(NAPSA)—Better hearing may be at your fingertips. No, don’t stick your fingers in your ears. Put your hands on your computer to access free, easy-to-use online tools designed to help you live well with hearingloss. A new suite of online tools makesit easier to manage everyday communication and important decisions about your hearing. Developed by the nonprofit Ida Institute, Ida Telecare is a combi- nation of interactive tools and engaging videos that help you identify your communication needs and concerns. These tools can help you get the most, from time spent with your hearing care professional and provide ongoing support post-appointment. a QA @ Whether you're just beginning your hearing loss journey or an experienced traveler on the road to better hearing, online tools and an audiologist can help. “Research consistently shows that people who self-manage their hearing loss experience greater satisfaction with hearing care and hearing technologies,” explains Ida Institute Managing Director Lise Lotte Bundesen. The site’s Living Well section helps prepare you for appointments by encouraging you to think about your needs and concerns with a series of open-ended questions. My Turn to Talk lets you prioritize the people with whom you communicate. Web-based drag-and-drop technology lets you createcircles of those “most important,” “very important” and “less important” people. A series of prompts can help you organize your thoughts. The Everyday Life with Hearing Losspart provides tips to help you manage conversations, simple strategies to alert others to your hearing loss, ways to improve communication, and ideas on dayto-day interactions. The Storytelling Videos offer insight and inspiration from others’ experiences. You can save notes and completed sessions to your computer and e- mail them to your audiologist or print them out to bring to your appointment. Then, you can work together to map out the strategies and goals that are best for you. For more information, visit www.idainstitute.com. To find an audiologist nearby, go to http:// audiology.org and www.healthy hearing.com.
