I think the medical professionals are generally uneducated about working with hearing loss patients. With the emphasis on phone and video appointments now rather than in person it is very difficult. Mine have to be phone appointments because I cannot hear on the computer. I always tell the doctor that I have a caption phone and that they still need to speak slowly and clearly as the phone often does not translate accurately. Conversation starts out well but then most forget and start talking rapidly. I have also been surprised at how many are unfamiliar with caption phones and how they work but then I remember that before my hearing loss I had no idea what a caption phone was ..... had no reason to know.

I have learned from participating in this group that the onus is on us... we who have hearing loss have to educate others and keep coming back until they get it. Thanks to the group I have become much more open about sharing my hearing loss problems.

Now in writing this I remember at times having a sense of shame about my hearing loss, almost as if it were somehow my fault and I should be apologetic about it. Anyone else ever felt/feel that way?

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