Sometimes, all it takes is a little inspiration to move forward on your hearing loss journey. My children motivated me to take an important step toward acceptance and self-advocacy. For others, it could be a simple change of the calendar that drives them forward. Or maybe even the start of spring.
Spring is a chance for new beginnings, renewed focus, and sometimes, a big leap of faith. This spring, perhaps it can be the excuse you’ve been waiting for to take another step toward living more skillfully with your hearing loss.
Recharge Your Hearing Loss Journey
For many years, I set the same life goals over and over again. They didn’t get me anywhere. But then I started thinking about behavioral changes more tactically and began scheduling them on my calendar.
For example: This spring I will get healthier. OK, add a weekly yoga class to my calendar. Or: This spring I will attend the theater more often. Great, buy two tickets to a new show. And then add a reminder on the calendar to do the same thing in a few months.
How can we apply this to hearing loss? Here are some ideas.
1. Wear your hearing aids consistently.
Resolve to keep them in, even when it gets challenging. Wearing our devices consistently allows our brains to better adapt to the new level of sound. Try a daily reminder on your phone that prompts you to put them in and keep them in.
2. Advocate for yourself.
Mention your hearing loss every time you make a restaurant reservation. Utilize caption readers at the movies or Galapro at a live theater production when available. Each time you speak up about your communication needs, it gets a little bit easier. Soon, it will be a habit. And remember, advocating for yourself helps everyone else with hearing loss, too.
3. Get your hearing tested.
Are you still wondering if you have hearing loss? Schedule a hearing test appointment right now. Or take one of the hearing tests available for free online or through an app.
4. Help others with their hearing loss.
Finding hearing loss advocacy opportunities in your community helps you connect with others who share your experiences. Is there a local hearing-focused non-profit? A school for the deaf? Or reach out to a local house of worship or community theater about looping or captioning.
5. Tell friends and family more about your hearing loss.
Send an email to friends or share an informative hearing loss post on Facebook so they can better empathize with your communication challenges. The more they understand, the better they can support you on your journey.
6. Join other people with hearing loss.
Find a local HLAA chapter and go to the meetings. Some are in person, but many are now available virtually. Put the meeting dates on your calendar today so you schedule around them.
7. Explore new technologies.
The only constant in hearing technology is change. Apple AirPods Pro 2 can now be used as hearing devices for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Or try out a speech-to-text app or enable sound recognition on your smartphone. I tested Hearing Glasses at CES and loved them!
8. Read a hearing loss book.
Several good ones are available, and you might pick up a tip or two. Some of those reviewed on my site include Living Better With Hearing Loss By Katherine Bouton, The Way I Hear It by Gael Hannan, and Soundtrack of Silence by Matt Hay. Or pick up Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss, my book co-authored with fellow advocate Gael Hannan.
9. Educate others about hearing loss.
Volunteer to speak at a local senior center about tactics for coping with hearing loss or share your experiences online. You might learn some new things too.
10. Take a speechreading class.
This can only help your communication skills and might even be fun. Add the dates to your calendar. Or look for an online course.
Readers, will you take another step forward on your hearing loss journey this spring?
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Book: Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss
Happy New Year Shari. May the new year bring good things to you and your family. You have the honor of being the first person too bring up resolutions to me. I generally avoid them.
But considering the possibilities, I vow to loose the fifteen ugly pounds I have picked up these past two years. HA! But that’s the problem. It’s so global, general and vague. Your point of being specific down to the “activity” you will do to make the larger goal possible is the key.
Now about my hearing loss and what I am doing about it. I wish it were as simple as to resolve to hear better.. It is, however, simple to resolve to practice listening exercises every day. It doesn’t take hours – minutes a day will work. I am guilty of letting this simple but effective activity slide by for several days and at the same time complain about the lack of progress. This should be an easy one to implement.
Keeping it simple, I will be more diligent about advocating for myself. I confess to being too passive in the public sector when a simple word or two could being a difficult situation under control. Self advocacy got me where I am and I am sure that is the way for the future.
That’s enough! I’m getting used to a new hearing aid – the Phonak Link – and this is taking some effort while promising to make a huge difference in my understanding. I’m six months into the CI journey and hearing is definitely better, with a long way to go. I think I need to do some fine tuning during these next six months.
Practice and advocacy. We’ll see.
Hi Jerry. Good luck to you! Glad to know that you CI is working well. I am considering one this year, but the doctor says he may be to insert 6-8 electrodes due to my blocked cochlea. I am confused if I should go for it or just wait till my other functional ear (at 30-40%) also goes down.
Happy New Year Jerry! These sound like good goals — maybe jot the practice sessions onto your calendar or set up a reminder on your computer. That way it will be easier to make a habit of it. Best of luck to you!
Hi Shari, happy new year to you!
This year I am kind of contemplating to come out in the open about my hearing loss. Due to one functional ear and use of hi-power HA things are Ok as of now. But the hearing is gradually on a decline. I am scared of my future, both personally and professionally, of how things might change for me, if I go deaf. Since I haven’t told people at work, I am the butt of many jokes of being inattentive and also avoid talking to people other than work. I want to change this situation. I want to fight all my fears and let people know, that I am hard of hearing/deaf, so pls accommodate me. I’m not sure how Indian HR and corporate woul react, but I am gonna give it a try.
Also, you mention local HLL chapters. I dont think we have any such advocacy or community here in India. Can you let me know or help me in case you know someone…if I wish to start something on those lines in India. Its fabulous to reach out to this community, and it really allays a lot of my personal fears.
Thank you for the post!
Happy New Year and welcome! It took me a long time to come clean about my hearing loss, but it has been very freeing. You can read about it here: https://livingwithhearingloss.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/coming-out-of-my-hearing-loss-closet/
As for HLAA-like chapters overseas – you may want to check with IFHOH to see if they can recommend resources for you in India. http://www.ifhoh.org. Good luck to you!
The first thing I did after I read this was look for a Speech reading class – I live very close to Philadelphia so I googled Speechreading Philadelphia – and the first thing that came up is a speechreading class beginning in February 0f 2002; the second one was dated 1999.
So where are these classes at? I actually live in South New Jersey and there is no HLAA chapter near me either – the closest is further north, about 1.5 hours away.
That is frustrating. Did you check with your audiologist? Or maybe a local hospital or ENT doc? I hope you can find something close to home.
The only option in my area is a CI group. I have no objection to attending that, however I did once attend the HLAA meeting 1.5 hours away. It was much more appropriate I thought and interestingly enough, there were CI people there as well.
My audiologist is at a local research hospital in Philadelphia. I really can’t figure out why we don’t have one. I am an active advocate and I end up knowing more about what is available in my area than most. I have developed relationships with movie theaters and sound companies that supply equipment for theaters in NYC to make sure I can attend performances there and enjoy them.
I really think it comes down to people not wanting to ruffle feathers to get their needs met, and their embarrassment at their loss of hearing. All which creates further isolation.
I lost a lot of my hearing fairly young (mid 40’s) so I’m still willing to advocate aggressively. But if you’re elderly, it’s not so easy.
I hope something turns up. Please keep me posted.
In case it’s of interest, the new-ish HLAA Center City Philly chapter meets monthly, usually on Rittenhouse Square — convenient for public transportation to/from South Jersey, (but a bit iffy for parking). For contact details, see under Pa. in the HLAA chapter listings by state on hearingloss.org
I’ll sound out the chapter members to see if anyone is aware of speechreading classes in the area.
Great suggestions, Shari! Thanks for continuing to help people dealing with hearing loss.
Thanks for reading!