Peg Bell
Advocate/Architect of Barrier-Free Designs & Communication Strategies within the spaces we live, learn & work in. My "perfect" world: 1) noise pollution laws are enforced; 2) noise-induced hearing loss is eradicated; 3) annual screenings for hearing health occur at ALL ages, and 4) no one lives with the level of UNTREATED hearing loss that leads to emotional, cognitive and physical ailments.
My academic background is in Graphic Design (BFA). My work experience includes publishing B2B trade magazines in four industries (architecture, aviation, facilities management & healthcare systems); development & communications at an independent N-9 school in NY and account/project management for an assistive technology developer.
Current Volunteer Roles: Board Secretary at the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and Kennel Companion at Furry Friends in Jupiter, FL.
The Palm Beach County Chapter of HLAA is a non-profit organization. Chapter Mission: To support & empower people with all degrees of hearing loss to better understand their hearing/communication challenges & develop strategies to be safe and to thrive. Monthly chapter/support meetings are held at Boynton Beach City Hall. (www.hearingloss-palmbeachcounty.org)
Our support meeting goals: to raise awareness and educate folks on how to best diagnosis and treat hearing loss so that they can stay active, engaged and confident about being able to communicate. HLAA chapters do not endorse any one provider of treatment or personal hearing devices. Instead, HLAA encourages members to find a hearing care provider who will test for "speech-in-noise" comprehension, offer auditory training and address all specific needs, on an individual basis. Hearing loss treatment is not as easy as finding a good pair of eyeglasses -- patience and focus are key ingredients to success :)
Over the past six years we have been asked by local audiologists, police departments, senior communities, municipalities and the Palm Beach County Medical Society to share what we know about "effective communications" in spite of hearing loss. We have made presentations, recorded lessons for care providers and moderated discussion groups, at no charge, and will continue to do so. We hope that our experiences will help define "best practices" for medical staff, educators and HR professionals relative to hearing loss prevention, treatment and self-help tools.
Our understanding is that untreated hearing loss and brain health are closely related and look forward to a valuable exchange of resources and accurate data here in the Neuroarts Resource Center. Please reach out if you are interested in hearing loss prevention, diagnosis or treatment options. THANK YOU!
Interests
Photography, Writing, Music, Fur-Babies and GRANDSONS!
