FRANKFORT, Ky. – Having difficulty hearing? Find out for sure with a free hearing screening at the Kentucky State Fair, Aug. 16-26.
Kentucky currently ranks third per capita nationally with more than 646,000 people who are identified as deaf or hard of hearing. More than 28 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, with that number expected to double by 2030.
“In our noisy world, the majority of people over 18 have damage to their hearing,” said Ingrid Edwards, an audiologist at the Heuser Hearing Institute. “A hearing screening will determine if that damage is affecting their ability to communicate effectively.”
The Heuser Hearing Institute will have licensed audiologists on site to coordinate the hearing screenings.
Last year more than 2,000 people were screened for hearing loss during the state fair. Signs of not being able to hear include any of the following symptoms:
• Difficulty hearing over the telephone
• Trouble following conversations when two or more people are talking
• Turn the TV to a high volume in order to hear it
• Strain to understand conversations
• Trouble hearing in a noisy background
• Ask people to repeat themselves
• Others seem to mumble or not speak clearly
• Misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately
• Trouble understanding the speech of women and children
The Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has partnered with the Heuser Hearing Institute, as well as the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and Hamilton Relay to provide an interactive and informative forum for the public during the Kentucky State Fair.
The exhibit is located at Main Street Kentucky, an air-conditioned building in the South Wing of the Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center.
Volunteers from each organization, along with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, will be available to answer questions and distribute literature pertaining to deaf culture. Information on communication technologies and demonstrations of various assistive listening and telecommunications devices are scheduled.
Requests for applications will be taken at the KCDHH portion of the booth for anyone who needs an amplified telephone or other device to assist with hearing on the telephone.
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The Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has spent a quarter century providing effective and efficient leadership, education, advocacy and programs to eliminate barriers and to meet the social, economic, cultural and intellectual needs of deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians. For more information, contact:
Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
632 Versailles Road - Frankfort, KY 40601
502-573-2604 (V/T)
800-372-2907 (V/T)
502-573-3594 Fax
www.kcdhh.ky.gov
kcdhh@kcdhh.ky.gov