By Annie Birnberg
Digital Engagement Coordinator for ReSound
Hearing loss is different for everyone, and no matter how it affects you, most days it often feels like you’re living on a roller coaster ride with it. It can develop slowly or hit you suddenly… like a sharp drop. My ride with hearing loss and hearing aids began early on. Just like a roller coaster ride, hearing loss has its ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, and thrilling moments, all while keeping you secure with a safety bar. Whether you’ve faced one of these experiences or a mix of them, there are ways to make this ride smoother and more enjoyable.
At the start of the ride, you slowly begin when you or those around you start to notice the signs. You might find it hard to keep up with conversations, struggle to hear someone in another room, constantly asking others to repeat themselves. You may even feel frustrated when you think people are mumbling but they’re not, or you find yourself turning up the TV or radio more. Some people may recognize these signs earlier on, while others notice them later. For me, others noticed these signs and then I was diagnosed at a young age, so I don’t clearly remember. Shortly after the diagnosis, I began wearing hearing aids so early, and it’s all I’ve ever known, making my ride with hearing loss a more unique one.
As you start to navigate the diagnosis of hearing loss, it’s time to buckle up and strap in to this ride. It takes time to adjust and accept this new reality. Making it a habit to wear your hearing aids every day and little by little will help you get used to them and in turn help you hear as best as possible. I don’t exactly remember how I felt when I first learned about the diagnosis, but I recall taking it day-by-day, one step at a time, and celebrating even the smallest victories. I’m grateful for my parents who encouraged me to embrace my hearing loss, reminding me it’s a part of who I am and that I shouldn’t let it hold me back. These mindsets and their support helped make this ride smoother and more enjoyable!
While living with hearing loss, you may experience unexpected twists and turns, making sure you’re always buckled in. You might miss conversations, feel uneasy asking others to repeat themselves, or get frustrated when someone says, “I’ll tell you later” after you asked them since you weren’t able to catch what they said. When multiple conversations happen at once, it can be hard to stay engaged and it’s sometimes easy to just remain silent to pay extra attention to what others are saying. This effort can also lead to what’s called listening fatigue. You may also experience a sudden drop in hearing loss… Recently, I’ve experienced a sudden drop in hearing in my right ear, which has been a whole new roller coaster ride and added a new set of twists and turns. Like anything, we just take it step-by-step and day-by-day.
Throughout this ride with hearing loss, there are many doctors’ appointments, hearing tests, and check-up visits, each one feeling like a new windy twist on the ride. These visits are essential for monitoring how well you’re hearing and ensuring everything’s on track. I’m lucky to have such a dedicated team of hearing care professionals who make sure my hearing aids are working properly, and my ears are healthy. They help provide guidance and support every step of the way, helping my family and I navigate the best treatment route for my unique situation.
No matter how it all goes, this journey can bring on a mix of emotions, adding to the thrilling ups and downs. You can feel happy, sad, angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, joyful, hopeful, stressed, or even grief. It’s a mix of emotions all at once that others can empathize with, but may not fully understand, unless they themselves live with hearing loss. It’s important to lean on your family, friends, loved ones, and hearing care professionals during this time and ensure that you feel like you’re being heard. You want to make sure you advocate for yourself, share how you’re feeling, ask all types of questions, and make sure you’re taking care of yourself during this ride!
Amidst the twists and turns of our hearing loss ride, there are also thrilling moments that remind us of the progress we’ve made. Advanced hearing technology, like the ReSound Nexia BiCROS and ReSound Vivia hearing aids, has transformed how I and many others experience sound, helping us hear our best and stay connected to the world around us. With assistive listening devices like the ReSound Multi Mic+ and ReSound TV Streamer+, we can enhance our hearing in noisy environments. These new technologies also make it easier for us to enjoy our favorite shows, movies or music by directly streaming from our phones to our hearing aids via Bluetooth® connectivity. These innovations not only improve our listening experience but also empower us to engage in conversations with family and friends, participate, and celebrate even the smallest victories. Whether it’s sharing a laugh at a family gathering, enjoying a concert, or simply hearing the birds chirp outside, these positive experiences remind us that, despite the challenges, there’s so much joy to be found in our roller coaster ride.
Just remember to keep your safety bar secured during the ride of hearing loss. The support from our family, friends, hearing care professionals, and colleagues acts as that crucial safety bar, providing stability and comfort as we navigate the ups and downs. Having a support system that stands by you, offering a shoulder to lean on or even cry on, is vital—especially when they understand what you’re going through or have faced similar challenges themselves. I am forever grateful to my parents, brother, grandparents, family members, friends, and my dedicated hearing care team for their unwavering support and guidance. They have made my ride much smoother and more enjoyable, and I can’t imagine getting through it without them. I hope others find a strong support system as well, as it truly makes this long and winding journey worthwhile!
In addition to keeping your safety bar secured and your support system close, don’t hesitate to ask for help and advocate for yourself. If you feel comfortable to, we encourage you to let others know about your hearing loss. Make sure you receive the accommodation you need to hear and feel your best and schedule regular visits with your audiologist and hearing care professionals. Sharing your story can also be incredibly powerful; it helps others who are on a similar journey, whether they’re just starting their ride or haven’t yet buckled in. No matter how many steep climbs, sudden drops, twists, or thrilling moments you experience, embrace this journey toward better hearing. Remember, you’re not alone on this ride. While living with hearing loss may feel like a roller coaster, take it one day at a time, and progress won’t happen overnight. Don’t forget to schedule your hearing exam with a hearing care professional today to kickstart your hearing loss ride: https://www.resound.com/en-us/find-a-professional.
