Hearing loss is the third most chronic condition in the US, making it likely that someone close to you does struggle with this condition. However, it is difficult to detect, often unless an individual comes forward to disclose a hearing loss. Therefore hearing loss is often referred to as an invisible disability. Living with hearing loss can be lonely, as it becomes difficult to communicate.
Misinformation around hearing loss is common, leading to social stigmas around age, and disability. These stigmas keep people from addressing the issue and seeking the treatment they could significantly benefit from. It also keeps people with normal hearing afraid to breach the subject and learn more about how to accommodate those who struggle with this condition. However, there are several things you can do, as an advocate for someone with hearing loss to make it a less isolating experience. Here are just a few things people with hearing loss wish you knew.
“It looks like I’m rude, but I’m not.”
Sometimes you speak to someone with hearing loss, and it seems as if they are ignoring you. Because hearing loss is an invisible disability, this is common. They may not have heard you or realized you were speaking. Try getting the person’s attention before you begin speaking. Other times a person with hearing loss may appear disinterested in what you are saying. Maintain eye contact, as this will help you monitor if they are following what you are saying. It is also common for a person with hearing loss to respond inappropriately to what you’ve said. This is most likely due to something they misheard. Consonants easily are lost in early stages of hearing loss, confusing one for another. If they seem confused, slow down and calmly try again.
“Hearing loss makes me exhausted.”
Hearing loss is a progressive condition. At first the individual affected will not notice often until they struggle to hear in the most ideal listening situations. In the years proceeding, parts of words, sentences, tones, and pitches slowly go missing. While hearing loss occurs in the ears the effects are most felt by the brain. As the brain receives more and more incomplete sound information, it must struggle to fill in the blanks. This requires an increased cognitive load that takes away from other aspects of cognitive function. The result of listening with hearing loss is utterly exhausting! What may be a casual and relaxing conversation to someone with normal hearing can make a person with hearing loss very tired. Give the people with hearing loss in your life, time to rest and recover from social interaction.
“Hearing aids are not like glasses.”
While hearing loss in most cases is irreversible, the most common treatment for hearing loss are hearing aids. Hearing aids are tiny digital sound amplification devices which are worn near or in the ear. They are programmed to amplify only the sounds you struggle with making it easier to hear. However, this doesn’t happen overnight. With eyeglasses, once you put them on, they immediately correct vision so you can see clearly. In most cases people wait 7 to 10 years from the time they suspect they have an issue, to treat their hearing loss. Your brain must relearn to process sounds it hasn’t heard in years. It may take a couple of weeks to acquaint yourself and feel the full benefits of hearing aids. Many people who don’t understand this, give up early, but it is important to stick with them. Hearing aids have the potential to reverse many negative health aspects of hearing loss including cognitive decline, depression, and loneliness.
“I need certain things to enhance conversation.”
Even with hearing aids, certain things can help a person with hearing loss engage and succeed in conversation to a greater extent.
- Make sure to get their attention before speaking so they can prepare to hear.
- Visual cues such as lip reading, hand gestures, facial expression and body language help people with hearing loss hear better. Make sure they have a clear view of you while you speak.
- It is common for people with hearing loss to ask what? Instead of repeating yourself, try rephrasing what you’ve said. This can add context and give a hearing-impaired individual a chance to understand.
“Please don’t get frustrated!”
It takes a little bit of extra effort to communicate with someone with hearing loss, however for the people in your life, you are invested in, this is completely worth it. With patience and focus communication can become easier on both sides of the conversation.