Advocacy

The Day My Hearing Aids Made Me Feel Like a Queen

Shari Eberts Advocacy, Break the Stigma, Community, Disability, Hearing Loss , , ,

Do you feel like hearing aids are everywhere in the press these days? First it was the groundbreaking launch by American Girl Doll of Joss, its 2020 girl of the year that not only enjoys surfing, but also wears a hearing aid. Then it was the Queen of England spotted in public for the first time wearing a hearing aid. It is exciting and inspired me to share my thoughts on the subject for HuffPost Personal. 

Hopefully one day soon, someone wearing a hearing aid, no matter their age or occupation will no longer be newsworthy, but until then, the more press coverage the better. Building awareness is the best way to break down stigma, promote hearing aid and assistive listening device usage and build awareness about the ways people with hearing loss are breaking down communication barriers.

Click here to read the story on HuffPost. If it resonates with you, please share it widely to help build momentum for articles about hearing loss in the mainstream media.   

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Hearing Loss in the Workplace: An In-Person Meeting

Shari Eberts Advocacy, Coping Strategies for Hearing Loss, Disability, Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss in the Workplace, Technology , , , , ,

Hearing loss can make communication in the workplace challenging, but there are strategies for success. In a recent talk on hearing loss in the workplace at Goldman Sachs, I highlighted the strategies and tips I use for one of the most difficult workplace situations — an in-person meeting. I share the portion of my talk on this topic below. Please add your suggestions in the comments.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

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Hearing Loss: Why Audiologists Should Recommend Peer Support

Shari Eberts Advocacy, Audiology, Community, Coping Strategies for Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss, Person-centered Care , , , , ,

Support is important for anyone facing a new challenge. Hearing loss is no different. Audiologists are often the first place people with hearing loss turn when searching for information about their condition. In my latest article for Ida Institute, I encourage audiologists to understand that the emotional aspects of hearing loss are equally important to treat. They can help do that by encouraging patients to seek out a hearing loss support group. I include an excerpt from the piece below. To read the full article click here. 

Hearing Loss Can Be A Solitary Pursuit

Like most people, I began my hearing loss journey alone, weighed down with stigma and unsure how to best navigate the world with hearing aids. I didn’t know any other people with hearing loss that I could ask for guidance. My father, bogged down with stigma of his own, was no real help. I often felt like I was on my own with this huge challenge, increasingly disconnected from family and friends that did not understand my struggles. Once I found my way to a hearing loss support group, this all changed.

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Living With Hearing Loss: Top Ten Posts of 2019

Shari Eberts Advocacy, Break the Stigma, Coping Strategies for Hearing Loss, Disability, Hearing Loss , , , ,

It’s that time of year again — time to look back and remember the highlights of the past year, and make plans for the upcoming year. Many of 2019’s most popular posts on Living With Hearing Loss centered on the ways hearing loss impacts more than just the individual with hearing loss, but also the person’s family and friends. Some posts suggested ways that family and friends could help support those of us with hearing loss, while others discussed ways that we as people with hearing loss can get more comfortable asking for the help we need. The bottom line: Hearing loss is a team sport.

Thank you to all my readers for helping create this wonderful and encouraging hearing loss community. I appreciate you adding to the discussion with your comments and suggestions and for sharing support for one another. Here’s to more of the same in 2020.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

I am taking next week off, but will be back in January with more posts. In the meantime, please enjoy the 10 most popular articles of 2019.

Top 10 Living With Hearing Loss Posts of 2019

  1. A Head Cold + Hearing Loss = A Perfect Storm
  2. Five Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Hearing Loss
  3. Hearing Loss: When Dinner is A Disaster
  4. Seven Ways You Can Make Life Easier For Someone With Hearing Loss 
  5. Does Your Tinnitus Worsen in the Winter
  6. When Your Hearing Aid Settings Are Just Wrong
  7. What My Hearing Loss Has Taught Me
  8. You CAN Go to the Movies When You Have Hearing Loss
  9. How To Love Someone With Hearing Loss
  10. Do You Hear Better in the Morning?

Readers, what was your favorite post of the year?

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Hearing Loss: Sometimes You Just Have to Leave the Party

Shari Eberts Advocacy, Break the Stigma, Coping Strategies for Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss, Preventing Hearing Loss, Tinnitus , , , , , ,

The music was blaring. People were covering their ears. I had turned my hearing aids off but could still feel the bass reverberating through my body. Why did anybody think this would be a good setting for a reunion of board members — most of them in their 50s and 60s? I wasn’t sure, but most people were just trying to survive — shouting to one another to be heard or attempting to move to a quieter spot for discussion. Some danced rather than make any attempt at conversation or just focused on eating in silence.

I was miserable. I couldn’t effectively converse with anyone — lipreading can only take you so far, and I kept worrying if the constant noise was further damaging my hearing — even with my hearing aids turned off and acting as earplugs in my ears. I didn’t want to be anti-social or miss the “fun” but I knew I had to get out of there.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

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