Hearing loss affects every person differently, because no two hearing losses are the same. The severity of the loss, how long a person has lived with it, and many other factors make a big difference.
But in general, hearing loss affects quality of life. It makes it harder to communicate verbally, which affects a person’s relationships, job performance, and can even impact safety (just think of all the earbud-wearing people who have accidents…and then imagine having those in all the time).
Society Says Hearing Loss Doesn’t Matter: Part 1
Even though I’ve lived with hearing loss for over 35 years — and our world is supposedly getting more evolved — it’s still surprising to me when I come across evidence of how little regard society has for hearing loss, its ramifications, and for people who suffer from it. Consider the following example, recently highlighted […]
Hearing Loss Help for Seniors
Whether you’re new to living with hearing loss or are an old pro, it can be tough to find reliable information about it. It’s always surprised me that for a health condition that affects so many people, there isn’t more about hearing loss written on the web. Consolidated, practical information on hearing loss can especially […]
Hearing is Freedom
I think it’s basically impossible for a person with normal hearing to understand what it’s like to have a hearing loss. The only way to have a good idea is to know someone with a hearing loss – but still, this can’t replace firsthand experience. Recently, I was talking to a friend who is having […]
The Stats Don’t Lie
Imagine that there is a disability that affects 48 million Americans (1): the third-most common chronic health condition in the U.S., more prevalent than diabetes or cancer (2). Imagine that the condition had a massive economic impact as well: estimates of the economic cost of lost productivity varied from $1.8 to $194 billion, and direct […]
The Other Shoe
For many people, the most pivotal, life-changing factors in their existence happens suddenly: meeting their partner, being inspired to start or change careers, or losing a loved one unexpectedly. But in my case, the factor that altered the course of my life more than anything occurred over a short period of time, when I was […]