What do you wish those not hard of hearing or not deaf knew about hearing loss?
From your daily interactionsin public to your friends and loved ones, what do you wish people knew?
@Jill7cups
I wish people knew how much you need them to just understand how it will take you a little bit longer than the average person, the awarness and understnading is key i think x
@JoyIntoDarkness that is so true, sometimes people need a little extra care or time to communicate and that is okay. Do you find people get impatient? Is it because they don't realize or because they aren't being very empathetic?
@Jill7cups
Yes they are impatient but this is probably because they dont understand x
@JoyIntoDarkness it is a great reminder to us all to not be so reactive when we encounter someone who doesn't communicate exactly in our own style.
1. That unlike glasses which can give you 20/20 vision, hearing aids do not give perfect hearing ability. That, for me anyway, if there is any kind of distortion, like an accent or a speech impediment, I have difficulty understanding speech.
2. That you must say my name first to get my attention.
3. That I am listening as hard as I can and it is exhausting.
4. That if we are in a noisy environment, unless I have my special microphone, I cannot distinguish one particular sound from another.
5. That if you stand behind me to see if I "really have a hearing impairment," you are a jerk.
6. That when I pause before responding after you've spoken, it's not because I did not hear you at all; it's because my brain is using context and memory in order to find the meaning of what you said. Please be patient with me.
7. That saying, "Huh?" as a joke when I disclose my hearing loss it not funny. Not one bit.
Also, that I did not choose hearing loss, it's not my fault, so don't take your frustration out on me.
