Hearing loss: How do you identify yourself to others?

I'm 63 and worked 20 years in construction environments where I could have controlled today's losses but I did not. I just read linkeellis and the definition of oral deaf and found I'm 50%ish of yours. Problem areas: Ringing in ears 100% of the day. In social gatherings where I'm "listening" to conversations in a circle facing me I generally just listen to what I can, rather than try to piece portions together, then - look for an opportunity to walk outside the event (rest), and don't ask what was said unless I really need the information. My first experience with ALS community is the linkeellis paragraph. I looked at the diagram developed by Charlotte Baker and Dennis Cokely in 1980 to explain how a person qualifies for becoming a member of the community of ...... varying hearing levels.

Self definition is: Entering lonerhood, in 3 settings: 1) It's less frustrating to not talk when you cannot listen, "social settings". 2) With my "wife" #1, coupled with her confusion, of the appearance, that I don't care to listen and her mother died of Alzheimer's. 3) I have "memory loss" from epilepsy since 22 yrs old, ongoing, varying descriptions. I'm not involved with epilepsy beyond the neurologist and medication. No contact with people with epilepsy or persons with memory loss conditions. That 3rd setting is 2-part to define because "memory loss" is taking place daily even if information is heard, when given it may be lost inside, not at all lost - 5 minutes - forever. The appearance of not listening can be memory loss and or, hearing loss. I have trouble separating the 2 for percentages because they often eat at the same table. My more recent decision with less involvement with people has only given me some rest, but rest is temporary. It's time to deal with my hearing issues in order to better identify memory issues.

Would I prefer being 100% deaf or have memory loss? I guess that's not an entirely fair question, except as it applies to me, and like persons only? I've never asked that question until today. Memory loss and Alzheimer's share a lot. Alzheimer's is frightening, always with a hard end. I do not have an Alzheimer's diagnosis. 100% deaf "to me" means just "a freight train" to cope with. My mental health is that I still truly laugh at the situation. But, that's how I'm coming into the hearing loss or deaf world today.

I don't really "identify" myself to people very often. My hearing is 100% normal with my Cochlear Implants now so unless I tell someone, no one knows I have hearing loss. When I wore HA's, I was always telling people I was hard of hearing, made excuses for my poor hearing, etc. because I was only understanding a portion of the conversation. I grew up hearing and I associate myself with the hearing world. I've never really been a part of the "deaf world". I don't understand the fraction of the Deaf community that is so anti-speech/hearing, but it is what it is I guess.

I usually say I am hearing impaired. It seems to get the best results from others so that they speak louder or more distinctly.

I usually say I am hearing impaired. It covers my need to indicate to others that they need to speak louder or more distinctly, without having to go into detail about what my exact hearing impairment is. The one thing I do find that as my conversations lengthen, others tend to forget to continue to speak at a louder level and so I either need to remind them to speak up, or request they repeat things...can be frustrating sometimes!

I was born deaf and wear hearing aid on my right ear. I speak pretty good. I love being around with deaf people with ASL. I am retired from Kentucky School for the Deaf. Now I am subbing for Montessori School. Sometime I have difficult to communication with kids and staff. Some kids learned some sign language and they understand me being deaf. I can be frustrating sometimes.

We deaf people have experience oppression and barriers from hearing world. We ask for an interpreter for safety driver for the seniors. AARP won't provide an interpreter because it too expensive. We have to tell Ky Commission HH and Deaf center what happened. KCDHH called AARP and warned them. Because KCDHH knows ADA laws. So AARP will do for us. We are happy.

Hello. I am profoundly deaf in my right ear, have a high frequency loss in my left. My family history is my maternal grandparents were both born hearing and lost their hearing as children (ages 3 an 7) due to illness/high fevers. My mother and her three siblings all had normal hearing throughout life. They all communicated with my grandparents by sign (Amslam). I was born with normal hearing but also lost what I have to high fevers as an infant. All four of my siblings have normal hearing. I always heard well enough that no need for sign language growing up. It is a sensory neural loss so an aid in my right ear would be of little value to me.
With me, I compensate really well and most people I interact with do not recognize I have hearing loss. I do struggle with group conversations where there is much ambient noise such as a restaurant. I lip read extremely well (perfected it tending bar in college). In business, it typically not an issue as even group meetings are normally devoid of much ambient noise so voices are clear. Conference calls are a different matter but that can be a painful experience regardless of your hearing ability.
In social group settings in loud places, I tend to focus on individual conversations and ignore the rest. My friends and family all know this but it does cause occasional frustration when I miss out on things but c’est la vie.
In business, I simply tell people sitting on my right that I am deaf in my right ear should I not respond if they are talking to me. Never an issue.
My wife and daughter are both SLPs and my daughter working in total communication as well as auditory/verbal therapy with a focus on cochlear implant recipients. Leads to occasional interesting conversations.
Bottom line, I guess I don’t truly “Identify” in respect to my hearing loss but manage situatinos depending on the setting.

@airotto370 - many people compensate and forget to let people know when they need an assist i.e. conference calls and loud places. Do you just deal with it or do you say: "I have a hearing loss\deaf\hard of hearing could you please repeat that or whatever to make sure you are communicating properly? Is it okay to be left out?

@1634517678 - many people don't understand that significant hearing loss leads to early or earlier onset to memory loss or dementia. Your ears and your mind are not being stimulated so your brain is not connecting the dots - and as they say, use it or lose it. We hear with our brains, not our ears.

@lunameow14 You are lucky because the KCDHH is an excellent organization. Speaking of driving, have you ever been stopped or in an accident and need to communicate with law enforcement or other drivers? What methods do you use to handle the situation? Do you have an "I am Deaf" or "I have Hearing Loss" sign on your visor to let them know?

No, my husband and I want to take training safety driver for elders so we can get discount for our car insurance.