The Experience of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is complicated. It is especially difficult to understand the full details of it if you’ve never had the experience.

Having Hearing Loss is Similar to playing Wheel of Fortune

Think about the show Wheel of Fortune. Some of the letters are shown, while the others are blank. This is how someone with hearing loss hears other people. Using a mix of fragmented sounds, facial cues, lipreading cues, and what they already know about the topic at hand to construct words and phrases that would match the context of the discussion. This requires a lot of energy from your brain and can lead to fatigue.

Hearing Loss is Not a Secondary Problem

Hearing is a very active method that requires a lot of focus and effort. It’s not a trivial process that’s done while doing something else. Hearing is the main pursuit. This is why it’s vital to get the attention of someone who has hearing loss before communicating with them. 

Wearing Hearing Aids is Not Like Wearing Eyeglasses

When you wear hearing aids, your hearing won’t go back to the way it was before. Hearing aids and eyeglasses do not function the same way. Eyeglasses make blurry images sharper and clearer. Hearing aids can make noises louder, but not always crisper. Sounds may still be muffled or unclear.

Seeing is Hearing   

For those with hearing loss, it takes visual and auditory cues in order to communicate with others. It’s important to take lipreading, other people’s body language, and facial expressions into consideration so that sounds will make more sense. Make sure to stand or sit face to face with someone when you are communicating with them.  Here are some additional tips to use.    

Using Visuals

Having visual elements as references can be extremely helpful, particularly when a presentation is being given in a learning environment. 

Using written phrases, images, and videos with captions is a great tool to use in order to inform others about the topic that is being discussed.

Pure Sound will only be open by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require repairs, re-fittings and new hearing aid fittings.

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