A Pro-Active Approach to Hearing Loss

Hearing loss not only affects your ability to hear, understand speech and sufficiently communicate it also affects your overall quality of life.

To ensure hearing loss does not control your life, take a pro-active approach and take control of your hearing loss by following these simple steps:

1.  Have your hearing evaluated. A hearing care professional can determine not only the extent of your hearing loss, but specifics about the type of hearing loss, cause, frequencies where hearing loss is greatest and other hearing data.This first evaluation establishes baseline readings for comparison in the future to see what's working and what isn't.

2.  If hearing aids are in your future, develop your list of priorities with your hearing professional. Hearing aids today come in a variety of types, styles and with a range of price tags. Your hearing professional will assist you in determine the right hearing aid for you.Each hearing aid candidate will have a different set of priorities.

• cost
• discretion
• convenience
• type

Not all hearing aids fit all consumers. Hearing aids have been designed to meet a variety of lifestyle and hearing loss needs. Some hearing aids are wireless, enabling connectivity through cell phones, PDAs and other digital transmissions without fumbling with an uncooperative hearing aid.

3.  Increase your awareness of problem environments. Maybe you have trouble hearing in noisy crowds or problems hearing over the phone. Make a list of difficult listening environments for review by your new partner in hearing health.

4.  Remember, be your own best advocate. Who else is going to do the research? Who else is going to make follow-up appointments during the adjustment period wearing a couple of new hearing aids. Who else is going to learn the adaptive skills required to hear more natural sound more clearly?

5.  Fight for your rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination in hiring, access to education and access to public facilities based on an individual's disability - regardless of what that disability is. 

That includes hearing loss.

6.  Join self-help groups. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) offers information, support, answers to questions, advice and recommendations and they work to protect the rights of those with hearing loss.

There are local meetings of others who wear the ear gear and fight the cultural stigma associated with hearing aids.

Don't ignore your hearing loss. Start being proactive today. Find a hearing professional near you and make an appointment. It is one step in the right direction that you will never regret.

To learn more on about being proactive with your hearing los and hearing aids visit: Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids - Go Pro-Active.