Friday, October 17, 2008

Coping with and Overcoming Hearing Loss Maybe!

In recent years, I have lost a great deal of my hearing capacity. It was a gradually thing that crept in. When I finally realized what was happening, I had my hearing checked and found that I REALLY needed a hearing aide. Actually both ears needed help but finances caused me to only purchase one hearing aide in the beginning. About a year later, I knew it was time to get the second one.



Coping with hearing loss and getting adjusted to using an aide took sometime. Like many women, I am vain and needing a device stuck in my ear was not a pleasant thought to me.



I remember leaving the audiologist office and starting my car. WOW, when those signals get so noisy? It must be hailing out there, that can't possibly be rain as I drove away! Incredible, these were two of the first sensory differences I noticed.



Pleasant surprises were being able to have a one on one conversation with someone and actually hear the whole conversation and respond correctly to that person and not see that puzzled look on their face as I had before when I did not respond in a reasonable manner to something they had asked.



One great benefit of using hearing aides is the ability to remove one in a crowded restaurant and still be able to carry on conversation without feeling overwhelmed. The biggest benefit by far comes at night when my extremely loud neighbors above me throw items around. Once I have my hearing aides out, I generally do not hear what goes on. Unfortunately, my daughter who is blessed with great hearing has to resort to ear plugs.

1 comment:

Maureen Hayes said...

I thought you were so courageous to get hearing aides. I know it wasn't an easy thing to admit you needed, but it has changed your life for the better. How brave of you to share that experience with others who may be in the same situation and wondering whether to go ahead and do it!

Maureen
Http://Beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com