common myths related to hearing loss and deafness;
• help consumers develop problem solving skills to address the challenges of hearing loss;
• provide resources to audiologist directory, referral, consultation;
• and provide information and support in many other areas.

The list goes on! Check out more information about the program on the About Our Program and Applying pages.

Check out a Peer Mentor's story NOW and submit your own!

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