One morning in mid-September of 2000, I awoke and was not able to even hear myself talk.

I was to have an appointment with my audiologist, but he said that there was no way that he could fit me with an aid and suggested that I see an specialist. The specialist reluctantly prescribed some steroid tablets, which gave me terrible heartburn, but gave me back some hearing. This did not last very long.

My son-in law made an appointment for me with a specialist in Seattle, Washington....the result was Minear's Disease and that there only a few
Doctors who knew how to treat me. Fortunately, He was able to recommend Dr. Jackson, in Newport Beach, Ca. I went to her and instead of steroid tablets, she gave steroid shots directly into my right ear. This gave me
back some hearing . I was able to try getting fitted with an hearing aid, but found that even the digital aids were stiill not programed to help me much, I could hear so much secondary noises, I became desperate.

I looked into Senior Citizen Centers hoping to come across a lip-reading class.   Found that Saddleback College offered an emeritus programon lip-reading
taught by Linda Daily. I signed in with her Leisure World class but soon  transfered to her Mission Viejo Class because of time conflicts.

It was there that Hearing Promotions, Lorraine Fanizza demonstrated the R-31 reciever with an FM unit with a Mic and hearing attachment. It was also programmed to receive conversation from the transmitter T-30.

Eventually I bought both. The T-30 allows me to place it's mic next to the TV speaker and hear the program from any part of my home, or I could have some one wear it and hear them without their being in the same room as I not looking at me as they talk. They could be in another room or many feet away and I still could hear them. It does not pick up every little sound and gives me voice identification. I  rely upon my  R-31 and T-30.

I have been using R-31 and T-30 now for close to six years.
Tat

A Fun Way to Use the R 31

For several years, I volunteered to read to children in school. Third and fourth grades were my favorite.  I introduced my hearing loss to the children by removing my hearing aid, and showing it to them. Then I showed them the R 31and transmitter and told them I could hear what they say if they talk into the microphone.

After I read the story, the children were delighted to talk into the microphone. The microphone stimulated the children to talk about the book.       Erma

At meetings I use the R31 with a Centrum Sound CM3 conference mic.  It turns the whole table into a microphone.  If the table is big I have used the transmitter with a splitter cable and 2 CM3's.

I carry a small, folding wood dinner table that I use for meetings where people are seated in a circle.  I use the transmitter with a CM3.  It is good for up to about 10' from the speaker.  Voice characteristics affect the effective distance.

I place a transmitter with a MIC 014 on podiums if the speaker stays in one place, otherwise a put a lapel mike on him/her.

I have put a lapel mike draped  in front of the speaker box.

Rick