Coping with Hearing Loss

Just as personality and lifestyle are decisive in determining the benefit the hearing impaired person may get from using hearing aids, the same factors are decisive for how well a hearing loss is handled at the personal level.

Strategies for coping with hearing loss

The word “coping” is used to describe how we handle the mental and behavioural reactions that arise when we are challenged with hearing loss. The hearing-impaired person may react positively to the changed life situation by being conscious of it and by planning strategies for difficult listening situations in advance. This means, for example, being well-rested before an important meeting or large parties. Such situations are often demanding and require great concentration and may, therefore, be strenuous for the hearing impaired person.

In the pro-active coping process, the hearing impaired person may attempt to involve other people. This can be done by drawing attention to hearing loss, by speaking distinctly and by obtaining good visual contact as well as using good communication strategies. In this way, there is hope that other people may also feel responsible for creating a good communication situation.

If, on the other hand, the hearing impaired tries to avoid situations that make demands on the hearing sense or situations where one may run the risk of being misunderstood or even being “disclosed” as a person with a hearing loss, the hearing impaired will have no control when such situations appear anyway. In more “passive” coping situations, there is no mutual responsibility and the ultimate consequence is that the hearing impaired person will withdraw and avoid social contacts.

It is not always easy to “cope” with a hearing loss in the most optimal way. There are certain days and situations that are easier to handle than others. Now and then, there will be a need for the hearing impaired to retreat and recover and it is therefore completely normal to use different strategies. It is important, however, that the hearing impaired are conscious of which of the two coping strategies are being used in different situations.

In general, being pro-active about social situations is the most constructive but also the most demanding approach. The passive approach may be less demanding in the situation, but in the long run, it may have serious implications and lead to loneliness.

Coping strategies and hearing tactics

Strategies on how hearing loss can be handled and for choosing the optimal tactics in the given situation can be listed as follows:

• Inform other people about the hearing problem
• Participate in activities required by family and job
• Do not isolate yourself
• Remember to be well-rested before participating in difficult listening situations
• Seek eye contact and look at other people’s mouth, face and hands
• Speak clearly and distinctly yourself- good habits are contagious
• Ask control questions and point out if something has not been heard
• Draw attention to the fact that background noise may prevent you from hearing everything said
• Be aware of situations that are annoying and try to change the situation so that stress can be avoided
• Ask that consideration be shown to you within reason

At Attune Hearing, we understand the difficulties of hearing loss when listening and following conversation, especially in noisy situations. Book an appointment with one of our Audiologists to discuss solutions. Call on 1300 736 702 now.