Just as personality and lifestyle are critical to the benefits that the hearing impaired can get from using hearing aids, the same factors are critical to knowing how well hearing loss can be managed on a personal level.
“Coping” is used to describe how we deal with the mental and behavioral reactions that occur when we are faced with hearing loss. The hearing impaired can react positively to the changing life situation by being aware of this and planning strategies for difficult listening situations in advance. For example, it means being well rested before an important meeting or big party. These situations are often demanding and require a high level of concentration and can therefore be stressful for the hearing impaired.
In the proactive coping process, the hearing impaired person can try to involve other people. This can be achieved by becoming aware of hearing loss, speaking clearly and providing good visual aids (such as lip movement and gestures). Eye contact as well as the use of good communication strategies can help. In this way, others are also expected to feel responsible for creating a good communication situation.
If, on the other hand, the hearing impaired tries to avoid situations that require the sense of hearing, or situations in which one could run the risk of being misinterpreted or even “exposed” as a hearing impaired, the hearing impaired have no control if these situations occur anyway. In rather "passive" coping situations, there is no mutual responsibility and the consequence is that the hearing impaired withdraws and avoids social contacts.
It is not always easy to optimally “manage” hearing loss. There are certain days and situations that are easier to deal with than others. From time to time the hearing impaired will need to withdraw and recover, and therefore it is perfectly normal to use other strategies. The disabled know which of the two coping strategies are used in different situations.
In general, being proactive in social situations is the most constructive, but also the most demanding, approach. The passive approach may be less of a burden to the situation, but it can have serious consequences in the long run and lead to loneliness.
Coping Strategies and Hearing Tactics:
Strategies for coping with hearing loss and choosing the optimal tactic in the given situation can be listed as follows:
● Inform others about the hearing problem
● Participate in activities that involve family and work.
● Do not isolate yourself
● Point out when something was not heard.
● Raise the fact that background noise can prevent you from hearing everything that is being said.
● Watch out for disturbing situations and try to change the situation to avoid stress.
Get in contact with EarDeals for a hearing test and broad range of hearing aids and services for all levels of hearing loss. We understand the difficulty of hearing loss in listening to and following a conversation, especially in noisy situations. Make an appointment with one of our audiologists to discuss solutions. Contact a broker today.
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