Steve works in construction for a regional health authority at a local hospital. As a project supervisor, his work involves communicating with a large construction team, hospital staff, inspectors, consultants, and more.

He has no residual hearing in his left ear, and severe to profound hearing loss in his right. While he had hearing aids previously, they were getting old and the battery would die quickly, often in the middle of important meetings over Microsoft Teams.

“This type of hearing loss impacts my employment with communication in the workplace,” he shares. “I am an avid lipreader and use ASL from time to time. In my workplace, nobody is fluent in ASL, so I use lipreading and speech reading for communication. But for the last four or five years in a hospital setting during COVID, everyone had to wear masks. It was extremely challenging. This had a huge physical, mental impact on my well-being.”

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services (ATS), Steve received funding for new hearing aids, as well as a microphone listening device for large meetings and workshops.

“After receiving ATS supports, I am now feeling more confident in communication with peers and construction personnel,” he says. “I am now able to hear and continue my work without feeling left out of important conversations.”

He particularly notices the difference while using Bluetooth for Microsoft Teams meetings, which he typically needs to do 30-plus times a month.

“Using MS Teams during constructions meetings has improved. My hearing aids used to quit during Teams meetings due to age of hearing aid and battery drain of 1 to 2 days,” he explains. “Now my Power Hearing Aid can handle MS Teams meetings and battery lasts a whole 2 weeks. I am now able to take additional training courses without using ASL Interpreters and now using my new microphone device.”

Steve recommends WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to others in need. “WorkBC ATS has supported me financially to get what I need in order to maintain my employment,” he shares.

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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