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
Learning how to lipread No. 16
Lipreading is all about restricting the possibilities. If there is a smaller number of possibilities, you will probably be able to guess the word. Both people in the conversation share the responsibility in restricting the possibilities. The best way to do this is to narrow down the topic. Offer clues: “It’s about my favourite way […]
Adjusting to hearing loss
This blows my mind: people adjust to hearing loss before they even acknowledge that the hearing loss exists. A common adjustment for people with hearing loss (PWHL): bluffing. A common adjustment for significant others and family members: repeating themselves. For couples, it’s often about going out less and for shorter times. What kind of adjustments […]
How can you tell hearing loss from selective hearing?
How can you tell hearing loss from selective hearing? For me, it might seem like I only pay attention when I want to. However, under the same listening conditions, some days I can engage in conversation while other days I cannot due to the effort involved. Communication should be a two-way street, with both partners […]
My amazing hearing ear dog guide
My hearing ear dog’s name is Chanty. Her ability to transition from sleeping to running in response to a sound is amazing! I need her help mostly at night when I am not wearing my hearing devices. Hearing ear dogs are typically high energy due to their need to respond swiftly to brief sounds. After […]
This is challenging for people with hearing loss
A common pattern is that a talker will speak louder or slow down for the first part of a conversation, but then revert to their normal way of speaking soon after. This happens because people focus more on what they are saying than how they are saying it. So, what is the solution? Communication is […]
Hearing health in musicians
Musicians are aware of hearing health risks but lack sufficient discussion on the topic. A survey of 771 musicians revealed that while they recognize the necessity of hearing protection, they have concerns about its impact on performance quality. This indicates a need for more guidance and training to ensure effective protective measures without compromising musical […]
Learn how to read lips No. 15
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 […]
Cold and hot water sound different–why?
While they may look identical, hot and cold water make different sounds when poured. Temperature affects water’s thickness. At lower temperatures, water molecules create temporary bonds that thicken the liquid, producing a lower-frequency sound when poured. Conversely, heated water molecules are more energetic, making it harder for molecules to join together. Fewer bonds result in thinner water, which produces […]
When confirming that a person with hearing loss understands you
When confirming understanding with PWHL (people with hearing loss), avoid yes/no questions, such as “Do you understand?” These questions can be answered with a yes, without revealing whether the person actually understood what you said. Yes/No questions can also put pressure on the person to say yes, out of politeness, fear, or embarrassment, even if […]
Cochlear implant sound quality
The sound quality with my cochlear implant (CI) was clear from the first day. I started an auditory training program as soon as I got home from my activation appointment. Each day I noticed improvements. My eyes were shining! I was beyond happy. Regarding the study described in the reel, the 255 people wore […]