How to Adjust to Newly Acquired Deafness
Adjusting to Increasing Hearing Loss and Deafness
Aug 14, 2009
Realising that one's hearing is not as good as it has been can be devastating for the individual concerned. It can take time to adjust to the new sensory level. It can help to have some ways of coping and to understand why certain things are difficult when before they were not.
Gradual Onset Hearing Loss
There are two different scenarios of acquiring hearing loss. The first, and most common, is that of gradual reduction in hearing. Television and radio may need to be turned up louder and louder so that the person who is losing his/her hearing can hear them, and there may often be arguments around whether other people are muttering all the time!
Sudden Hearing Loss
The second scenario of acquired hearing loss is that of sudden, severe loss, usually following an infection or illness of some kind. Helen Keller became deaf blind following an illness in her infancy and though this is an extreme case it illustrates quite well the potentially devastating impact of such loss. Again hearing aids can help but are not the total answer.
Learning to use a Hearing Aid
Deafness is not always remedied by the provision of a hearing aid. Not all those who are deaf will be able to use hearing aids as some types of deafness do not benefit from the current forms of assistive hearing devices available. In addition, some people never really find a hearing aid which suits them and as a result may give up. It's quite common to hear stories of people who have a hearing aid but have put it in a drawer!
It takes time to get used to using any hearing aid, as the sound heard through assistive devices is not the same as that heard through normal hearing. Hearing aids pick up all sounds at the same level and there is no ability to focus on particular sounds and tune out others as those with normal hearing o do. Surrounding noise is also an issue as if the deaf person is in an area with a lot of people talking or loud music in the background it may be impossible for him to pick up more than the odd word here and there.
Hearing aids can also be quite uncomfortable to wear and a new user will need to get used to the equipment gradually, wearing the aid for a short time each day and gradually increase the time.
Hearing aids can therefore be very beneficial but new users with deafness acquired some time after birth need to be aware of the difficulties which may occur and to give themselves time to get used to the hearing aid and to learn how to use it.
Adapting to Deafness
Deaf people always have to adapt to the circumstances surrounding their hearing loss. This can take quite a long time especially if the hearing loss is acquired during adult life. Whether the deafness comes on suddenly or is acquired gradually, there is a learning curve in which the individual must come to terms with the grief caused by the loss, or partial loss, of one of the major senses. The deaf person needs also to learn how to cope in different circumstances and accept that some things, such as going to the pub, may not be as enjoyable as they once were simply because the hearing difficulty makes it such a struggle.
Essentially someone who has acquired deafness needs to learn how to interpret partially heard sentences and words by watching people's faces and by reading body language. Sight becomes enormously important to someone who is deaf.
Remember that one's level of deafness can change from day to day; stress levels, tiredness and mood can play a role in determining how well one is hearing on any given day. Remember also that it may be very tiring coping with some things and it can also be very hard to ask for help when needed, as deafness is an invisible disability. A little kindness and consideration, both to oneself and from others, go a long way.
