It’s Time to Join the Hearing Loss Community

At the start of my hearing loss journey, I didn’t know anyone that could show me the ropes. When I struggled to hear in a loud restaurant or was tired after a long day of speechreading, I was discouraged. I hadn’t realized that this was normal…typical…to be expected. All in a day’s work for people with hearing loss. But once I found hearing loss peers, this all changed. In this article for HHTM, I share the joy I find in the hearing loss community and encourage people with hearing loss—and audiologists too—to become part of the community. You won’t be sorry.

An excerpt from the article is below. Read the full post at FindHearing on HHTM.

Peer support is critical for people with hearing loss.

Finding Joy in the Hearing Loss Community

“I love coming to the Walk so I can see other people like me,” one adorable hearing-aid-clad 10-year-old girl declared to the socially distanced crowd gathered in Riverside Park for the annual New York City Walk4Hearing. Her joy was as evident as it was contagious. I found myself thinking the same thing. We all want to feel like we belong.

Hearing loss is difficult to understand if you have not experienced it yourself. Even friends and family cannot fully anticipate the communicate challenges that may emerge in each new listening situation. They provide their love and assistance but hearing loss friends provide something else—lived experiences that mimic our own. Both types of support are important as we strive to live our best lives despite the challenges of hearing loss.

Hearing loss peers helped me realize I was not alone in my struggles to communicate. They shared tips and tricks with me that I use today to create workarounds in difficult listening situations. They taught me how to advocate for myself and for others. Many have become close friends, as we discovered overlapping interests that reach beyond our shared hearing loss experiences.

If you have hearing loss but don’t yet have any hearing loss friends—Get some!

Understanding the Lived Experience Important for Audiologists Too

Creating ties to the hearing loss community is also important for audiologists, many of whom do not regularly see people with hearing loss outside of their clinics. Real-world interactions are key to understanding the lived experience, a critical aspect of person-centered care, the best practice standard for hearing care.

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Book: Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss

6 thoughts on “It’s Time to Join the Hearing Loss Community

  1. I whole heartedly agree. If you’re in the medical field check out Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss. They have tons of resources from hearing aid compatible stethoscopes to mentorship. They also have a conference coming up in Las Vegas in August.

    1. Shari Eberts – NYC – Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of "We Hear You," an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her book, "Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss," (co-authored with Gael Hannan) is the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story, she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues.
      Shari Eberts says:

      Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this information.

    1. Shari Eberts – NYC – Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of "We Hear You," an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her book, "Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss," (co-authored with Gael Hannan) is the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story, she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues.
      Shari Eberts says:

      Well said Gail! Thanks for sharing your perspective.

  2. I am a teacher with hearing loss. I was wondering if there are any other teachers out there who can provide some tips and tricks for navigating in a classroom with hearing aides.

    1. Shari Eberts – NYC – Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of "We Hear You," an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her book, "Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss," (co-authored with Gael Hannan) is the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss. Shari has an adult-onset genetic hearing loss and hopes that by sharing her story, she will help others to live more peacefully with their own hearing issues.
      Shari Eberts says:

      Great question! Thanks for starting the conversation.

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