My mother’s health challenges are compounded by her poor hearing. Even with her fancy computerized hearing aids, she is often unable to hear or understand whatever she hears. We go through this cycle of speaking LOUDLY and SLOWLY, and its not clear whether she can hear anything we say or whether this just makes lip reading a bit easier.
When I was with her on Saturday, I asked, slowly and loudly, “Do you want to take your pill (referring to her prescription for arthritis pain)?”
She looked at the coffee cup on the corner of the table next to her chair.
“No, I had enough coffee.”
Hmmmm. We’re talking past each other.
Then it dawned on me.
I can wirelessly link her new iPad to my laptop or my sister’s iMac, and it will serve as a second display. I can then write on the laptop, and she’ll be able to read whatever is written on her iPad. At least I think that’s the way it can work.
I’ve just downloaded an application called Air Display for Mac. Then I have to buy Air Display for the iPad, and we’re in business, or so the advertising says.
Perhaps there’s an easier way to do this using built-in Mac/iPad capabilities.
Any Mac users out there have a better solution? Let me know!
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Why not just send her a message? You don’t need extra software for that.
Hi Ian,
I wonder about using a texting app, with your mom’s font size set large? This would allow you to also communicate with her when you are not in the same room.
I assume her iPad is Wi-Fi only? If so, there are free texting apps which use Wi-Fi. Facebook can be used in this way.
To set the font larger, go to Settings> General> Accessibility> Large Text.
Don’t know if this is helpful for your needs.
I just realized Facebook messaging is not affected by the larger font setting. But iMessage is. So I join in on Norm’s suggestion.
I’ve long believed that email and texting would be great for those who’ve suffered hearing loss.
Get her into texting and she can start keeping in touch with teenaged relatives.
Wha? For communicating in the same room a pad of paper and a nice fat pen would work. Or, if you’re looking to conserve trees, a dry-erase board.
No need to re-invent the wheel here, folks…