The Goals of the Project
There are several hundreds of thousands of hard of hearing and late
deafened adults in Finland and it is estimated that about 10-12 per cent
of the adult population is affected with reduced hearing capacity which
is most often seen as various communication difficulties. Even labor protection
has not been able to prevent completely the proneness of those in working
age to reduction in hearing capacity. Many a hearing impaired person could
be helped through modern technology. For example, the visual operating
systems of computers improves the communication and independent coping
of hard of hearing and late deafened adult persons both in working life
and in leisure time. Comprehensive educational and developmental projects
in the area are so far lacking in our country.
The project analyses the prevalence of hearing deficiency and the handicap
it causes in working life as well as the possibilities of modern technology
to diminish the problems caused by hearing deficiencies. The coping of
the hearing impaired persons is analyzed in relation to the technological
development and the future of working life from the point of view of modern
learning theoretical thinking. The knowledge base of the project is formed
on theories connected with working conditions and the quality of working
life and empirical researches. Teleinformatics have given enormous possibilities
also for hard of hearing and late deafened adults and it is important that
the expertise and innovation activities connected with it can also be brought
to fields which would otherwise easily remain outside the developmental
projects. It is important to try to enhance the coping of hard of hearing
persons in the changes brought about by the new techniques and the use
of teleinformatics in the compensation of the handicaps caused by hearing
defects. The goals of the project are:
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To enhance the placement of hard of hearing and late deafened adults
in working life and coping in work;
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To improve the physical, mental and social working conditions of hard
of hearing and late deafened people;
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To activate hard of hearing and late deafened people to get employed
through modern technology;
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To develop the use and expertise of new communication methods through
the training of educators;
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To develop multimedia programs fit for the hearing impaired and to
improve the coordination of the use and applications of technology in working
life through adult and labor force education;
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To gather a national knowledge network in close connection with similar
projects abroad.
