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
People with hearing loss often get accused of having selective hearing
By its very nature, hearing loss results in selective hearing. People with hearing loss have to pay attention and expend a lot of effort when listening. And nobody can pay attention 100% of the time. So the person with hearing loss has to “select” when to hear. Hearing loss is also selective in that we […]
Why you shouldn’t call a person with hearing loss from another room
Significant others and family members often speak to a person with hearing loss (PWHL) from another room. It’s not realistic to try to have a conversation when you are in different rooms, for two reasons: 1) consonant sounds can’t be properly transmitted over this distance and 2) there are no visual cues available, such as […]
“I can’t hear because of tinnitus”
Many people who have both tinnitus and hearing loss blame their tinnitus for their hearing problems. ~Dr. James A. Henry, Tinnitus Research Scientist The Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) was developed as a tool to differentiate hearing problems from tinnitus problems.
Why I became an audiologist
I was asked why I became an audiologist. When I watched myself talking about it on camera, I felt a bit sheepish…
Learn how to read lips No. 10
When you’re listening in a noisy situation, it’s conceivable that you would miss a word or two, whether you have hearing loss or not. If you do miss a word, it can be really helpful to know which sounds look alike. If the first thing you see doesn’t make sense, you can do a quick […]
Learning How to Read Lips No. 6
I never thought I would have the courage to sing online! Yikes. See video clip below for a quick substitution practice. Substitution practice is a critical skill when you’re learning how to read lips. If you would like to learn more, try my free Lipreading Challenge on YouTube! I also offer one-on-one instruction […]
As an audiologist, something I will never do…
Something I will never do is stop learning about my profession. After 30 years, I am still learning. What’s something you will never do, in your profession?
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 […]