I am proud to be nominated in The Boldest Digital Health Influencers Award contest in the patient advocate category for my hearing loss writing and advocacy! Voting ends September 2nd. If you have a moment and are so inclined, please click here and send a vote my way. Thank you!
Vote here.
Excerpts From My Nomination
Shari Eberts founded LivingWithHearingLoss.com as an outlet for her personal struggles accepting and living with her genetic adult-onset hearing loss. Growing up in a family where hearing loss was considered shameful, she learned to hide her own, until she had children. To set the right example for them, she needed to accept her own hearing loss, and begin to advocate for herself within the family group and externally at restaurants, theaters and with her healthcare providers. So she did. Soon after, she joined the boards of two leading hearing loss related non-profits, Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and Hearing Health Foundation (HHF).
In 2015, Shari expanded LivingWithHearingLoss.com to build a true online community for others coping with hearing loss. Since its inception less than 2 years ago, the site has been visited more than 100,000 times by people living in 140 different countries. She currently has more than 6000 followers across her social media platforms. Her writing has been featured on The Huffington Post, on BlogHer and has appeared in print in The Hearing Journal, ENT & Audiology News and elsewhere.
Hearing loss is an invisible disability, and one fraught with shame and stigma. Shari’s bold, yet relatable approach to sharing her hearing loss journey has inspired others to live more comfortably with their own hearing loss. She has helped others to overcome the stigma they feel and to advocate for better hearing health care outcomes for themselves and their afflicted family members. For this inspiring work, she deserves to be recognized with a Boldest Health Influencer award in the Patient Advocate category.
Awards Information (provided by the organizers)
Remedy Health Media with New York City Health Business Leaders (NYCHBL) are recognizing the Best of the Best in the digital health field with this exclusive award! NYCHBL’s mission is to bring together leaders and innovators in healthcare. This prestigious award will showcase your colleagues’ hard work, achievements, and talents.
We are looking to recognize healthcare industry influencers in these areas:
Patient Advocate: Patients who have gone above and beyond to share their personal story, network and speak out to support other patients to influence better health outcomes
Agency Guru: People from healthcare ad agencies who have made a difference by achieving the highest level of excellence in their workplace and inspired others on their team and/or agency.
Brand Marketer: Individuals from brands (pharma, specialty, medical device, etc.) who have been innovative and strategic in achieving great marketing success for healthcare.
Voting deadline is September 2. The top nominees in each category with the most votes will then become finalists. All finalists will be reviewed and judged by a panel from Remedy and NYCHBL to determine the winners. Vote here.
Living With Hearing Loss is also on Facebook and Twitter!
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
I really appreciate these blogs and read every one.I am 89 years,a widow now for over 2 years and live alone in a retirement home. I have a profound hearing loss which began as a child when there were no antibiotics,only 2 mastoidectomies to deal with my many ear infections.
I am taking courses in Speech Reading but wish I had started earlier in life.I relied on my husband to “clue me in” or answer questions for me.
Thanks so much for reading Edith!
Congratulations on the nomination! Love your blog! It always hits home! Voted for you! Good Luck!
Thanks Susan!
My first time here. I have high frequency hearing loss and using hearing aids for 1 1/2 years. I have them on frim the time I get up until I go to sleep. I am having a very difficult time getting list in conversations with my wife. Either I lose point of reference or miss single syllable words that put me in a total loss for understanding a comment or question. My wife is extremely tired of the hwaring loss. Her comment today was that ” I sometimes just don’t have the energy to deal with it and just want to drop the miscommunication and forget about it”. We are in our mid 60’s and married for over 40 years. Lots of time I am blamed for not listening good enough. Or she will say” If you really cared you would miss the words”. I am really hurt inside. Don’t know where to turn to. Help.
Welcome Jim! You came to the right place. You might want to read some of these posts with your wife to help her understand more about hearing loss and how the two of you can communicate better. https://livingwithhearingloss.com/2016/05/24/ten-reasons-hearing-aids-are-not-like-glasses/ https://livingwithhearingloss.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/how-to-have-a-better-conversation-with-someone-with-hearing-loss/
Also – please see if there is an HLAA chapter in your local area. Finding peers with hearing loss can help a lot! http://www.hearingloss.org/support_resources/find-local-hlaa-chapter
I hope this helps!
I’m sorry I didn’t read this until after the 2nd. I hope you get it!!!
Hi Shari
I’ve nominated you for a different award – a blogger recognition award. You can read the nomination at http://morethanabitdeaf.com/2016/09/08/blogger-recognition-award/. I really enjoy reading your posts and admire how you use the blog to help others in similar situations. Long may you continue.
Vera
Thanks so much Vera! You are very kind!