“Does your hearing loss hurt?” a curious friend once asked. I loved this question, because it showed that she cared, but also because the answer is complicated. While I don’t usually feel physical pain from my hearing loss, there are many examples of psychological and emotional suffering.
Sometimes this pain comes from external catalysts like when I feel dismissed or scorned if the accommodations I need to communicate are not available. Or when my request for a repeat is waved away with a “Never mind.”
Other times, I bring bad feelings on myself. Like when I allow myself to feel embarrassed or inferior because I can’t participate fully at a cocktail party or a noisy meeting. Or when I choose isolation instead of making the effort to engage.
So, yes, my hearing loss does hurt. Just not in the way my friend expected.
It’s Ok to Mourn, But Not Forever
A diagnosis of hearing loss comes with many emotions—not usually good ones. You may feel shocked or scared. How will my hearing loss impact my relationships? Will I be able to stay connected to the activities I enjoy? Can I remain a productive participant on projects important to me?
It is normal to feel overwhelmed and confused. Take the time to feel all your feelings—your loved ones may have some feelings of their own to process too—but know that you are not alone and that skillful living is possible.
You are Not Alone with Your Hearing Loss
According to the World Health Organization, 430 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, including almost 50 million Americans. You are certainly not alone.
But it may feel like you are.
When I first noticed my hearing loss in my mid-20s, I didn’t know anyone else with hearing loss—except for my father who was battling too much hearing loss stigma to discuss it. Or maybe I did know other people with hearing loss, but I didn’t realize it. Many people don’t disclose their hearing loss in fear that others will think less of them. It took many years before I came out of my hearing loss closet.
Finding peers helped me feel less alone with the emotional pain of my hearing loss. Finally there were others who understood my frustrations and who could suggest workarounds for situations where I struggled. Seeing them succeed in life and with relationships gave me hope that I could too.
Skillful Living with Hearing Loss is Possible
Hearing loss does not come with an operating manual. That is why fellow hearing loss advocate Gael Hannan and I decided to write one in Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss. We believe living well with hearing loss is possible, no matter the degree, the age of onset, or how long you have been living with it.
It’s not always easy.
Skillful living has highs and lows. It includes emotional pain and frustration. But it also embraces resilience, fosters self-advocacy and builds confidence because you understand how to create communication success in almost every situation.
Does hearing loss hurt? It certainly does sometimes, but with the right attitude and the use of both technological and behavioral tools, relief is on the way.
Readers, does your hearing loss hurt?
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Hearing loss can be painful when one moves through life without peer support…for sure..Joining a group like HLAA was lifesaving for me.
So true. Peer support is very helpful! Thank you for your comment.
What can truly hurt is having others recognize and believe your loss. I have one of those enigma losses. With my aids, I can hear some sounds, some music (okay heavy bass rock
) and if it’s a voice I know, I can get maybe 50%. My speech does not always reflect my loss, unless it’s new words/names, etc. I lip read, and use visual cues. And I struggle. I avoid, I isolate, I only connect with those with whom I feel safe…which are very few. And sometimes you have to weigh out “being part and faking it’ or stepping away. It hurts to be “half-way”…You are certainly not alone in struggling with this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
My hearing loss was detected at age 6 in the late 1950’s. My folks were told it wouldn’t affect my schooling because what I could hear was in the speech frequency range. Well, that was never the truth. I may have adjusted to this condition over the years but my education & social life suffered. When I began wearing hearing aids, I pretty much had to relearn the pronunciation & the spelling of thousands of words.
What gives me the most relief these days is knowing that today’s hearing challenged people have greater options and hearing devices, understanding and compassion than at any other time in history.
Well said. We are lucky to have so many tools at our fingertips, with more on the way. Thank you for sharing your perspective.