Those of us who are lucky enough to have perfect hearing take it for granted. We listen to the birds singing in the trees, enjoy our favorite musical artists and engage in the art of conversation with friends and loved ones with ease. So, when we start to experience hearing problems, it can be shocking and upsetting.
Many people struggle to cope with hearing problems and deafness, but it is important that, if you’re going through that right now, you do get to grips with it, be proactive and make the best of the situation.
To help you with that, here are some important steps you should take as soon as you notice a degradation in your hearing:
Have a Hearing Test
If you feel like your hearing is suffering, then you simply must get a hearing test as soon as you possibly can. A professional audiologist will be able to determine if your hearing is starting to go, how bad it is and what course of action needs to be taken, whether that’s a hearing aid fitting or a simple expunging of wax from your ear canals. The sooner you know, the better it will be for your health outcome, and the sooner you will be able to come to terms with the issue.
Find Coping Strategies
If it turns out that you are experiencing irreversible hearing loss to any degree, if you want to be able to cope with it as well as possible, you will need to find coping strategies to get you through. This could be as simple as wearing a hearing aid when you’re meeting friends, to declining invitations to loud gigs that you know will make things worse, learning how to read lips or working out which environments are best avoided if you want to feel as comfortable as possible. Find what works for you and stick with it even if it sometimes inconveniences others.
Attend a Support Group
Losing your hearing can be pretty upsetting, which is why it is never a bad idea to find a local support group where you can meet up with other people who are experiencing the same thing. If you’re able to share your story with others, you will feel less alone, and the new friends you make will help you to cope because they will know exactly what it feels like too.
Don’t Isolate Yourself
Many people who experience hearing loss end up isolating themselves because they feel self-conscious about their hearing aids or they feel like they’re being a nuisance when they struggle to hear what people are saying to them. This is one of the worst things you can do because the more you lock yourself away from the real world, the more down and depressed you’re likely to get about your situation, You’re also going to be less able to adapt to your new situation if you stay locked away.
People with hearing loss and those who are deaf can live just as happy, fulfilling life as others – you just have to give yourself the opportunity to do just that.
