Jennifer Driscoll, student, Massachusetts, USA

Dear High School teacher,

My name is Jennifer Driscoll and I don’t know if you have heard about me yet. So, I would like to let you know a little about me before we meet. I am leaving the eighth grade and going into my freshman year. I have a profound hearing loss which means I can hear some things but not a lot of things that you can hear. My word discrimination (ability to understand speech) is fair in my left ear (76%) and poor (40%) in my right ear. However, I am able to lip-read amazingly well. I would need to have a set of notes from class when you give a lecture, watch a movie, and/or when we are reviewing for tests and quizzes. I will be able to hear you most of the time when you talk because you will be wearing an electronic system called an FM. I will have a boot which is an extra attachment attached to my hearing aid. You will be wearing the microphone which is connected to the transmitter box. It is a small, cute box that has a wire attached with a clip so you can clip the mic onto your shirt about 4 to 6 inches from your chin. Also the transmitter box gets clipped to your pocket or if you are wearing a skirt, clip it right on your hip (on the skirt, not your hip). When we meet, I will explain and show you all the steps on how to put it on and how to use it, so you don’t have to worry right now. I will be glad to help you anytime when you’re stuck.

There is a woman from the Framingham Learning Center named Kym Meyer who is an audiological consultant. She has come in the beginning of each year at the middle school and has talked to my teachers about what kind of hearing loss I have and what the teachers should do throughout the year. She gives teacher tips on what to do.

When I am in your class, I can be the judge of where I should sit. However, you may put me anywhere you’d like me to sit. If the seat is not good enough for me, I will let you know. I like to sit either in the back or the side of the classroom so I can see all of the students when they talk.  If I sit in the back, I can not have my back turned to you because I need to be able to read your lips while talking. Even though I have an FM, it still does not help the way it should. It helps me to hear your voice louder, no matter where you are in the room. There is an important thing that you should know, I know that a lot of teachers have a habit of doing this, but I would appreciate it if when you are writing on the board and talking at the same time, could you write then talk? That would help me a lot! Along with lip-reading, for an example when you are talking about something please give me a picture that goes along with it. By doing that, it would be easier because I understand things better with visuals not just hearing.

I really am looking forward to meeting you and I hope I will have a great freshman year! If you have any questions during the school year with anything about the FM or if I am having any problems in class, feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer you. Have a great summer! See you in September.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Driscoll

(You may call me Jen if you would like)