by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady asked, Why must we wear our hearing aids all the time? I mean, lots of times they are not needed—when cleaning house, reading a book, at the gym, etc. This is an excellent question. There are two schools of thought regarding the “right” answer. One school of thought—promoted by […]
Coping Strategies
Hearing Loss Sensitivity Training That Works
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. We hard of hearing people have to put out a lot of energy in order to catch what those around us are saying. This means we may come home from work exhausted—totally wiped out. As one lady explained, “Sometimes people around us acknowledge that hearing loss is stressful. But hardly anyone […]
Where Hearing Aids Fit into the Grieving Process
You come home with the shocking diagnosis—you have a hearing loss. The first reaction of your hearing family members is to pressure you into getting hearing aids. Family members, resist this temptation. This is not the right time for a person with hearing loss to get hearing aids. The truth is, multitudes of hearing aids […]
The Rest of the Family Needs to Grieve Too
When hearing loss hits one family member, it affects everyone in the family, not just the person with the hearing loss. Typically, the other family members miss the free and easy (and intimate) conversations they used to have. This saddens and sometimes angers them. Thus, just as for any other kind of loss, they too […]
There’s Nothing Wrong With My Hearing!
Question: What is the best way to help someone who is in denial regarding their hearing loss? The statement, “You need to get hearing aids” just doesn’t work!—J. D. Answer: It sounds to me that the real question you are asking is, “How do I knock some sense into a hard of hearing person so […]
Here’s How to “Force” People to Be Willing to Meet Your Communication Needs
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A man asked, What are some reliable methods and words I could use to find the self-confidence I need to be a better self-advocate for my hearing loss? This is an excellent question. Too often, people with hearing losses find it very difficult to advocate for their needs. Thus learning about […]