Struggles & Strategies in Coping with Hearing Loss

by Kathy Fairbanks (with permission)

(Next meeting is “Music Appreciation for Those with Hearing Loss” Sat Jan 11, 2020. Info at end of article.)

At the December 14, 2019 meeting, HLAA-EB Chapter Leader Dale Davis led a lively discussion with our members who were encouraged to participate by talking about their struggles & strategies in coping with hearing loss (HL). The discussion began with some open-end prompts: What has it been like for you to have a hearing loss and any particular struggles or challenges that you have experienced in coping with day-to-day situations? What strategies and resources do you have for coping and living your life with a hearing loss?

Struggles: Several struggles or challenges in coping with hearing loss on a day-to-day basis are described below:

• Reluctance in acknowledging your hearing loss and delay in getting a hearing test or hearing aids (HA’s).
• Embarrassment when needing to frequently ask other people to repeat themselves.
• Being brushed off with “just forget it” when you say “I can’t hear you” or “please repeat what you said.”
• Afraid of being misjudged & mislabeled as “not a good listener” or even “incompetent.”
• Becoming isolated, invisible, and disconnected in your relationships with other people.
• Ignoring, bluffing, or responding inappropriately if it’s not clear what is being asked or said to you.
• Becoming tired & stressed out from the extra work that it requires to listen & participate in a conversation.
• Difficulty of “retraining” others to speak up louder and slow down when talking.
• Struggling to hold conversations in social situations where there is a lot of background noise.
• Dealing with not only a hearing loss, but also other visual or physical impairments.
• Trouble understanding speech in person & on the phone, especially that of soft or fast speakers.
• Failing to recognize danger when you can’t adequately hear people & events in your surroundings.

Strategies: Strategies & suggestions for successfully coping and living with hearing loss are summarized below:

• Take control of your situation by getting your hearing tested and accepting your hearing loss.
• Be assertive in speaking up and letting others know about your specific hearing needs.
• Research before purchasing Hearing Aids (HA’s) or Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s) on the market.
• Require that t-coils be installed whenever you are getting new hearing aids (HA’s).
• Position yourself in a quiet location or seating with good lighting in noisy public settings.
• Sit near someone who can help translate or interpret what is being said in noisy events or group meetings.
• Request captioning, assistive technology & written handouts matching what is spoken at large group meetings.
• Consistently practice good listening techniques, such as paying attention, focusing, & using visual cues.
• Move closer to hear people who ask a question or make a response in large group settings.
• Wear “Please Face Me” buttons or use other signals to identify that you have a hearing loss.
• Encourage speakers to articulate slowly & clearly, rephrasing, & using facial expressions & gestures as cues.
• Ask speakers, when necessary, to use paper & pen to write it down, as an “emergency hearing aid.”
• Apply “the friendly approach” by being kind, patient, & respectful in “retraining” others & yourself.
• Utilize ear plugs or other protective barriers at loud work or social events that may contribute to your HL.
• Wear your HA’s regularly to help slow down or stop the progression of your HL.
• Rely on reputable professional experts to provide assistance in selecting, fitting & adjusting your HA’s.
• Continue to have regular hearing tests & check-ups so you timely catch any changes in your hearing.
• Be an advocate for yourself & others who are living with a hearing loss.

Resources on Hearing Loss (HL): Resources that may be of interest to individuals with HL are presented below:

• Haben Girma’s book: Haben: The Deaf Blind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. www.habengirma.com
• David Owens’s podcast & book: Volume Control: Hearing in a Deafening World. www.npr.org
• Harris Communications: Offering equipment, books, & multi-media on HL. www.harriscomm.com
• Caption Call: A phone with captioning at no cost with a prof. HL certification. https://captioncall,com
• Community Resources for Indep. Living (CRIL): A free lending library of HL devices. www.crilhayward.org

• U.S. Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs: Assistance for eligible veterans with a service-related HL.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Federal law on legal rights & remedies for persons with disabilities.

Next Educational Meeting (Free to all!)

"Music Appreciation for Those with Hearing Loss"

Sat, Jan 11, 2019, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Our speaker will be Dr Peg Lisi, Audiologist at Pacific Hearing in Menlo Park. She has over 20 years' experience as an opera and classical singer and is currently a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Because of her musical background as well as her research in music-related hearing loss and its secondary effects, she brings a unique perspective on hearing for musicians and music lovers alike.

We're "Hear" to Help!

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is the nation’s leading organization for people with hearing loss.

Join us for our informative and entertaining monthly classes!

Many of our speakers are Bay Area experts in the fields of research, audiology, technology and assistive hearing devices. All programs are Looped (a hearing assist that works with the T-coil function of your hearing aids) as well as transcribed in real-time on a screen at the front of our room.

When:

Monthly on the 2nd Saturday of the month. [No meetings held in July & August]

Snacks and socializing: 9:30 am

Program/Meeting 10:00 am - Noon.

Where:

Oakland Kaiser Medical Center

3801 Howe St., Fabiola Bldg

Lower Level, Conference Room G26

Oakland, CA 94611

Located one block east of Broadway, off of W. MacArthur Boulevard, close to I-580 and Highway 24

Parking:

FREE in the Kaiser Garage on Howe St. directly across from the Fabiola building

Contact:

HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA EAST BAY CHAPTER

An IRS Code 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization

SERVING SAN FRANCISCO & THE EAST BAY, CA

info@hearinglosseb.org or (510) 221-6080

https://www.hearinglosseb.org/