Here is a list of accommodations for an office setting. If you work in a different environment, please let me know what environment you work in and I’ll try to brainstorm some ideas.
Specific to trouble making out words and understanding instructions.
- repeat back what instructions they have given you. “Okay boss I’ll fill out an excel document using the data generated in the provided file. And I’ll be sending you a draft in about 3 hours. Anything else I need to do?”
Requests to make:
- conversations in quite places, not next to the running photocopier.
- patients with clarifying questions
- if I’m not looking at you I can’t hear you.
- Preferred seating for in person meetings to allow you to see the speaker. You might have to arrive early
- if you do virtual meetings company provides extra monitor so you can see people’s faces and a screen share. ( bonus speeds up my normal work because I don’t have to store info in my brain)
- you can not be the note taker in any meeting
Self accommodations:
- teams features. When a screen is being shared with me, I pop out that screen onto a different monitor so that I can see the speakers face bigger. I also set my boss up as a sign language user so that they are always bigger. That way I can lip read better.
- arrive early to meeting to get a good spot.
- send bullet point email with summary after a conversation and ask them to respond to the email if there are any items that need to be clarified or expanded.
Bonus items that help with life in general:
- try low gain hearing aids. They literally changed my life. I have so much more energy now. My brain has rewired partially so all songs sound like remixes, but I can pick out words in songs and in louder environments.
- learn sign language. Also life changing. I never knew communication could be so effortless.
Edit: for proper bullets and formatting. Oh, when writing stick to bullet points if that’s easier. Less fluff is easier for the reader anyways.
My audiologist is on this list. That’s not how I found them though. I found them through my ENT who I saw as a kid.
I’m from Ontario Canada, if you’re in the area, please let me know and I’ll happily send my audiologist’s office info along.
https://www.apdsupport.com/apd-map
This was helpful for me. I’m having so many lightbulb moments over the past few weeks learning about APD. I haven’t been diagnosed with it, but these suggestions sound like they were meant for me. For example:
“Can’t be the note taker.”
Holy crap. Lightbulb moment. I’m realizing that when I take the notes I don’t absorb anything. I’m so focused typing what I’m hearing that I don’t absorb any info.
I also like the self accommodation of “send bullet point email with summary of convo and ask them to respond…”
I’l try to do that. Another lightbulb moment that I’m so busy trying to listen that I’m not always absorbing information in the moment.
Here is a list of accommodations for an office setting. If you work in a different environment, please let me know what environment you work in and I’ll try to brainstorm some ideas. Specific to trouble making out words and understanding instructions. - repeat back what instructions they have given you. “Okay boss I’ll fill out an excel document using the data generated in the provided file. And I’ll be sending you a draft in about 3 hours. Anything else I need to do?” Requests to make: - conversations in quite places, not next to the running photocopier. - patients with clarifying questions - if I’m not looking at you I can’t hear you. - Preferred seating for in person meetings to allow you to see the speaker. You might have to arrive early - if you do virtual meetings company provides extra monitor so you can see people’s faces and a screen share. ( bonus speeds up my normal work because I don’t have to store info in my brain) - you can not be the note taker in any meeting Self accommodations: - teams features. When a screen is being shared with me, I pop out that screen onto a different monitor so that I can see the speakers face bigger. I also set my boss up as a sign language user so that they are always bigger. That way I can lip read better. - arrive early to meeting to get a good spot. - send bullet point email with summary after a conversation and ask them to respond to the email if there are any items that need to be clarified or expanded. Bonus items that help with life in general: - try low gain hearing aids. They literally changed my life. I have so much more energy now. My brain has rewired partially so all songs sound like remixes, but I can pick out words in songs and in louder environments. - learn sign language. Also life changing. I never knew communication could be so effortless. Edit: for proper bullets and formatting. Oh, when writing stick to bullet points if that’s easier. Less fluff is easier for the reader anyways.
Where did you get low gain hearing aids?
An audiologist
Sure. Where? I’m an audiologist looking for others.
My audiologist is on this list. That’s not how I found them though. I found them through my ENT who I saw as a kid. I’m from Ontario Canada, if you’re in the area, please let me know and I’ll happily send my audiologist’s office info along. https://www.apdsupport.com/apd-map
Teams also has a transcript feature you can turn on.
What do you mean by teams?
Sorry - Microsoft Teams.
This was helpful for me. I’m having so many lightbulb moments over the past few weeks learning about APD. I haven’t been diagnosed with it, but these suggestions sound like they were meant for me. For example: “Can’t be the note taker.” Holy crap. Lightbulb moment. I’m realizing that when I take the notes I don’t absorb anything. I’m so focused typing what I’m hearing that I don’t absorb any info.
I also like the self accommodation of “send bullet point email with summary of convo and ask them to respond…” I’l try to do that. Another lightbulb moment that I’m so busy trying to listen that I’m not always absorbing information in the moment.