At the first instance when you find hearing to be difficult, you might attribute it to the circumstances: a loud restaurant for a family gathering, a noisy party with children in attendance, or a one-on-one conversation outside on a very windy day. However, when these situations continue to happen, you can’t avoid acknowledging that the problem might be with your hearing rather than the exceptional circumstances. Although it can become unavoidable, many people refuse to acknowledge hearing loss.
This lack of acknowledgment can happen on several levels. At the most fundamental level, some people experience denial, an inability to admit to themselves that their hearing is no longer what it used to be. At this deepest level, denial can prevent a person from getting the help they need. Yet, another lack of acknowledgment can prevent solutions, as well. Even those who admit to themselves that they have hearing loss can feel too proud or too afraid to admit it to their families, friends, and loved ones that they have trouble hearing. If you find yourself in this situation or you suspect that your loved one might have unacknowledged hearing loss, the following can make it easier to come to terms with hearing loss.
Communication Is Key
Although there may be resistance on these various levels, being able to talk about hearing loss is the essential first step in the direction of a solution. If you suspect that your loved one might have trouble hearing, find the right time and place to talk about it. During or immediately after a difficult hearing situation might not be the right time to raise the issue. Find a time to talk openly and sensitively about the possibility of hearing loss, knowing that solutions are available for most forms of hearing loss! If you are experiencing hearing loss yourself, face your mental barriers and raise the issue with those you love. Although you might be resistant to admitting weakness or even fearful of your own aging process, life will be much improved if you can get help with your hearing. It is worth the conversation!
Make Hearing Easier
There are things you can do to make hearing easier, either for yourself or for your loved one. Try to keep your regular living environment as quiet as possible to facilitate communication. Very noisy television or other distracting sound can make it nearly impossible to hear. Looking directly at a person with hearing loss can make it much easier to communicate, aiding the subconscious process of lip reading and the contextual clues of facial expression. Making an effort to speak clearly can be helpful, but take care not to exaggerate speech in a way that might be embarrassing to the person with hearing loss. “Talking down” to a person with hearing loss can add to the stigma they might already be feeling.
Seek Professional Help
Although these tips can make it easier to deal with hearing loss, after a certain point they are no longer effective strategies for coming to terms with the condition. Along with the complicated emotions that accompany hearing loss, many forms of resistance can prevent a person from getting professional help. Yet, a professional consultation and examination is really the only way to move forward toward durable solutions. At Swift Audiology, your audiologist can offer crucial information to help you understand the range of solutions and assistance, including the variety of new hearing aid options that are on the market. You will be surprised to find out how easy it can be to use the latest hearing aids, and many of them are even invisible to the naked eye.
Some people make assumptions about hearing aids based on past technology, but the latest models can overcome many of the limitations in older designs. With the many possibilities facing you don’t delay to make your appointment. After a consultation and examination, you will be given a simple yet comprehensive hearing test to determine the specific nature of your condition. With that information, your hearing professional will be able to recommend the right assistance for you, and you can work together to find the right solution in terms of price and functionality.
Contact us at Swift Audiology today to learn more!