How does hearing loss change you?

Hi @joangela that must be so frustrating. Thank you for sharing your story and how hearing loss changed you.

I wanted to tag fellow Connect members @cynaburst @squaredancer @contentandwell and @cobweb as they may want to take part in this discussion.

Back to you @joangela, you mentioned that it largely affected your life in the work force. How has it affected your life with family and friends?

Hi Ethan,
Communication, as I mentioned, impacts every part of your life. I didn’t talk about family and friends. But, of course, that is effected dramatically. Being the social person that I am by nature, before I would naturally just go meet new people, neighbors. Go to different meetings, and always get a new friend. Now, I don’t exert the energy to do that. I don’t want to make the effort as much. It is just too tiring. I stay with old friends, and social media is still an avenue for me to keep in touch with them. I can also converse with new people, like right here. And family, woah, this is so hard for them too. That is a whole other conversation. I feel more alone even with them by my side. It is so frustrating for all of us, and I want them to understand more, but it is so difficult for them. I am so thankful that I have them in my life though. They knew and loved me before, and they love me now.

@joangela @ethanmcconkey Hi Joan, I feel like what you wrote could almost have been written by me. I did not have a hearing loss until about 15 years ago but it has gotten progressively worse, and now my clarity/comprehension has gone downhill also. Communicating is very frustrating.

I can be in my own home, with just family members around, and the conversation is overwhelming. I have at times just politely dropped out, and gotten out my IPad. Prior to my final retirement (I was "retired" for 20 years when I was raising my son and daughter), my hearing loss did not involve clarity so I could cope better. We often go out to dinner with another couple and it can be very challenging. I have Oticon HAs and have the Connect Clip to use with them. When we go out I sometimes bring that and have the other woman wear it so I can hear her better. When we are with my son he automatically asks for it! He tries harder than anyone to be accommodating to my hearing loss. The Connect Clip is helpful but the quality of sound is a bit harsh so it is not great. The time it is most helpful is when I go to water aerobics. One of the instructors leads from outside of the pool so she wears it for me. I wear my hearing aids in the water because my head never goes near the water.

I am hearing more and more about the HLAA convention in June, in Rochester, NY. Are you attending that? I have not yet decided, I have a lot of things going on now and the airfare is not cheap. I am in NH.

If you have any tidbits of advice, things you have found helpful, please post. I am interested in anything that can be helpful.
JK

I, now, at 84 have hearing aides in both ears. Music in restaurants is distorted and an irritant. Have nice ear phones to prevent reception distortion when watching TV. Women's voices and words not understood, unless nearby, particularly so, when out sociably are not clearly picked up, so do less socially. Have to ask young people who phone to speak slower. Have a free phone for hard of hearing folks with nice screen that prints conversation. That's so helpful! Husband is a treasure in my life, but he doesn't understand that I do not understand what he's saying when in another room, when he's facing away from me and talking while washing dishes in the kitchen, when he's out of sight, though nearby, and starts to talk to me. Yes, wearing hearing aides has markedly altered my life. Thankful I have my sight and mobility and functioning nogin.

We were normal once a week church goers. Had to stop going because of the music being so loud. The priest says they get insulted if you tell them. Well I lost my hearing completly in one ear 4 years ago from a virus. Loud noises bounce around in my head causing anxiety, headaches, physically sick. Forget going to plays or movies. A hearing aid helps in normal conversations but just like marijaneb i still have problems. I've been reading more, paint and just sit looking at nature. Moved recently and it is hard to make friends who understand.

Hi there!
Your connect clip sounds great. I am going to ask my audiologist about that.
I have the special phone called “caption call”. It is free for anyone that qualifies. I think it is great. The volume is louder and the words they speak to you come up on the monitor. It is a federally ran program, but I got it through my ENT and Audiologist. At least you are still going out with another couple. I’d say I have retreated.
I am not doing any traveling right now, but when I do, I would like to go to one of the conventions.
I live in Nebraska, so right in the center of the U.S.
Try the phone, if you haven’t already. You need WiFi.
Until later,
JoAngela 😁

Hi Marjaneb,
I know what you mean about the husband talking to you from the other room, or to your back. I have complained about it. 😂. This whole thing is frustrating for them too. They are use to communicating with their wives anywhere. 😁
You are right people can talk way too fast. Slow down. 😂
Hope you have a great day.
JoAngela

Hi Mtnyankee,
I can sure identify with staying away from loud noises. I had to leave a concert because it was too loud. That’s been over 10 years ago, and it was Elton John. I really didn’t want to leave, but had to.
I am sorry you had to give up your church. Very sad.
I can still go to movies and I get closed captions. Could you wear ear plugs and do that? Have a good day.
JoAngela

@joangela There also is an app for cell phones called Innocaption that does the same thing for cell phones that CapTel or Caption Call does for landline phones, also free. I saw it at the Convention and we invited them to speak at our chapter last year. The members that are using out say it works great.

InnoCaption is a great app. It helped me a lot . They listened to folks and really acts fast on any issue
It is for the cellphone - and it works