@meatheads Let's take a good look at what hearing loss does to a person besides the actual loss or diminishment of a sense we depend on for communication. Human beings are social 'animals'. It's true that some people are extroverts and others are introverts. Personalities vary, but all people need to interact with other people to live comfortably. Very basic information there. Reality: Hearing loss is a barrier to communication.

Hearing loss robs people of their spontaneity. This, and other things that change tend to be deeper issues for those of us who are diagnosed with hearing loss as adults who have lived with typical hearing for years. Suddenly we can't communicate as well as we'd like to. That is intimidating. Some of us fight it and do all we can to keep going. Others do the opposite. They stop doing things they once enjoyed. After blaming people for not speaking up they come to realize the problem is theirs. Along with this comes changes in behavior that not only affect us but affect others. Family members and friends have to deal with these changes in us too. Some become kind and understanding; others not so much.

Those changes can lead to emotions none of us understand. They are brought on by fear, frustration & fatigue which all accompany our new life in some way. We fear losing jobs, friends, status, etc. Frustration comes due to the inability to communicate fluidly in many situations; especially when their is background noise which exists in most every social setting. Fatigue comes because we have to work so hard to do all we can to try to hear and understand. It's exhausting.

So what do we do? As mentioned earlier, some stop doing things they once enjoyed. That affects others as well. Some become more assertive and learn all they can about how to help themselves whether it be with technology, counseling, etc. Sadly, few in the counseling fields know anything about hearing loss. They do know that poor communication can lead to isolation. Isolation can lead to depression.

Yes, cognitive decline has been associated with hearing loss in recent studies. However that affects only a small percentage of people. Often the appearance of cognitive decline comes from the sudden change in behavior a person with hearing loss experiences.

Meeting other people who are living with hearing loss can be very helpful. Why? Because they understand all of the above. You can talk about it without someone telling you "you should be glad it's not something worse." Or saying "Never mind, it wasn't important" when you ask to have something you missed repeated. Seriously, support groups, especially those that are able to meet in person, help eliminate the depression that comes with many issues.

The technology available today can help a great deal. However, it has to be fit well and fully explained to the person who needs it. Hearing Assistive Technology that goes beyond a good pair of hearing aids can be life changing. So can cochlear implants. Unfortunately, much of the information about that technology comes through people who use it not people to sell it. When you can Hear Other People's Experiences in a support group you will find HOPE.

Check out: The Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) at http://www.hearingloss.org for chapter locations. Also the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) can be very supportive.