Of all the permanent health problems that can happen to you, losing your hearing is the least worrisome. In the beginning, when you initially get the news, you will be shocked and quite emotional. However, it's not as bad a losing your sight, taste, touch or smell. Hearing loss is something that medicine and technology have grasped with great strength, so know that this is an area of the healthcare world that is largely mapped and known. Therefore, you will have lots of help to allow you to slowly adjust to your new way of life. Come to think of it, how will your life change?
Paying closer attention
When you first start to have hearing problems, you will find that you tend to focus more on the direction of the thing you’re trying to listen to. You will naturally, look at lips when they are moving and try to lipread. Even with a hearing aid, you may tend to do this out of habit. However, this gives you an advantage as you will be more focussed on people as they are speaking than being distracted by something else. You’ll be a better conversation-holder but also, absorb information far quicker than those around you. This latter skill is something that comes in handy in your professional life. Rather than looking out of the window during a meeting, you’re less likely to daydream because you’re paying attention to those that are speaking.
One of the things that frightens people when they get diagnosed with hearing loss, is the danger of not hearing a car or a bicycle and being hit and potentially seriously hurt. With effective hearing loss treatment, you will be given a hearing aid that is suited to your ear shape. It will amplify the sounds as best as it can, replicating real hearing. Your 360-degree hearing scope will not be decreased if your doctor gets the hearing aid selection correct. Your doctor will still recommend you be more tentative of your surroundings. Taking a peek over your shoulder every once in a while to see what’s near and around you, will need to become a habit. Once you have established this, it will become second nature.
Family and friends
It's 2020, lots of people are familiar with what the changes are in lifestyle when you have hearing loss. It's not uncommon to have known or still know someone that is hard of hearing. However, you will need to inform your friends and family of your condition, just so you can break the ice. Ask them to speak a little louder or slower, according to your needs. Most people will have no issue with this, but they will need reminding from time to time, just until they get used to it. Getting the family to help out with your hearing aid cleaning and or technical issues is something you will want to encourage.
The top tip for those that have just been diagnosed with hearing loss is to not panic. The adjustments will be made slowly but they are not lifestyle-changing.
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