Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

Hi Kristen. Glad to hear you are "researching" hearing aids. I wish I had when I got my first ones. I am a relative "newbie" to hearing aids compared to some others on this and other topic strands on this site. Two recommendations I strongly encourage you to do in getting whatever brand of hearing aids you end up with. One, insist that they include telecoils, regardless of what they might tell you (old technology, there aren't many places with hearing loops around here, there's new technology coming), tell them so what, you want telecoils, and, two, insist they are also Auracast ready. What are these you might ask? I refer you to http://www.CenterForHearingAcess.org which has a wealth of information about both of these as well as a link to devices that have both telecoils and auracast. Also there is a link to Dr. Juliëtte Sterken's Ted Talk on hearing aids important to also watch. Dr. Cliff's blogs includes presentations on what he feels are the best hearing aids avaialable. Perhaps need to do addtional follow-up after viewing his emails. However, he does have a good blog on best practices for hearing evaluations to find and view. Good luck.

@rdgtchr Hi Kristen, Welcome to the MCC Hearing Loss Support Group. It's helpful to ask questions of others who walk the same path!

I second what h2h has suggested about insisting on telecoils and Auracast options to be included in any hearing aids you decide to purchase. Hearing aids without those options are like cars without air conditioning. You don't need it all the time but when you do you'll be awfully glad you have it!

There are many people your age who have hearing loss. The number has increased considerably since people have been wearing headphones and ear buds to listen to music. Thankfully, there have also been educational programs that teach young people that excess noise can damage hearing.

The old theory that 'only old people have hearing loss' still creates stigmas that keep people who need hearing help from getting it. I was so intimidated by that attitude when I was diagnosed with hearing loss at age 22 that it kept me from getting hearing aids until I was in my 30s! You are on the right path to getting help.

Good luck to you. Please let us know how your hearing loss journey goes forward.

Hi my name is Bella I first lost my hearing during Covid due to a domestic violence situation. Because of other health issues I am unemployed and disabled it’s been hard I’ve been dealing with social isolation. My therapist recommended this group to me since I don’t live near a very big deaf community so hello

Welcome. Yes, isolation and loneliness are among the sad realities of hearing loss. I suggest that you also try HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America), hearingloss.org. There may be a chapter near you or someone who knows someone. You took the first step in addressing your isolation and that’s good. There are lots of people out there who have hearing loss and don’t do much about it. Being up front about it is a great first step. I also live in a very rural area so I understand your concerns. There are webinars and Zoom meetings for folks like us. Some are called HOPE (Hear other people’s experiences). Most of them have captioning. Keep looking.

@belluhhgonz Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Seeking help and a willingness to talk about hearing loss is a terrific first step. Too many people try to hide it and do nothing. I agree with Arrow Shooter's advice to seek out HLAA. http://www.hearingloss.org Explore the HLAA website.

The organization has chapters all over the country. Many meet online, so meetings can be attended on Zoom.

Hearing loss is far more common than people realize as over 18% of the US population have it. There is considerable difference between being Deaf and being hard of hearing. The Deaf population is much smaller but far more visible because they embrace American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary means of communication. The hard of hearing folks depend on technology that includes hearing aids, cochlear implants, hearing assistive technology that goes beyond them, etc. Most hard of hearing people acquire hearing loss after learning language so focus on oral communication. Obviously, this gets complicated.

I hope you will be able to find local friends who also experience hearing loss as you do. It really does help to get together to share experiences.

My hearing loss was not apparent until I turned 70. Up until now, I thought I would have to manage it, and I was surprised to find out that it is not possible. I am doing my homework to find out whether OTC could fit my needs, or seek professional assistance. Any suggestions for a plan of action?

@nickraosr

While OTC are cheaper, sooner or later you need to see/hear an audiologist and get tested. Most of us lose the high end first and hearing aids can be tuned to match your hear loss. Plus, my guys provide retuning and testing to keep your aids meeting your needs and provide the filters that keep them clean. Mine now have rechargeable batteries. So no messing with batteries. I have to face the person speaking to me, otherwise, I just hear noise. Sometimes, silence is restive and comforting as is going to a concert.

I'm realizing that my hearing disability is as real as person whose challenges are less visible. I wear hearing aids. I now introduce myself as hearing impaired and ask that the speaker speak slowly (rather than more loudly) since that is key to my understanding. Also I'm comfortable reminding people to kindly face me. People forget, but they are generally ever so willing.

Re: t-coils, I'm a great fan of live theatre and I find that smaller theatres often have only sub-standard headphones. I make a point of asking that the theatres get both t-coils and closed caption boxes (and eventually Auracast). Did you know about these closed caption boxes? You can go to many big movie houses and Broadway type theatres in major cities where they can lend you a closed caption box. They're not ideal but they make the impossible possible. Be sure to ask about this.

Greetings everyone. My dear wife has severe, permanent sensorineural hearing loss that started about a decade ago with vertigo. Due to her worsening hearing, she was forced to retire from the job she loved last summer helping Medicare eligible seniors navigate their supplemental medicare options. She is slowly withdrawing socially because the struggle to hear, even with hearing aids, is just impossible in social settings. It breaks my heart witnessing my once socially vibrant, otherwise healthy wife slowly receding into isolation. She has few hobbies and spends much of her time reading. She is frustrated and bored. We are still able to communicate in the quiet of our home by speaking directly to one an other, although I often have to repeat myself. Her outdoor activities are very limited because even walking can trigger her vertigo.

I am here to ask for help. We need to find others dealing with similar circumstances. Are there support groups for the severely hearing impaired that could help us? Is there a support group for spouses of the severely hearing impaired? Just communicating with others dealing with this situation would be helpful. Thanks for your time.

@jdalylew The ADA has been a constant source of frustration for me along with all the others in this country that suffer hearing loss.
They have done nothing to demand venues install telecoil and as promising as Auracast appears to be without ADA pushing to have it installed in all areas where it could be useful for those of us with hearing loss it will have no impact.
Unlike restroom accessibility for those that are handicapped which has forced restaurants to comply or be sued they remain silent for those with hearing loss.
Restaurants are actually getting noisier rather than quieter and decibel levels have only been increasing. The ADA has been silent. My question is why. If anyone has an answer please let me know.