Coping Strategies for Hearing Loss

How To Enjoy The Movies Or Live Theater With Hearing Loss

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People with hearing loss are often nervous about going to the movies. They fear they won’t be able to understand the dialogue over the booming soundtrack, so they often wait for a film’s digital copy that they can watch in the privacy of their own home with the captions on. The same goes for attending live theater. With theater ticket prices on the rise, some people with hearing loss wonder why they should risk spending money on a show they might not understand.

But times are changing. Most movie theaters now provide free captioning devices, and many live entertainment theaters, particularly on Broadway, are improving the hearing access of patrons with hearing difficulties. So, note these tips to enjoy movies and theater shows to the fullest.

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How To Enjoy Dinner Time With Hearing Loss

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My latest article for Hearing Tracker. Just in time for Thanksgiving!

Friend #1 says something, but I didn’t hear it. I ask her to repeat it, but before I get the words out, friend #2 has already responded to her, moving the conversation forward, yet farther away from me. I say “What?” again, but this does not stop the flow — Friend #1 replies back to Friend #2 and they are off, leaving me behind.

Friend #3, sensing my frustration, acts as a translator, summarizing what has been said so I can catch up. While this is thoughtful behavior and often gets us back on track, I sometimes wonder if it perpetuates the problem by enabling the inconsiderate behavior.

Does this sound familiar to you?

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

For many people the evening meal is the most social part of the day. That is certainly the case for me. Whether it is a family dinner, date night, work event or evening out with friends, conversation and connection often revolve around the dinner table.

How can we make sure we are not left out of the dialogue? To read my suggestions, click here to continue reading on Hearing Tracker.

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Does Your Tinnitus Worsen in the Winter?

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My tinnitus spiked this weekend in my left ear offering a steady buzz like an electrical hum, accompanied by a reduction in my hearing and some dizziness. At first I wondered if my hearing aid was making the sound, but when I removed it, the disturbance grew louder since it was no longer obscured by ambient noise. I knew then that the sound was of my own invention — taking up unwanted residence in my ears and mind. Meditation usually helps me keep my tinnitus under control, but sometimes pesky noise still breaks through.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

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Interesting Reads: Smart Hearing by Katherine Bouton

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Katherine Bouton’s latest book, Smart Hearing — Strategies, Skills and Resources for Living Better with Hearing Loss, is just that — an excellent guide to living a better life with hearing loss. Using personal anecdotes and containing extensive research on assistive listening devices, the book provides a road map for people at all stages of their hearing loss journey. If you think you may have hearing loss, or know you do, this book is required reading.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

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Hearing Loss: Slow Down, You Talk Too Fast

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Don’t you sometimes wish the world would slow down a little bit. The racing from activity to activity, the constant barrage of emails and texts, even the hourly news cycle can be exhausting. No wonder people seem to be speaking at a faster and faster rate. Or maybe it just seems that way because of my hearing loss. Lately, I find that my brain needs a little extra processing time to help me hear my best. I have added “Please repeat that more slowly,” to my list of “What?” replacements.

Living With Hearing Loss | A Hearing Loss Blog

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