Category — Effects of hearing loss

No one wants to admit they are hard of hearing.  It’s embarrassing.  To admit you really don’t hear that well is to admit you have a problem.  Hearing loss is a problem and admitting you have it could be the first step to an easy and painless solution.  Read more... (455 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Everyone agrees that it’s the communication between two people that brings intimacy between two people.  All of us have who we call our best or closest friend.  We feel safe talking to them because of a bond or feeling of intimacy built usually on open communication.  This feeling develops with people we feel close to.

For some, a hearing loss can be devastating to those relationships.  This would affect more people than one may think.  Take, for instance, the sound of a lover’s voice.  If you were constantly asking “what” or “repeat that”, how long would the intimacy last?  Read more... (411 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

One of the most important aspects of a wonderful marriage is good communication.  It is so important to really listen to your spouse and understand what your partner is trying to say.  If your mate has to keep repeating things because you don’t hear, or if you pretend to hear when you don’t, you could have problems.  Your spouse may even stop trying to communicate with you unless it’s really necessary, and you will miss out on all the little things you used to enjoy talking about with him/her.  Read more... (421 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

This was sent to me and I think it shows the benefits of digital technology available today.

Hearing and Confusion in My 90 Year Old Mom.  Did Mom hear what I said, or pretend? Is she confused?  She IS 89 and has dementia.  She asks the same things constantly.  

A few years ago my brothers and I replaced her ten-year old hearing aids.  There was new technology available. We hoped she would benefit from it.  She certainly did!  The new hearing aids had three settings: the first for normal conversation in a small area, the second for a medium amount of background noise (the aids worked in a way to reduce background noise and amplify what was being said nearby), and the third for situations with a lot of background noise, like restaurants.  The settings were simple for an older person to grasp.  There was a small button on the aid she could push to change the setting.  This system worked very well for several years.    Read more... (388 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

One of the most difficult things in the world for many individuals to deal with is hearing loss. Though hearing loss might seem like a normal part of the aging process that people should learn to deal with, the social repercussions of these problems is much greater than most realize. Losing your hearing is not something that is easily dealt with and it can be a tough adjustment for people who have spent their entire lives with good hearing. So how are those people with poor hearing adjusting? What sorts of things are they going through?  Read more... (481 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Hearing loss affects most people at some point in their lives. Whether it’s a family member whose hearing isn’t what it used to be or your own hearing is waning, this is a very common problem. With age or occasional injury, comes a decrease in normal hearing. Luckily, there are solutions to hearing loss; these can bring back normal living.

The effects of hearing loss are immense and often permeate all aspects of life. The physical effects are those associated with hearing loss: being unable to hear conversations, misunderstanding what people say to you, and sounds being muffled. All of these can be frustrating to family members and others, as your hearing loss can be misconstrued as you not listening or not wanting to pay attention to a conversation.  Read more... (418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

I’ve heard this by hundreds of patients over the last 35 years.  It seems hard enough to keep good communication in any marriage over an extended period of time.  I know because I have been married for 39 years.  I agree with all the experts:  it’s all about communication.

Now, imagine you’re living with someone who misunderstands what you are saying.  Wish can lead to disagreements and very hurt feelings.  On top of that, they are constantly asking you “what” or “excuse me” or pretending to agree with what you said.  Then after you repeat to them for the third time with elevated volume, they accuse you of shouting at them and being angry.  Read more... (244 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

It all starts out funny, making jokes about how you misunderstood a word and responded so off-the-wall everyone just laughed.  It’s funny at first. Then after it happens more and more, even though you try to keep the laughter going, somehow it all changes.

After awhile you often try to seem preoccupied with something else when people talk to you.  Most of the time you find yourself smiling and agreeing with what was said, even though you didn’t have a clue.

Then it all hits the fan when you seem out of touch at work and especially at home with those you’re the closest to.

Anger, suspicion, frustration on every level with other people and even themselves.  Read more... (232 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

Missing words in conversations leads to a lot of personal issues.  At least it did for me.  I remember so well coming away from a dinner, and my son told me I responded incorrectly or was off subject when I was interjecting my thoughts.

It didn’t bother me so much that I didn’t get what was said right.  What really bothered me was what the others must have thought of me when I didn’t get it right.  I felt so embarrassed.

I have a high frequency hearing loss.  It’s not volume but understanding certain parts of words that causes me to think they said something completely different than what was actually said.  Read more... (217 words, estimated 52 secs reading time)

I have been asked this question at least 4 to 6 times a week.  You may think this sounds strange; however, this is asked by people who are close to, or are friends of, someone who has a hearing loss.

It’s not that they haven’t tried or told their family member or friend to get a hearing aid.  The person who is losing out and misunderstanding conversations often doesn’t see the need — or their ego prevents them from taking steps to get help.

Over the last 35 years of helping people hear better, I have found the best way to encourage someone who has put off for years getting help is to realize you are perhaps the reason they are not getting that help.  Read more... (339 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)