Phone Call Results - how did they do?

A few months ago I wrote up a blog piece asking readers if they can use a cell phone and for them to give me a call. A week later I did a poll asking those if they have the ability to use the phone to take pizza orders.

Eventually seven people with hearing loss contacted me via email after coming across my blog about wanting a phone conversation. It was a touch and go moment from a few of those individuals in getting them to call me or for me to call them if they left their phone numbers in their emails for me. In the past I have talked to many others with hearing loss over the phone. In most cases those calls went well with a few exceptions. Most of them describe themselves as having hearing loss ranging from mild to better than 80 dB.

When I did finally get the chance to talk to those who volunteered their time (and ear) I was able to get their partial background. Conversations were mostly topical of nature and that no other personal information was sought other than their hearing loss amount and type (e.g. sensorineural), and school background. I talked at a normal level and speed like I always do with my hearing peers.

Out of 7 who contacted me, only 5 returned the call to me via phone. Incidentally, the two that didn't call back described themselves as having profound hearing loss (greater than 90 dB). Only one with a 90 dB hearing loss did call me. All of the subjects that I talked to grew up with sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness). All wore hearing aids during the call. This summarization result is purely of curiosity value rather than of academic rigors. So, let's not get too overly hamstrung on whether my observations were "scientific"enough or not like some people who are wanton to do when it comes to polls or statistical correlations.


Subject A: Has a 76 dB hearing loss in better ear. Was able to talk fine and understand for the most part of what I had to say. Subject says that male voices are harder to understand than female voices but were able to understand my voice for the most part. This person went to Gallaudet University.

Subject B: Has a 82 dB hearing loss in better ear. Talk was intermittent. Seems to have trouble understanding me. The subject seems to slur at times but for the most part I could understand the person but not in all cases the other way around with me. Subject wouldn't say which university or school attended (or is attending).

Subject C: Has a 80 dB hearing loss in better ear. Talk went well. No discernable slurring or mumbling. Voice was clear but mutted (or nasally as they say). I only repeated a few times and used different words when the person did not recognize them. Other than that it went well in some respect. The person graduated from Gallaudet University.

Subject D: Has a 60 dB hearing loss in better ear (actually both ears are relatively the same but prefers one ear for phone use). Born with a hearing loss. Wore hearing aid since age 1 year old. I enjoyed talking with this person. We talked a quite a bit without stopping or pausing. Seems to have no problem with me and vice versa. The person is currently attending a regular but well known university (never went to Gallaudet, RIT/NTID, CSUN, oral school, Alexander Graham Bell, etc). While growing up went to regular school as well without the need for any mainstreaming program. Person asked me not to reveal which university currently attending in my blog. This person does not use an interpreter or CART. Does not know sign language.

Subject E: Has a 90 db hearing loss in better ear. The phone call went "well" with some difficulty. If I'm not mistaken the person seems to have an Indian accent. I had to slow down my talk. The person explained that women's voices are easier to understand than male's which may explain why I had to slow down my talking while at the same time clarifying my words a bit more. The person did not say which school or university currently attending (or have attended). The call was rather short compared to others.


I expressed gratitude to all the subjects for taking the time to talk with me. I hope that more will contact me in the future.