• Hearing aid batteries.  Be sure and get the right size for the hearing aid.  You can tell the size by the color strip on the package.
• Ear plugs for loud activities like using a hair dryer or mowing the lawn.  Go ahead and get these for everyone on your list.  Include this little reminder with the ear plugs to champion hearing protection.
• An extra dry aid kit.  Most hearing aids come with one.  But, having a extra one for a suitcase, a gym bag, a bedside table or for when the other one needs to be refreshed is helpful and will keep your hearing aids in top condition.
• Ear cleaning kit.  Keeping your ears clean is helpful for your hearing and your aid.  See here for more information on ear wax.
• Hearing Aid cleaning kit.  A daily brushing of the microphone is critical in the maintenance of these expensive devices.

These things are not expensive, but are very helpful.  Just five little ways to keep healthy hearing a part of all of our lives.   Happy Holidays.

*A note about the affiliate links above.  Every purchase through the links above helps support The Hear Daily.  If you like what we are doing here, consider using our sponsors.  Thank you.

Here’s the gist:  if you need to make a call, you log in to the CapTel website (once you are registered), input your own telephone number and the number you want to call.  In a second, your phone will ring and shortly thereafter, the number you are calling will ring.  As the conversation takes place, captions appear on your your computer screen - in the window you just input your numbers into.

If you want to receive a call, your caller calls a special number you have been assigned and enter your telephone number.  Moments later, your phone will ring, and the conversation will be captioned on your computer.  This seems more complicated than it really is.  Do it once and it’s a cinch.

(more…)

But guess what?  Closed captioning isn’t included in the download.  My first movie, About a Boy, is full of Hugh Grant voiceovers.  I missed every word.  I complained straight to Amazon. Here’s what they said:

Greetings from Amazon.com.

Thank you for writing to us about closed captioning and Amazon Unbox
videos.

Unfortunately we do not offer closed captioning at this time. The
availability of content through our Amazon Unbox service depends on
our agreements and arrangements with various content owners. We are
constantly working to establish and improve these agreements so we can
offer the largest range of content possible.

It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all
aspects of shopping at Amazon.com.  Strong customer feedback like
yours helps us continue to improve the selection and service we
provide, and we appreciate the time you took to write to us.

Thank you for your interest in Amazon Unbox video downloads on Amazon.com.

Bummer.

Join me in telling Amazon that their agreements with their content owners need to include closed captioning.  Go to Amazon.com, and look for the contact us button on the side.  Surely 31 million people deserve this support!

This week, Line1 Communications announced new service called Spinvox.  Spinvox transcribes your voicemail to your email.  Now, if you get a voicemail you can’t understand, you can log onto your email and read it. (more…)

But, once my hearing deteriorated to the point I couldn’t follow the dialogue anymore, I stopped going.   I started renting movies instead, going as far as popping corn, getting the big drink, turning off the cellphone and the whole thing.  I turn on the captioning and do my best.   But….it isn’t the same. (more…)