Mr. Curtis Dickinson:

Recipient of Better Hearing and Speech Month award: "Outstanding and Dedicated Services to Individuals with Communication Disorders".

Shortly after Curtis was born his ears became infected. This led to three mastoid operations that left him with a  bi-lateral conductive hearing loss in the 60 - 90 dB range across the audiogram. He was given lip-reading classes while in public school. Between lip-reading and two power BTE hearing aids he manages pretty well provided the environment is relatively quiet. He is a strong advocate of telecoils in hearing aids used in conjunction with Assistive Listening Devices. He is a strong advocate for  the option of purchasing Over-the-Counter hearing aids and self-programming them. Too many people are without hearing aids because of the current dispensing protocol for hearing aids. (If you would like to get involved promoting OTC hearing aids, visit http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OTCHearingAids or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HearingAids-TheScam ).

Curtis uses Assistive Listening Devices on a daily basis. To list some; an amplified cordless phone, a doorbell that flashes lamps throughout the house plus shakes the bed.  A wake-up alarm that flashes lights throughout the house and shakes the bed. A LOOP system to hear the TV at normal volume. For public use he may bring along a portable FM system or a portable amplifier . Either of  these two systems are connected  to his hearing aids via telecoil. Some accomplishments:

• He started the central Massachusetts Hard of Hearing Support Group--Now defunct through burn-out
• Began and ended the Hard of Hearing Digest--a newsletter with over 100 local subscribers.
• Is an Advocate for Hard of Hearing issues.
• Founder of The Hearing Loss Help Co. a company specializing in Assistive Listening Devices.
• Strong supporter of and contributor to: www.HOHAdvocates.org. (Check out their Bulletin Board)

Curtis wishes to express a  sincere and grateful Thank You to the following who believed in him enough to keep encouraging him even when harsh truth was necessary. To them I owe who I am today:

• Warren Hanna--Director of Hard of Hearing Advocates
• Ron Ordway--Silver-haired Legislators
• Gene Karels- printer and member of the SayWhatClub
• Bob Elkins--Co-founder of the SayWhatClub
• Susan D--a sweet and dear friend for life

I would be remiss not to mention Larry Siverston who always knew a good thing when he saw it. Check out his wonderful and extremely informative website at www.hearinglossweb.com