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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: 8 hours ago | Replies (1519)Comment receiving replies
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
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Hi JK and Everyone! I'd like to say a few more words about HLAA. Yes, it's a terrific organization, and the peer support piece of HLAA can be life changing especially for people with adult onset hearing loss. Some chapters have parent's groups too. HLAA Chapters exist because people with hearing loss start them. They are not run by professionals. Some meet in the evenings, others meet in the afternoons. That decision comes from inside each chapter, based on what the nucleus of the chapter decides will work. If there is no HLAA chapter in your area, why not start one? It's not that difficult. When I started the chapter in my community, I went to the news media and asked them to write a story about HLAA, and why I wanted to start a local chapter. I arranged for meeting space at our local library, set a time, etc. Over 50 people showed up that night! Eleven of them agreed to work to develop a chapter. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. Those eleven people ranged in age from 35 to 85. We became friends. We learned a ton, and have been reaching out to others with hearing loss ever since. Yes, things change. Some of our original members have passed away, some have moved away, but new people continue to join us. I encourage everyone out there that isn't in an area where an HLAA chapter exists, to consider helping HLAA grow. It's up to you to make that happen! National HLAA staff has resources to help you. Call on them. You won't regret it.