This weekend my hearing aid settings were just wrong. I could hear every background noise, each buzz and beep, but not voices. At dinner, the silverware clinking on the plates blocked out the conversation. In the car, the sound of the wind overpowered the music. My children’s laughter in the back seat was excruciatingly loud, Continue reading
Audiology
What Are The Stages of Hearing Loss?
I have read about the five stages of grief — denial & isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance — and they remind me a lot of the stages of hearing loss. This makes sense, because for many, myself included, the loss of hearing is something to be mourned, to be missed, to be fought. Continue reading
How To Enjoy A Concert Safely When You Have Hearing Loss
Hello. It’s me. I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to go to a concert? I have two extra tickets. To Adele. Do you and your daughter want to come? [sing this to Adele’s “Hello”] I rarely go to concerts — I am afraid to damage my hearing any more than it already Continue reading
Talking Hearing Loss With Today’s Audiology Students
A few weeks ago, I spoke to a group of audiology doctoral students at The Graduate Center, CUNY. The purpose was to share the patient’s perspective with them, particularly as it relates to what patients would like to see when visiting their audiologists. The group of students was intelligent, interested and highly motivated to understand the patient’s Continue reading
Hearing Loss Is Finally Being Taken Seriously
Hearing loss is finally being taken seriously, or at least the National Academy of Sciences is recommending that it should be. Last week, this private non-profit society of scholars issued a comprehensive report entitled, “Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability.” The report highlights hearing as “a vital human sense that is important to Continue reading
