Vol 2: Issue 1
Spring 2006

“Pockettalkers” at work in the courts. Nancy Sears listens in with Pockettalker. (Photo a courtesy of the New Hampshire Bar Association.)

New Hampshire Legal Assistance recently donated 20 “Pocketalkers” to the Probate Court purchased with a grant from the State Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman (OLTCO). The Pocketalkers are battery-operated amplifiers (the size of a small Walkman) equipped with earphones that increase the volume of those speaking and reduce background noise. This donation was made out of concern that individuals with hearing loss are at greater risk of losing their legal rights through their inability to hear and, therefore, respond appropriately to family members, health care providers, legal counsel, and judges.

 “Creating awareness of this situation and providing assistance to hearing impaired individuals so they may participate fully in the legal process is essential for fair outcomes,” says Judith Jones, directing attorney of the Senior Citizen Law Project. The Senior Citizens Law Project is a New Hampshire Legal Assistance program that provides free legal services to individuals who are at least 60 years old.          

Every Probate Court will have a Pockettalker and judges will be encouraged to ask, especially in guardianship cases, about the possible hearing impairment of the person involved, Probate Court Administrative Judge John Maher said. In addition, it will be probate court policy at all court proceedings to inquire if everyone can hear. If someone cannot, adjustments will be made or Pocketalkers used to address the problem.       

“As a hearing impaired person and a judicial branch employee, I was thrilled to be able to utilize the use of a Pocketalker. I had an opportunity to use it at a recent court seminar and found that it was comfortable to wear and I was able to understand people when they spoke no matter where they sat in the room,” said Patty Cole, executive secretary to the administrative judge of Probate Court.

The New Hampshire Bar Foundation provided more than $1 million in grant funds this year to support New Hampshire Legal Assistance, which  provides legal assistance to seniors and low-income residents throughout New Hampshire.