Top 5 Things to Know About Hearing Loss
1
Having “Hearing Loss” or “Failing” a hearing test does not mean you are lacking, inadequate, or broken in any way. Experiencing perception and cognition pathways differently invites a unique perspective of the world that can be embraced positively.
2
Hearing Aids and Cochlear implants do not cure or restore hearing; they are tools that provide amplification, and require an adjustment period, patience, and practice. Hearing Aids can help alleviate tinnitus, or “ringing in the ears.”
3
Listening Fatigue can exhaust or deplete you physically so it is important to take breaks from sound-stimulating environments throughout the day to recharge mental faculties.
4
It is important to advocate for your needs and accommodations in the academic, medical, and professional worlds. The Americans With Disabilities Act requires educational institutions, hospitals and employers to provide reasonable accommodations for persons experiencing hearing loss, and knowing your rights and options can be life-changing.
5
Learning Signed Languages like ASL can be helpful to express yourself and communicate; integration with the Deaf community can also address the psycho-social impacts of isolation due to changes in communicative methods and receptivity.
6
January 2023 update: With FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids now available for those age 18+, ASF asked two Alport-familiar audiologists for their input about these devices. Click here for an explanatory article by Dr. Sara Mattson. Dr. Todd Landsberg, whose Alport diagnosis led to his career in audiology, provides input on OTC devices here.
More Information
- Online College Guide for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students
- Deaf Gain: What Can Healthcare Gain From the Deaf Community
- Tips For Teens & Young Adults (Compiled by Alport patient & Deaf culture advocate, Jessica Davis)
- Coping with Hearing Loss
- Nyle DiMarco – Basic Sign for Beginners
- How to Listen Better – Tips From a Deaf Guy
- Hearing Loss at Work/ ADA
- Mandy Harvey – Music Not Impossible