Cheng is a senior consultant for a cross-cultural communications consulting firm, where his role involves facilitating focus groups, consultation sessions, and online interviews. He also works on-call as an interpreter. His hearing loss was making both roles difficult.

“I have difficulties with hearing pitch and tones of individuals who are speaking to me especially in noisy environments. I was finding that I can only hear part of the conversation or speech. As I need to take notes and interpret verbatim, it is very challenging when I am unable to hear the whole [conversation],” he says. He notes that he often can’t interrupt to ask for clarification, and the fact that much of his work takes place over video calls rather than in face-to-face meetings also makes it even more difficult.

His audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for help funding the hearing aids he needs for his work.

“With [the] ATS program, I [was] able to get the hearing aids to fix my limited hearing capacity. I am now able to clearly hear in my working environment and therefore feel comfortable and am confident [in] taking jobs which I was reluctant to take [before],” he shares.

Cheng says he “definitely” recommends WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to others in need, particularly commending the service he received during every step of the process.

“The entire process is very smooth and the staff at WorkBC [Assistive Technology Services] and the hearing lab [were] helpful [and] professional. All my communications and questions [were] promptly addressed.”

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WorkBC Assistive Technology Services is operated by Neil Squire. Assistive Technology Services are available to individuals who have a work-related barrier due to a disability or a functional limitation. This may include barriers related to traveling to and from the workplace.

Questions about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services? Need help applying? Contact us: 1-844-453-5506 or info-ats@workbc.ca

Please visit www.workbc-ats.ca for more information about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services.

Tags: assistive technology, BC, Hearing Aids, WorkBC Assistive Technology Services