Carolyn Schubert

April 04, 2011

Twenty years ago, Carolyn Schubert was involved in an automobile accident when a young adult ran a stop sign and broadsided her car. The impact caused the airbags to inflate and the explosion caused permanent damage in her left ear.  As a result of this injury, Carolyn needed hearing aids.

And then, a couple of years ago, Carolyn discovered that she was having new difficulties hearing and understanding conversations.  She visited an audiologist who told her how dramatically the technology has changed over the years and that hearing aids can now filter out background noises as well as be programmed to work with other hearing technology.

After some research, Carolyn was fitted with dual digital hearing aids along with an Oticon Streamer and ConnectLine.  The Streamer is a Bluetooth device that serves as a “gateway” between the hearing aids and electronic devices such as Bluetooth-enabled cell phones.  Along with the ConnectLine that is connected to the television and the land-land phone, Carolyn is able to press a button on the Streamer and switch from the TV or the phone (when someone calls) without having to move.

As Carolyn says, “This new technology is magical and simply wonderful!  With these new hearing aids, the Streamer and ConnectLine, I can hear my friends, play scrabble, and participate in community and family events.  PATF’s low-interest loan program can make these devices affordable for many of my friends.”