1. The Emotions of Losing Hearing andThe Emotions of Losing Hearing and
a Bridge to Healinga Bridge to Healing

2. Our EgoOur Ego
Our ego is attached to our health. We like toOur ego is attached to our health. We like to
think of ourselves as being in shape, with athink of ourselves as being in shape, with a
good heart, teeth, bones, vision-and goodgood heart, teeth, bones, vision-and good
hearing. To resist the reality of hearing losshearing. To resist the reality of hearing loss
perpetuates miss-communication and theperpetuates miss-communication and the
emotions that go with not hearing well. If weemotions that go with not hearing well. If we
ignore it, or stop thinking about it, the problemignore it, or stop thinking about it, the problem
doesn’t go away.doesn’t go away.

3. Perceived Solutions toPerceived Solutions to
“Hearing Difficulties”“Hearing Difficulties”
Getting angry at people if you can’t hearGetting angry at people if you can’t hear
them. These are often interchanged.them. These are often interchanged.
Watching Television and you can’t hear theWatching Television and you can’t hear the
dialogue.dialogue.
I hear, but I don’t understand the wordsI hear, but I don’t understand the words
clearly.clearly.
Your reactions will be most influenced by howYour reactions will be most influenced by how
you feel about yourself and the world aroundyou feel about yourself and the world around
you, and how other people close to you reactyou, and how other people close to you react
to your problem.to your problem.

4. Denying Hearing LossDenying Hearing Loss
Denial is the rejection of what’s reallyDenial is the rejection of what’s really
happening to your body.happening to your body.
Denial is an act of concealment, andDenial is an act of concealment, and
sometimes the ultimate deception tosometimes the ultimate deception to
oneself.oneself.
Excuses - RationalizeExcuses - Rationalize
Compensation - Ways to get around theCompensation - Ways to get around the
loss.loss.

5. Isolation and AvoidanceIsolation and Avoidance
Impaired Hearing adds to isolation.Impaired Hearing adds to isolation.
Giving up activities that you use to loveGiving up activities that you use to love
doing.doing.
When you’re isolated, you cut yourselfWhen you’re isolated, you cut yourself
off from the world around you and fromoff from the world around you and from
the people you love.the people you love.
Avoiding situations that may be difficult,Avoiding situations that may be difficult,
choose to do nothing to resolve issues.choose to do nothing to resolve issues.

6. Frustration and DefeatFrustration and Defeat
In any family where a member hasIn any family where a member has
impaired hearing, you’ll also findimpaired hearing, you’ll also find
frustration. In fact, the longer thefrustration. In fact, the longer the
avoidance of hearing loss goes on,avoidance of hearing loss goes on,
often, the greater the frustrations.often, the greater the frustrations.

7. AngerAnger
People who are angry over hearing lossPeople who are angry over hearing loss
have a right to be angry. It is such ahave a right to be angry. It is such a
vital sense to lose, and its lossvital sense to lose, and its loss
influences almost every aspect ofinfluences almost every aspect of
socialization.socialization.

8. Selfishness and ResentmentSelfishness and Resentment
Living with someone who refuses to getLiving with someone who refuses to get
help, regardless of the condition, is ahelp, regardless of the condition, is a
challenge, Because the development ofchallenge, Because the development of
hearing loss is typically a slow process,hearing loss is typically a slow process,
so too, have you probably been havingso too, have you probably been having
people slowly help you compensate.people slowly help you compensate.
This sets up a potentially fertileThis sets up a potentially fertile
environment for strained familyenvironment for strained family
relationships.relationships.

9. RejectionRejection
Many hearing impaired people areMany hearing impaired people are
rejected by others who do not know ofrejected by others who do not know of
their afflictions. They get accused oftheir afflictions. They get accused of
suffering from memory difficulties,suffering from memory difficulties,
disinterested, paranoid, senile anddisinterested, paranoid, senile and
sometimes stupid, when in fact it wassometimes stupid, when in fact it was
hearing loss.hearing loss.

10. The StallThe Stall
““It’s not bad enough that I need hearingIt’s not bad enough that I need hearing
aids!….Is it?”aids!….Is it?”

11. Acceptance and Moving OnAcceptance and Moving On
Expectations versus ActualExpectations versus Actual
PerformancePerformance
The Shift to HealingThe Shift to Healing
Outside ResourcesOutside Resources

12. NotesNotes

13. NotesNotes

14. NotesNotes