Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

@joangela I can understand how you are feeling left out. I do not have hearing loss. I know several that do. Their Medicare will not pay or even help with hearing aides as hearing is considered a luxury. I find this type of thinking shallow.
I have worked with hearing impaired children in the past and started learning some American Sign Language (ASL). I have taught one of my neighbors some ASL. She recently turned 90. This has helped in some social situations and leaves the person being judgmental feeling chagrined.
Gives her the sense of having a little to say to narrow minded people by allowing them to "see" she is hearing impaired.

@joangela, depending on where you live there may be a chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) or the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) near you. HLAA has chapters all over the country and most hold local meetings where you can meet others with severe hearing loss. Our chapter in New York City has monthly meetings, which often feature a guest speaker and always provide live captioning with CART. We have many members with quite severe hearing loss. Try http://www.hearingloss.org/chapters to see if there's a chapter near you.

hi, i want to know the causes of tinnitus and what are the treatment ? please

@mkc4ever Don't be nervous, it is what it is, and the outcome from the appointment will probably help with the decline of your hearing in your left ear. Try to think positively. Yep, you have to face that your hearing is getting worse, but that's the way it whether or not you see the ENT. Going for the test will most probably give you that help that you may need now, so try to be hopeful about the appointment.
I know too well how disappointing it is for your hearing to decline. We have to do whatever we can do to compensate for that.
JK

Hi, @joangela I would also like to welcome you to Connect. I have had a hearing loss since 2004 which has gotten progressively worse over the years. I wear hearing aids but the latest problem I have had is a loss of clarity, and hearing aids help less with that than they do with volume. I do have hearing aids that were considered to be the most sophisticated in helping with that when I purchased them a little over two years ago. They have improved them even more but with the cost of hearing aids, it would be impossible to update them with every improvement.
I believe my original loss was probably due to getting older, but the loss of clarity is probably due to some necessary drugs I have to take.
I agree with @IndianaScott and @sparklegram Social situations can be very difficult. I have a problem even in my own home when we have company. Often there is more than one person speaking so it just becomes garbled. I have on occasion just stopped trying and politely dropped out.
I try to go primarily to restaurants that I know are a bit quieter. Some restaurants have tall booths or plexiglass shields between the booths and that helps to baffle the noise a bit.
I've heard great things about HLAA that @katherinebouton mentioned but unfortunately, the closest one to me is over away and their meetings are at night. I wish we had a closer one.
JK

@joangela I hear you! 🙂 I find the same thing, often even after I have told folks I am hard of hearing. They frequently smile when I ask them to repeat themselves, but then don't. Maybe they are hard of hearing too!

We have a new puppy and she has the unfortunate habit of waking me at 2 am to go outside. Better than an accident I guess. I have discovered I love taking her out then as it is so quiet I can hear things I never hear during the day when there is traffic, planes, etc.

Guess there are silver linings in lots of unexpected places!

Hi @sparklegram I think I need to meet your husband 🙂 I am a wine buff and find tasting rooms to often be the same -- they are large, busy, and with acoustics that are dreadful! But then again the wines are often worth it...as I am sure your husband finds with the craft beers he discovers!

Cheers!

@IndianaScott I must admit, I too love the peace and quiet when I take my hearing aids out.

Also, I WAS a wine buff until I got non-alcoholic cirrhosis. We went many times to Napa and Sonoma, and had planned to go to Tuscany on our next trip to Italy, if we ever do go again. I do miss my glass of wine with dinner, which is about all I drank most of the time.
JK

Hi @contentandwell Sorry to hear of your health situation! I just got back from a week in Napa with our adult daughter and we did our best to improve the wine economy! 🙂

My wife's family has their roots in Italy, but sadly in one of the very few areas that can't grow grapes worth spit 🙂

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are today!

If your tinnitus is not severe- I drink distilled water. There is a trace of salt in our drinking water -maybe that's it? But, if I eat salty foods sound is worse. Distilled water may help a bit.?