Chronicles of a deaf Audiologist
Rehabilitation beyond hearing aids and cochlear implants: lipreading instruction, brain/auditory training and communication strategies.
Success for Hearing Better
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From the chronicles
Working memory and hearing difficulties
If you are struggling to hear, it can lead to “I don’t know” answers, even if you do know. Research has found that people with a stronger working memory capacity will hear better in noise.If you’re in a situation with lots of background noise, whether you have hearing loss or not, your working memory capacity […]
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Learn how to read lips No. 29
So enthusiastic am I, that I am willing to sing over the Internet. As a person who is deaf, that’s a big risk to take! I have created 10 free lipreading lessons on YouTube to help you get more practice. No singing. Promise. Related post: Learn how to read lips No. 28
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What is the secret to hearing better in noisy environments?
Which do you think has the greatest impact when it comes to hearing in noise? Your age Your hearing threshold at 4,000 Hz (i.e., in the high frequencies) Working memory Believe it or not, research has shown that working memory is the most important of the three factors. The good news is that your […]
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LACE AI Coaching Notes #8
Are you finding the Missing Word exercises in LACE AI a breeze? If so, let’s kick things up a notch. Try choosing Treatment > Mumbled instead of Fill in the blank—it’s not only tougher, but it also feels more like what you’ll encounter in everyday conversations. To get the most out of your training, head […]
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Learn to read lips No. 28
When learning to read lips, context can make it seem obvious what someone is saying. In this case, the context is the duct tape and how it is used. Try it out in the video below! It’s essential to remain flexible and let go of what you initially thought you saw if it doesn’t fit. […]
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Common emotions with hearing loss
When your emotions are normalized, you recognize that your feelings are a valid response to your situation. Understanding that others would likely feel the same helps to reduce distress. When I was studying to become an audiologist, my feelings about coping with hearing loss were normalized. This was life-changing for me! More information about common […]
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Learn how to read lips No. 27
The topic of a conversation provides important lipreading cues. A word can have different meanings depending on its surrounding words or context. If I say the word “flour,” you might think of a flowery alpine meadow rather than the flour used to bake bread. When we say someone took our words “out of context,” we […]
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Learn how to read lips No. 26
Lipreading, like any skill, gets better with practice. A useful technique is to substitute sounds that are visually similar. Substitution skill will support you in making educated guesses. Try it out in the video below! I have created a free series of ten lessons on YouTube that provides a foundation in lipreading theory. […]
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LACE AI Pro Coaching Notes #7
Are you breezing through the Working Memory exercises in LACE AI? If so, add some background noise. The type of noise is important—choose verbal noise, such as the radio or people talking in the background. If you can systematically adjust the verbal noise to be louder or softer, that would be optimal. Find that sweet […]
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Anxiety in people with hearing loss
Multiple studies have linked hearing loss with a greater chance of developing anxiety and experiencing psychological stress. Hearing loss can make it difficult to communicate and follow conversations, which may result in missing important information or social cues. This can cause feelings of exclusion and social anxiety. Some people with hearing loss also worry about their condition […]
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