Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Florida, Inc. offers a program in basic sign language for anyone losing their hearing, or who just wants to learn a new way to communicate. Classes are also available for supervisory and managerial personnel.
Hearing health directly affects overall health. Don’t ignore the warning signs of hearing problems. There are many contributing factors affecting your hearing such as the natural aging process, viruses, bacteria, heart health, stroke, medications, head injuries, tumors, diabetes, hypertension, and of course exposure to loud noises.
Loss of hearing can decrease the quality of life in general. The inability to hear and understand can lead to depression, isolation from family and friends, lack of interest in activities, physical and emotional illnesses, as well as decreased feelings of self-worth. Cognitive issues may also arise making it difficult to think or recall information. Hearing loss can contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s important to keep your mind active and engaged in new learning for a lifetime.
We encourage the following for a better quality of life:
- Hearing tests and evaluations
- The use of assistive living devices such as hearing aids
- The use of sign language to supplement communication
- Learning to actively advocate for yourself by addressing your hearing loss with others.
- Engage others to learn how to communicate with you.
- Decrease your tendency to isolate.
- Increase your socialization.
- Maintain engagement in social and family situations.
- Maximize your abilities.
- Supervisors and management personnel learn to carry on the skills taught to the participants.
Handouts are provided addressing the various skills taught and basic sign language supplements the teaching. Participants practiced various scenarios in class.
The Signing For Everyday Living Program was originally designed for hearing people who were experiencing hearing loss but still wanted to communicate and be involved with family and friends. But it has grown to include all hearing people because they want to learn better to communicate with those that have hearing loss.
This program teaches how to live with hearing loss and be proactive in advocating for one’s self.
We teach various categories of signs to facilitate these goals by supplementing the spoken word with signs. We have found this strategy helps decrease the sense of isolation that often accompanies hearing loss.
Some of the categories we introduce for basic communication skills are:
| * Alphabet | * Numbers |
| * Using money | * Food |
| * Clothing | * Hygiene |
| * Days of the week and time | * WH questions: who, what, when, where, etc. |
| * Colors | * Household |
| * Opposites | * And other topics of interest |
This course has been used with a wide variety of groups and individuals with great success. We have assisted individuals, groups, businesses, agencies, and schools.
Courses are tailored to meet the needs of the group.
We provide training to supervisory and managerial personnel who in turn train their employees.
Some of the groups we have served include:
| * Library staff | * Elderly Nutrition Centers |
| * Cares Centers | * Hope Ranch |
| * PLACE programs | * Homeschool groups |
| * Pasco County Clerk of the Court | * Guardian Ad Litem Staff |
| * Nursing students in training | * Postal service |
| * Pasco County Sheriff Officers | * Florida Highway Patrol Officers |
| * And many others |
This course is funded by United Way of Pasco County. There is no fee for this service to the community. Because of this program in our community, we have been able to help many clients referred to our Communication Access Assistance/Advocacy program.
Please contact Aynne or one of our staff to assist you: