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
Don’t say “Never Mind” to a person with hearing loss (PWHL)
When you say “Never Mind,” it might seem insignificant and not worth repeating. But consider being on the receiving end of “Never Mind” over and over. It starts to sting after a while. Instead, try saying, “It’s no longer important.” The words we choose matter. So does the tone. Related post: Lipreading tip
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Overhearing is hard to do when you have hearing loss
Overhearing is hard to do when you have hearing loss. This is particularly impactful for children, since most new vocabulary words are learned by overhearing them. So, what’s the solution? 👉Explicit Vocabulary Teaching ✅ Pre-teaching vocab helps prep the brain. Ask the daycare/preschool/school for upcoming themes and use books, word cards, and pictures […]
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Lipreading tip: try substituting
When you are learning how to read lips, it can be helpful to know which sounds look alike. Sometimes you don’t hear a word because of background noise, but you do see it. If you know which sounds look alike, you can do a quick substitution in your mind when the first thing you see […]
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Why it’s important to slow down when talking to people with hearing loss
When you are talking to a person with hearing loss, it’s really important to slow down. Why? Your words run together when you talk fast. Here’s an example. Let’s say you are commenting on some brownies that I made, and I thought you said, “It’s awfully chewy.” When you actually said, “It’s soft and chewy.” […]
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Christmas wish list for people with hearing loss
Music sets the mood at a party, but please turn it down once it’s in full swing so people with hearing loss (PWHL) can enjoy conversations and connections. Slowing down when speaking makes it easier to understand you—thank you! Another wish list item is hearing care professionals who recognize that auditory training is an essential […]
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Four Things not to do as a person with hearing loss at a party
Assume that others remember that you have hearing loss: as a PWHL (person with hearing loss), expect that you will have to tell people more than once about your hearing loss and your communication needs. People will forget that you have hearing loss. We’re human, and human beings forget. Also, people are more focused on […]
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Fix Bluetooth connectivity problems with hearing aids and cochlear implants
Did you know that a frequent reason for calls to hearing aid clinics is issues with Bluetooth connectivity? Here are my top three troubleshooting tips: #1 For cochlear implants, when you change the batteries, or for hearing aids, when you close the battery door or pull the hearing aids out of the charger, make sure […]
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The effects of noise on health
I was so excited. A camping trip! A dear friend’s company, good food, and a campsite next to a lake. What the online map didn’t show, though, was a set of train tracks located on the other side of the lake. All night long the trains passed. As a deaf camper, I saw the lights […]
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This is Chanty, my hearing ear dog
Do you know why you should not ask to pet a hearing ear dog? Sounds are very transient. While you pet her, Chanty is distracted. Even if it is a very short delay, Chanty may not be able to identify the location of a sound if the sound is no longer there. Then she doesn’t […]
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Why hearing screening is important in children
In Canada and the U.S., the newborn hearing screening process has screened almost all births each year. So why do children need a hearing screening? After reviewing the medical records of 326 children who had hearing loss, a study found that not all children with hearing loss were detected by newborn hearing screening. First, not […]
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