Dealing with a spouse who has profound hearing loss.

Posted by leeda5 @leeda5, May 17, 2023

My husband has dealt with serious hearing loss for years. The kids are grown and gone and he's long since retired. We have moved to a 55 plus community but it's been nearly impossible for him to make new friends. He has become a virtual hermit. Suggestions?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

@leeda5

Where can I get this book? It sounds very helpful.

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The book is titled "Can She HEAR This Cat's Meow? - Living With Grandma's Hearing Loss from a Kid's Perspective". It's available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Can-HEAR-This-Cats-Meow/dp/B0BVCTQFK2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JVPAWWPV283E&keywords=can+she+hear+this+cats+meow&qid=1685297143&s=books&sprefix=Can+She+HEAR%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1

It looks like a children's book, but it shares information about coping with hearing loss for people of all ages. The focus in on relationships. Not sure if that huge link will go live.

If you decide to order it I'd love to know your thoughts about it.

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@julieo4

The book is titled "Can She HEAR This Cat's Meow? - Living With Grandma's Hearing Loss from a Kid's Perspective". It's available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Can-HEAR-This-Cats-Meow/dp/B0BVCTQFK2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JVPAWWPV283E&keywords=can+she+hear+this+cats+meow&qid=1685297143&s=books&sprefix=Can+She+HEAR%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1

It looks like a children's book, but it shares information about coping with hearing loss for people of all ages. The focus in on relationships. Not sure if that huge link will go live.

If you decide to order it I'd love to know your thoughts about it.

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Ordered! Can’t wait to see it.

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@leeda5

Ordered! Can’t wait to see it.

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Thank you. I hope you find it interesting and helpful. Writing the story gave me the opportunity to learn more about how my oldest grandchild perceived me. Labor of love for sure! 🙂

Looking forward to your 'evaluation' after you read the story. (Be sure to read the fine print!)

Julie

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I will certainly read the fine print. We are having a representative from HLAA speak to our 55 plus community in a couple of weeks and I intend to make your book available to them. We WILL move this forward! Thanks for helping.

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Just went on Amazon and found several other potentially useful books about hearing loss, focusing on balance (which he's been complaining about) and communication skills, among other things. I ordered several, which I will make available at our community seminar on June 13, and sent two to my daughter, who is a therapist and who has two young children, which my husband is struggling to build a relationship with. This is unfolding in a beautiful way. Thank you.

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@leeda5

I will certainly read the fine print. We are having a representative from HLAA speak to our 55 plus community in a couple of weeks and I intend to make your book available to them. We WILL move this forward! Thanks for helping.

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Thank you so much for sharing it with others! The book is new so not too many people know about it yet.

Curious to know what state you live in?

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@julieo4

Thank you so much for sharing it with others! The book is new so not too many people know about it yet.

Curious to know what state you live in?

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Pa. Yes, I saw that it was new. Nice project! Beautifully done! Low-key and upbeat; void of the common (and understandable)
Victim tone which can easily creep into stories like this. EVERYBODY should read this book and pass it on …to the deaf soldier just back from the war, (and his family and friends and office-mates;). To little kids at school just learning about the many ways people are different. An excellent resource.

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Your comment about the 'victim tone' touched my heart! (And my brain!) I had not thought about that reality in the bare bones marketing I've been trying to do. 🙂 I'd truly appreciate it if you'd point that out in a purchase review on Amazon. Not sure how that is done, because several people who have purchased it have said they are unable to get in to do it. Maybe it's only possible for Amazon Prime members. Of course, it cannot be done until the product is received, and Amazon suggests making a review. Time passes and in our busyness it's easy to forget.

Enjoy those other books too. There are some good ones. Years ago, when I was trying to figure out how to live with my progressive hearing loss, I searched high and low for books that I could relate to. There were none. I didn't get out of the feeling sorry for myself mode until I met other people like me through HLAA.

I've been thinking about writing this story for way too long! Glad it got done and that people are enjoying it.

There are several HLAA chapters in PA. Are you aware of them? https://www.hearingloss.org/chapters-state-orgs/find-a-chapter/

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@julieo4

Your comment about the 'victim tone' touched my heart! (And my brain!) I had not thought about that reality in the bare bones marketing I've been trying to do. 🙂 I'd truly appreciate it if you'd point that out in a purchase review on Amazon. Not sure how that is done, because several people who have purchased it have said they are unable to get in to do it. Maybe it's only possible for Amazon Prime members. Of course, it cannot be done until the product is received, and Amazon suggests making a review. Time passes and in our busyness it's easy to forget.

Enjoy those other books too. There are some good ones. Years ago, when I was trying to figure out how to live with my progressive hearing loss, I searched high and low for books that I could relate to. There were none. I didn't get out of the feeling sorry for myself mode until I met other people like me through HLAA.

I've been thinking about writing this story for way too long! Glad it got done and that people are enjoying it.

There are several HLAA chapters in PA. Are you aware of them? https://www.hearingloss.org/chapters-state-orgs/find-a-chapter/

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Yes, we just joined the one in West Chester, and my husband is so relieved that it makes me want to cry.

We are away for the weekend. I'll see about writing a review on Monday. Thanks for making the effort to do the writing!

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Thank you!

Glad to know that HLAA is helping. Peer support for both the person with hearing loss and family members (especially spouses) is therapeutic.

Enjoy the weekend!

Julie

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