Oscar Segal, President of the Hearing Loss Association of America, Delray/Boynton Chapter spoke to a group of Kings Point residents at their main clubhouse, Friday April 4 about "Hearing Loss - the Invisible Disability."

Segal pointed out the dangers that hearing impaired people face in everyday situations such as when stopped by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation or communicating to EMT personnel if involved in an accident. Problems also occur when registering for a hospital stay and as a patient in a hospital. Hearing impaired persons must make sure he or she clearly understands questions by medical personnel.

The Delray/Boynton Chapter of HLAA offers a "Hospital Kit" for a nominal fee for hard of hearing people to use if they are facing a hospital stay. This printed material placed over the patient's bed and on the serving cart informs hospital staff to "look directly at patient, speak clearly and slowly as I am hard of hearing."

These kits can be purchased by attending chapter meetings at the South County Civic Center, on Jog Road, Delray Beach on the third Friday of each month at 9:45 A.M. in April and May to finish this season (monthly meetings are September through May). Meetings will resume in September.

HLAA Board Member Merry Rubinstein also addressed the group to tell them about the lip reading classes she gives to chapter members at the Emmanuel Catholic Church, Military Trail, North of Linton Blvd. every Tuesday from 1:30 to 3 P.M. until mid April. These sessions will start again in October.

Segal remained afterwards to respond to questions from the audience after receiving a warm round of applause for his seminar.

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