"A person who has hearing loss needs help. It’s almost impossible to accurately self-diagnose hearing loss or self-prescribe effective solutions. A person may choose to wave off the persistent consequences of hearing loss. But if they want to hear better and be healthier, they need to reach out for help.
Working with a hearing professional is an obvious first step. But an important follow-up step is less well-known— learning with other people with hearing loss. There is a profound sense of relief in connecting with someone who understands what you’re going through and who can provide useful strategies outside the mandate of most hearing professionals, such as handling relationships, on the job, and navigating the health system, and how to self-identify and self-advocate...