Chronicles of a deaf Audiologist
Rehabilitation beyond hearing aids and cochlear implants: lipreading instruction, brain/auditory training and communication strategies.
Success for Hearing Better
HEARa is dedicated to the idea that people need the right information, at the right times, to be successful with hearing loss. HEARa’s mission is to reach out to adults with hearing loss and say—keep going. Learning about your hearing loss should be a lifelong process.
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From the chronicles
Through your own efforts, you can hear better
Hearing better is about more than just having the right technology; it’s about the active role you play in the process. While hearing aids or cochlear implants give access to sound, it’s through your own practice and determination that your brain learns to really understand it. By putting in time and effort to train your […]
Gestures for communicating with people who have hearing loss Part One
When you use gestures to make a point or emphasize the meaning, it can be really helpful for people with hearing loss. Here are 11 gestures for clearer communication: Send this link to the person in your life who has hearing loss to make sure they are on the same page! (No pun intended.) […]
Learn how to read lips No. 37
I finally found a good analogy to explain the importance of substitution when you are learning how to read lips! Substitution is your friend when you are learning how to read lips. Think of substitution as your brain’s Visual Autocorrect. When you see a word that doesn’t quite fit the conversation, you don’t get stuck […]
Hear Me Out podcast: cochlear implants, listening fatigue, auditory training and communication strategies
I had the pleasure of appearing on Belinda Waites’ podcast, Hear Me Out. We talked about cochlear implants, listening fatigue, auditory training with Lace AI Pro, and communication strategies. The video resources about lipreading theory that I spoke about in the podcast are available on YouTube; check out the playlist.
Why it doesn’t help to talk really loud to a PWHL
When you talk loudly, only the vowel sounds get louder. You can’t yell consonants, such as S or SHSHSHSHSSH. You’re better off giving the person with hearing loss (PWHL) some context (such as, we’re talking about our lunch plans tomorrow) and then slowing down a bit. And if that doesn’t work…create the space for the […]
What is Auditory Neuropathy?
Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) is a rare form of inner ear hearing loss. This video resource is intended for families and teachers of children with auditory neuropathy.
Self-advocacy: still learning to stand up for my hearing
I grew up without the guidance of an educational audiologist or a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDHH). In fact, I didn’t even experience the difference a remote microphone could make until I reached university. Because of that, I consider myself a “late bloomer” when it comes to self-advocacy. What I’ve realized […]
Why you shouldn’t bluff when you have hearing loss
I have never met a PWHL (person with hearing loss) who didn’t admit to bluffing (pretending to understand). Even people with normal hearing bluff sometimes. The difference is that hearing loss is a permanent condition for us. As an ongoing strategy, bluffing has its limitations. Why would any PWHL do this? One reason is that […]
Why dynamic auditory training programs work best for hearing loss
Adaptive auditory training programs, such as Neurotone’s Lace AI Pro, offer a significant advantage because they are designed to be dynamic. One of the primary benefits of an adaptive approach is that the program automatically adjusts its difficulty level as you improve, ensuring that you are always training at or near your personal threshold level. […]
People with hearing loss who say, “What??”
When you experience hearing loss, it’s common to ask others to repeat what they’ve said. Phrases like “What?”, “Sorry?” or “Pardon?” are common ways to seek clarification, but they’re actually less effective. Overusing these simple requests can lead to frustration or impatience in those who have to repeat themselves. A better approach is to […]