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
How to get through the holidays for introverts with hearing loss
Despite hearing loss, despite introversion, connection can be easy and fulfilling, under the right conditions. People with hearing loss (PWHL) have a role to play in creating the conditions. Here are some suggestions. (See more detailed explanations below the video frame.) Arrive early, leave early. When you arrive early at a party, you’ll get a chance […]
Hearing Loss Myths Edition
Which is true and which is false? (See explanations below the video frame.) People with untreated hearing loss have an increased risk of falling. This is true. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed that people with a mild degree of hearing loss are three times more likely to fall than someone the same age […]
How to Support and Communicate with People who Have Hearing Loss: a Guide for Professionals
I was invited by LearnENT to speak about communication strategies that professionals can use when they interact with clients who have hearing loss. LearnENT has an app that was initially developed by a small group at the University of Ottawa. LearnENT has grown to become a collaborative effort consisting of contributions from medical students, residents […]
Auditory processing speed is not fixed!
When it comes to processing speed, you are not stuck with the factory settings. With normal, healthy aging, auditory processing speed slows down. This affects how well you can “keep up” with conversations in noisy listening environments. But you can improve processing speed with auditory training! If you can keep up with the conversation more […]
What is your go-to strategy when you can’t hear?-
What is your go-to strategy when you can’t hear? (See below for commentary after you view the video clip.) As an audiologist who is deaf, I use all of these strategies. Often when I smile and pretend to understand (#1), I am hoping I will figure it out if the person gives me just a […]
Learning How to Read Lips No. 9
Lipreading instruction helps you to learn how to make educated guesses. If you know which sounds look alike, you can make a quick substitution in your mind when the first thing you see or hear doesn’t make sense. Try this example with the Beatles song, “Yesterday.” Information about lipreading classes can be found […]
Hearing technology rocks!
One of the things that I loved about working with children was their delight in technology (and in life). Of course, there comes a time when many of them don’t want to stand out and they stop wanting to use the technology (especially remote microphones). My wish for them is that they will re-discover that […]
The average person takes 7 years to act on hearing loss
The average person waits 7 years to act on hearing loss. Research tells us that people adjust to hearing loss before they even acknowledge that the hearing loss exists. People around you make adjustments too, again without explicitly discussing them. If you feel overwhelmed about taking action, ask for support. You can start by gathering […]
How is hearing loss different from vision loss?
Hearing loss is different from vision loss in a number of ways. One significant way that hearing loss is different is that, with hearing loss, we have to ask other people to change their behaviour. Asking other people to adjust the way that they communicate is not a comfortable place to be, at times. In […]
What to do if your dog eats your hearing aid!
Pets are notorious for putting anything and everything in their mouths. Check their mouth to retrieve the device and check for any broken-off pieces. Batteries are dangerous for your pet, so if your hearing aids are swallowed, seek medical attention. If you can retrieve the hearing aids and there is no visible damage, clean the […]