Do you find that you have to ask people to repeat themselves more often? It’s easy to make the mistake that your hearing loss is only affecting you, however, the effects are far-reaching, especially in your most important relationships. Multiple studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can negatively impact our relationships with family, friends, and particularly with those closest …
Treating Hearing Loss Can Lead to Better Relationships
Consider how difficult it would be to have a relationship with someone if you couldn’t communicate. Even though humans are extraordinarily proficient at developing ways to communicate without using words, spoken language remains our most skilled mode of communication. Remember the last time you encountered someone who spoke another language? How difficult was it to communicate essential information? Communication is, …
How Hearing Loss Treatment Can Lessen Loneliness
It can be a joy to have time alone to work, focus and relax. However, when feelings creep in such as sadness or disappointment around being alone is when these feelings become loneliness. It is normal to have these feelings from time to time but when these feelings become excessive, and interfere with daily living, is it a serious health …
Why Do Masks Make it Difficult to Communicate?
The year 2020 witnessed a global shift to wearing personal protective equipment, including facemasks, and that necessary precautionary measure was inconvenient for many reasons. As we know all too well, wearing a facemask can make it feel uncomfortable to breathe, exercise, and talk to others. The effects on our skin and ears add to the discomfort of these necessary protective …
Tips for Video Calls and Group Chats for Hearing Loss
In this new era of video calls and group chats, many new challenges present themselves. Lagging audio, freezing video, crosstalk, and connection outages can make our communication frustrating and ineffective from time to time. However, the benefits of being able to see and hear our colleagues, friends, and loved ones have enriched our lives in many ways as well, particularly …
Tips for Communicating with Face Masks
With the Covid-19 pandemic happening, many of us are wearing masks and observing six feet of “social distance.” Experts say this is important to reducing the impact of the pandemic, though it poses some difficulties for everyone. Especially for those with hearing loss and other communication issues, masks and distance are among the very things that we would recommend not …
5 Tips for a Successful Virtual Family Reunion
With many family reunions moving online this holiday season, you may be thinking about how to organize a successful virtual gathering. Virtual get-togethers with friends and family have allowed us to stay connected during this unprecedented year. Though it requires a few adjustments, online reunions can be just as engaging! By taking the time to plan, you can provide a …
The Benefits of Being Social for Older Americans
As we get older, it can seem like more of a challenge to engage in social activities. Not only is it a hassle to get to and from events, but our energy can sometimes make it feel like it’s not worth it to attend. As friends and loved ones move away, we might find ourselves hesitant to make new connections …
Communication At Work: May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!
Last month Alice had a meeting with her supervisor. Her coworkers had been concerned not with her performance at her job, which was excellent, but with her attitude. She had taken to venting her frustrations during work each day, and not only were her coworkers annoyed with the constant negative chatter, they were also concerned for Alice’s own happiness in …