COPING WITH HEARING LOSS

Common emotions associated with hearing loss are denial, anger, guilt, fear, sadness, confusion, and loneliness. When an individual experiences the loss of their hearing, they grieve as they would any other loss in their life.

People express these feelings through a variety of behaviors. People who deny having a hearing loss blame others for mumbling or talking too softly. Others monopolize the conversation because they don’t listen, or withdraw so they won’t have to strain to hear. Some people become suspicious that people are talking about them. When it is hard to hear and communicate, people can become stressed and tired. Realizing that these behaviors are common is the first step in coping with hearing loss.

There are several factors that will affect a person’s ability to cope with their hearing loss. A person’s social support, educational background, economic status, and occupational demands. In addition, personality and the ability to adjust to change may affect how each person deals with this problem. The age of the person with the hearing loss and the age of family and friends may factor into the ability to cope. And finally, coping may be influenced by the number and type of other life events that are occurring.

Sometimes people feel that using hearing aids will solve all the problems that result from the hearing loss. See an audiologist to find hearing aids that are right for you. However, hearing aids do not magically restore hearing to normal nor meet all the needs in all situations. Successful help for hearing loss is a life-long process and involves ongoing evaluation, education, training, support, and advocacy.

The goal of audiological rehabilitation is to minimize the difficulties related to hearing loss. Audiological rehabilitation includes the fitting of hearing aids and/or other hearing assistive devices (phone amplifier, TV adaptors), communication strategies, counseling related to hearing loss, noise protection, and counseling and instruction for family members and / or caregivers.