Waking up one day and realizing you are experiencing hearing loss can take an emotional toll on you. Unexpected change is always hard to cope with, especially when it potentially changes your life forever. Unfortunately, sudden hearing loss is not that rare. The best thing you can do is to learn strategies on how to live with it.
1. Get a Sudden Hearing Loss Diagnosis
Perhaps the most important first step is to seek validation from a medical professional. Early treatment can make a huge difference in the long run. Instead of trying to deny the gravity of the situation, it is critical to get a diagnosis quickly to find out what caused the hearing loss in order to avoid any further issues. Sudden hearing loss can be a sign of underlying health problems, some of which can be fixed. Many people wait to seek help because they think the problem is due to minor issues, such as allergies, earwax, or sinus infections. Since hearing loss is such a broad symptom, it is important to see an audiologist as soon as possible. However, if the cause of the sudden hearing loss is never found, do not get too caught up in the reason for the problem. Instead, try to focus your energy on finding ways to adapt to the situation.
2. Communicate with Your Loved Ones about Your Sudden Hearing Loss
Communication is key. Your loved ones want to be there for you. They want to help you. It is tempting to sulk and socially isolate yourself, however, this can cause you to lose a lot of cognition. If your hearing loss makes spending time with your family and friends harder, simply tell them why. Be your own advocate. If you need them to speak louder or face you so that you can see their mouth, you should feel comfortable enough to tell them. This whole process is an adjustment for them as well.
3. Use Technology to Manage Sudden Hearing Loss
Technological advancements can make dealing with hearing loss much more manageable. Start learning about all the tools available to you. First, reach out to your audiologist. Most of the time, they will offer some type of hearing aid. Make sure to follow their advice since they are experts! They will work with you to find which hearing aid works best for you. Some aids can improve your word comprehension by more than 70 percent! It may take some time to adjust to the hearing aids, but remember that it will take time. Start by talking to yourself before you gradually listen to louder noises. You do not want to overwhelm your ears too quickly. Remember to be patient with yourself and the process! Another important aspect of hearing aids is to remember to charge them. Simply adding this into your daily routine is crucial in ensuring that you are always able to use them when you need to.
There have also been many technological advancements for the deaf community that people with hearing loss can benefit from as well. Not being able to hear common sounds can be very frustrating and can also pose some safety concerns. Technology can help! For instance, there are new telephones or doorbells that use flashing lights instead of just sound. These lights signal to you when someone is calling you or if someone is at your door. Everyday things like this can make you feel more at ease. As time goes on, technology will continue to improve, which will help you cope with your sudden hearing loss even more.