Blog
Hearing care and marital harmony: Fondness and Admiration
Happy marriages practice fondness and admiration. Fondness and admiration are an antidote to times of frustration and hurt feelings. Hearing plays a role. Hearing is the sense most vital for relationships. A ‘heard’ wife is a much happier wife.
Hearing care and marital harmony: Small Conversations
Why would hearing aid wearers see happier marriages? Happy marriages are built on ‘small conversations.' Small conversations are the moments of playfulness and quiet words of encouragement. This is how couples develop trust and rapport. These brief moments of kindness and affection help give us a sense of perspective. That perspective helps us repair the hurt feelings in difficult times.
Why is it socially acceptable to shame people about their hearing loss? Part 2
I’m hearing more stories of shaming those with hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is difficult to live with. When you have normal hearing, it can be hard to relate with the struggle of not being able to hear. Most of us have a hard-of-hearing loved one. Most of us have, on some level, experienced the frustration of not being heard by them. I assert that’s the reason why it is still socially acceptable to shame those with hearing loss. Not being heard is a pain that we can all relate to.
Why is it socially acceptable to shame people about their hearing loss? Part 1
Lately, I have heard more stories about shaming those with hearing loss. It still seems acceptable to express frustration through shaming when someone does not hear us. A community is made of all different kinds of people. Each one with struggles that others cannot see.
Did hearing aids make my wife . . . smarter?
Hearing is a resource that allows us to engage in a real-time fusion of thoughts and feelings. When you have normal hearing, you communicate with little comparative effort. When you have hearing loss, it is much harder to communicate.
Keywords: communication, hearing loss
My hearing aids aren’t giving me any problems. What’s the value in visiting my audiologist?
Routine follow up care will help you get the most out of your hearing aids.
Keywords: hearing aids, maintenance
I love music. How will I enjoy music while wearing hearing aids?
You can be an audiophile, live music connoisseur, or looking to relax at the end of the day. In any case, you will find listening to music through your hearing aids very enjoyable.
"I don't want anyone to know I have hearing loss."
Fewer people feel the need to ‘hide’ their hearing loss. But, those who want to ‘hide’ their hearing loss feel much more strongly about it. Let me offer two thoughts for encouragement.
Hearing loss is a natural part of aging, isn't it?
Asking at what age hearing is no longer vital is like asking at what age companionship is no longer necessary. Hearing is the sense that most contributes to our ability to engage with others.
Do you love hearing aids or hate them? One key difference
You will be successful if you work with an audiologist who can guide you through choosing, learning to use, and maintaining your hearing aids. Studies show the importance of guidance from an audiologist. These findings are consistent no matter how basic or sophisticated the level of technology.
How to get the most out of your hearing aids?
To get the most out of your hearing aid experience, maintain a practice of wearing your hearing aids consistently, keep regular appointments with your audiologist, and keep communication success top-of-mind.
Why get hearing aids now: Recognizing speech
Research has demonstrated a relationship between delayed treatment for hearing loss and deterioration in the ability to understand speech.
How to find the right hearing aid . . . for you
Consider hearing aids as treatment for a serious, significant medical condition, not as an appliance purchase. Measure your satisfaction of hearing aids as how well it contributes to the quality of your communication and relationships.
Seniors May Now Fear ‘Cognitive Decline’ More Than Cancer; Hearing Loss a Factor
Loss of mental acuity (memory loss, depression, dementia, Alzheimer) was named as a top concern for over 65% of respondents in a 2015 National Council on Aging survey. Hearing loss treatment is a significant lever for maintaining your mental and decision-making faculties as you age.
Hearing loss and memory problems: Is there a relationship?
In the presence of hearing loss, your brain has to devote more energy to processing sound. It can draw this energy from memory encoding, decision-making, and emotional well-being.
The 3 Components of a Happy Marriage Between Patient and their Hearing Ads
What should you look for in a provider? First, an audiologist who works with a variety of manufacturers and can effectively match a device to the hearing loss. Second, the expertise to program hearing aids; which is not at all the same as simply increasing the gain (turning up the volume). Third, and an absolute necessity, the audiologist should use objective testing to ensure the programming is on target.
Keywords: on-target programming, unique hearing loss shape
Hearing loss and Depression: Is there a relationship?
Why would untreated hearing loss lead to depression? When you have hearing loss, listening is a more effortful, exhaustive exercise. The effort - fatigued - drained experience is a pathway to depression, sadness, and anxiety.
"Never mind" Communicating to a loved one with hearing loss
Hearing loss can impact relationships. Communication takes effort, patience, and planning . . . for both of you.
Keywords: communication, isolation
When your loved one won't get a hearing test
What will get your loved one, who has hearing loss, to get a hearing test?
Keywords: hearing loss, relationships
Can you give me one quick tip so that I can help my mother who isn’t hearing well? Tip #4
When you are speaking to your mother, pause between phrases.
Can you give me one quick tip so that I can help my mother who isn’t hearing well? Tip #3
When you are speaking to someone with hearing loss, keep your hands away from your face. Make communication your priority.
Can you give me one quick tip so that I can help my mother who isn’t hearing well? Tip #2
This is the second in a series of posts about communicating with a loved one with hearing loss.
Keywords: hearing loss
Can you give me one quick tip so that I can help my mother who isn’t hearing well? Tip #1
This is the first in a series of posts on how to communicate with a loved one with hearing loss.
Keywords: hearing loss
A simple English quiz that you will fail and what it reveals about hearing loss
A simple English quiz can demonstrate how our experience diminishes our awareness.
Keywords: hearing loss
Every breath you take–New Year’s Resolutions–Hearing Loss
If you have ever started the New Year composing resolutions only to throw in the towel before Ground Hog Day--or bemusedly watch others struggle with resolutions--this post is for you.
Keywords: hearing loss, new years resolutions
Tinnitus: The missing piece to researching solutions
The problem with most common Tinnitus solutions is their "one-size-fits-all" approach. There is no one solution that will work for everyone. In order to compose a realistic plan for managing your Tinnitus, your first best step is a comprehensive audiologic evaluation.
Keywords: tinnitus
Looking for a Memory Boost? Try a hearing test
A hearing test might be the key to understanding, retaining, and making better use of information.
Hearing Loss and the Holidays: what can we do to make family time more enjoyable?
Holiday and family time makes the effects of hearing loss much more profound. With many speakers in the room, it's more difficult for someone with hearing loss to engage in conversation, or even to understand the conversation of others.
Hearing Loss & Depression: Two characteristics that explain the relationship
There’s a clear pattern in the research, demonstrating the connection between hearing loss and depression. Some readily understand this relationship. Others are skeptical. This article is for the skeptics.
Keywords: depression, hearing loss
When did it become socially acceptable to make hearing loss a punch line?
Levity aside, I can’t help but think of the myriad other health conditions, or other socially-sensitive stereotypes that might have replaced hearing loss that would have resulted in outrage.
Keywords: hearing loss
