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Holiday Auditory Exhaustion Syndrome is Here!
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Dec 6, 2022 | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
@sequoia You nailed it! This is exactly how most people who have severe hearing loss feel in large gatherings. Attitude makes a difference though. Sounds like you have an A+ there!
People often get the impression that we are either not paying attention or that we are a bit daft or stupid. We sense that and the stress keeps adding up. It takes us time to digest what we are hearing, then to ponder whether or not we heard it correctly, and then to decide whether or not to respond. Sometimes we get it wrong, and our response makes us look really, really bad. We have used examples of those kinds of misunderstandings in 'role play exercises' at HLAA chapter meetings. Sometimes we have to laugh at ourselves too.
Did you know that a person with hearing loss often takes up to 5 seconds to respond to a simple yes or no question?
Replies to "@sequoia You nailed it! This is exactly how most people who have severe hearing loss feel..."
When you say they think we are daft or stupid, do they actually say that to you or is that just what you are thinking? I always struggle in group situations, but no one has ever told me I am stupid or anything since I can't understand. I do know I feel self conscious about not being able to hear and sometime think people are either getting frustrated with me. I do know a lot of times I end up zoning out because I just can't keep up and my brain "shuts down". Thankfully with family I am usually pretty at ease and don't worry so much and if I have questions about what was being talked about, my hubby is pretty good with filling me in. The hardest though are when we have our work lunches with my department. We work from home, so the only time i get together with them is a few times a year at these lunches. We have a bowling/lunch holiday get together coming up and I am happy to see them but worried about what I will miss.
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@julieo4 I did not know about taking up to 5 seconds to respond - Wow. I've been thinking about HLAA. I think I would like to learn more about the organization. I will research and see what is around my neck of the woods. OBTW, I think "daft" is a better description than stupid but they both work hahaha and also, I've had plenty of misunderstandings that are quite funny. You have to have a sense of humor in all of this. Good day!