Not many people know that I have a hearing loss, and that is my fault because I do not like sharing about my hearing. When I was little, kids in other grades always asked me what is that in your ears and it embarrassed me so I made sure to hide them from everyone The way I hid my hearing was too have long hair and never in a ponytail. My freshman or sophomore year of high school, I had gotten new hearing aids and since they were not as visible to everyone. That year I changed and wore my hair up and was not afraid to show them off. Anymore, it does not really bother me to tell people about my hearing loss, but I still do not tell them unless it really is needed. I do not like to think of it as a disability, but in reality it kinda is. I cannot really talk on the phone because I read lips so much. Until this semester, I stayed away from teachers who had a accent because I could never understand them.
The type of hearing loss that I have is: high-frequency hearing loss, which means that I cannot hear high pitches. What I mean by these pitches is the sounds like S, CH, birds singing and other sounds. Without my hearing aids, it is very difficult for me to decipher what someone is actually saying. I know sometimes people wonder if I can hear without my hearing aids, which the answer to that question is yes. When I am not wearing my hearing aids, please understand I have to listen extra close.
Here are some tips that I have learned to help others when it comes to talking to someone with a hearing loss.
1. Face us or make sure we are facing you when talking to us: I cannot stress this enough, my family still has problems with not facing me when they talk and I know they get annoyed with me when I keep asking them to repeat what they said to me. Like I said before I rely on reading lips a lot, and when you are not facing me it just makes it more difficult, especially with these new hearing aids that I have, anything that is said behind my back I literally cannot understand you at all.
2. Speak clearly and slowly: Not many people notice that when they talk they tend to make their voice (to me that is) go up and down, in which makes it hard for me or anyone with a hearing loss to understand.
3. Speak Up: Low and especially voices that are hoarse, is very difficult for me to understand. If you are talking down into your chest, and not looking toward the person, it is very hard to understand you. Please speak up and look at us.
4. Please be patient: I know it gets annoying repeating yourself a hundred times, but just pretend that you are in our spot and trying to understand. Just be patient and give us time to respond, and if we do not hear you, please repeat yourself.
I think that is all of the tips that I can think of right now. I have posted a picture of the hearing aids that I wear now, just to give you guys a better look at what I have to wear on a daily basis (or if I can help it, skip a day!) If you have any questions please let me know!
The type of hearing loss that I have is: high-frequency hearing loss, which means that I cannot hear high pitches. What I mean by these pitches is the sounds like S, CH, birds singing and other sounds. Without my hearing aids, it is very difficult for me to decipher what someone is actually saying. I know sometimes people wonder if I can hear without my hearing aids, which the answer to that question is yes. When I am not wearing my hearing aids, please understand I have to listen extra close.
Here are some tips that I have learned to help others when it comes to talking to someone with a hearing loss.
1. Face us or make sure we are facing you when talking to us: I cannot stress this enough, my family still has problems with not facing me when they talk and I know they get annoyed with me when I keep asking them to repeat what they said to me. Like I said before I rely on reading lips a lot, and when you are not facing me it just makes it more difficult, especially with these new hearing aids that I have, anything that is said behind my back I literally cannot understand you at all.
2. Speak clearly and slowly: Not many people notice that when they talk they tend to make their voice (to me that is) go up and down, in which makes it hard for me or anyone with a hearing loss to understand.
3. Speak Up: Low and especially voices that are hoarse, is very difficult for me to understand. If you are talking down into your chest, and not looking toward the person, it is very hard to understand you. Please speak up and look at us.
4. Please be patient: I know it gets annoying repeating yourself a hundred times, but just pretend that you are in our spot and trying to understand. Just be patient and give us time to respond, and if we do not hear you, please repeat yourself.
I think that is all of the tips that I can think of right now. I have posted a picture of the hearing aids that I wear now, just to give you guys a better look at what I have to wear on a daily basis (or if I can help it, skip a day!) If you have any questions please let me know!