Life With Hearing Loss

Self-Help

How to Enjoy New Music With Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on April 23, 2024

It can be challenging to enjoy new music when you have hearing loss, but one simple trick helped me to understand the lyrics better, allowing me to sing along, too.

It can be challenging to enjoy new music when you have hearing loss, but one simple trick helped me to understand the lyrics better, allowing me to sing along, too.

Family Dynamics

Hearing Loss Is a Family Affair

Shari Eberts on February 12, 2024

When you have hearing loss, it impacts those around you, including your family. Sharing your experiences will help bring the family closer and improve communication for all.

When you have hearing loss, it impacts those around you, including your family. Sharing your experiences will help bring the family closer and improve communication for all.

Social Life

My Hearing-Loss Frown Is From Concentration, Not Anger

Shari Eberts on December 14, 2023

Do people sometimes think you are angry when you are not? Or that your facial expression implies a negative affect? It could be because of hearing loss.

Do people sometimes think you are angry when you are not? Or that your facial expression implies a negative affect? It could be because of hearing loss.

Aging

How to Explain Hearing Loss So Others Can Understand It

Shari Eberts on October 12, 2023

Hearing loss is difficult to grasp if you have not experienced it yourself. These simple explanations can help others better understand it, building empathy and greater connection.

Hearing loss is difficult to grasp if you have not experienced it yourself. These simple explanations can help others better understand it, building empathy and greater connection.

Cognition

Not Everyone with Hearing Loss Knows Sign Language

Shari Eberts on August 14, 2023

There are many ways to create good communication for people with hearing loss; but for most of us, this list does not include sign language.

There are many ways to create good communication for people with hearing loss; but for most of us, this list does not include sign language.

Relationships

Dinner Chat With Hearing Loss Comes With a Side of Disaster

Shari Eberts on June 7, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Communicating with someone with hearing loss takes some work, especially in a group situation like a meal. But there are ways to make it work. 

A Personal Perspective: Communicating with someone with hearing loss takes some work, especially in a group situation like a meal. But there are ways to make it work. 

Career

When Can Hearing Less Help You Understand More?

Shari Eberts on May 1, 2023

Personal Perspective: With hearing loss, communication can be exhausting. Could working less hard to hear sometimes help people to understand more?

Personal Perspective: With hearing loss, communication can be exhausting. Could working less hard to hear sometimes help people to understand more?

Empathy

Can Hearing Loss Be Mistaken for Unfriendliness?

Shari Eberts on February 12, 2023

Personal Perspective: Does your hearing loss make you seem aloof? Being open about hearing loss can help build empathy and create stronger relationships with others.

Personal Perspective: Does your hearing loss make you seem aloof? Being open about hearing loss can help build empathy and create stronger relationships with others.

Cognition

Knowing Proper Disability Language Can Help Reduce Stigma

Shari Eberts on December 12, 2022

Without proper vocabulary, people can be reticent to discuss disability for fear of offending someone. Proper language eases the conversation, making it simpler to find solutions.

Without proper vocabulary, people can be reticent to discuss disability for fear of offending someone. Proper language eases the conversation, making it simpler to find solutions.

Aging

Getting Comfortable With the Discomfort of Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on October 11, 2022

We cannot control every listening situation but when we focus on what we can control, we can take the steps needed to create better communication.

We cannot control every listening situation but when we focus on what we can control, we can take the steps needed to create better communication.

Friends

What I Have Learned as a Person With Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on August 12, 2022

You may need to use workarounds, but hearing loss should not hold you back from achieving your goals or enjoying your life.

You may need to use workarounds, but hearing loss should not hold you back from achieving your goals or enjoying your life.

Health

Will Hearing Loss Soon Be Commonplace?

Shari Eberts on June 12, 2022

Can you imagine a time when hearing loss would be commonplace? Given demographic trends, we may be rapidly approaching this.

Can you imagine a time when hearing loss would be commonplace? Given demographic trends, we may be rapidly approaching this.

Psychopharmacology

Seasonal Allergies Complicate My Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on April 16, 2022

Seasonal allergies and hearing loss are a bad combination, but there are ways to mitigate the damage.

Seasonal allergies and hearing loss are a bad combination, but there are ways to mitigate the damage.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Important Reasons to Get Your Hearing Tested

Shari Eberts on February 25, 2022

If you are struggling to understand people wearing masks, you are not alone, but if you are having trouble hearing in other situations too, it may be time for a hearing test.

If you are struggling to understand people wearing masks, you are not alone, but if you are having trouble hearing in other situations too, it may be time for a hearing test.

Friends

Your Hearing Loss Holiday Survival Guide

Shari Eberts on December 6, 2021

The holiday season can be a mixed blessing for people with hearing loss. But it doesn't need to be. Follow these tips to survive and thrive.

The holiday season can be a mixed blessing for people with hearing loss. But it doesn't need to be. Follow these tips to survive and thrive.

Environment

How Can You Make Life Easier for Someone With Hearing Loss?

Shari Eberts on October 18, 2021

Do you love someone with hearing loss? Perhaps you wonder what you can do to help. Here are seven ways you can make life easier for them.

Do you love someone with hearing loss? Perhaps you wonder what you can do to help. Here are seven ways you can make life easier for them.

Friends

What I Learned From My Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on August 23, 2021

While hearing loss presents many challenges, it is also a wonderful teacher. Lesson 1: Self-advocacy is the key to success.

While hearing loss presents many challenges, it is also a wonderful teacher. Lesson 1: Self-advocacy is the key to success.

Environment

How to Support Someone with Hearing Loss

Shari Eberts on June 15, 2021

How can you show the people in your life with hearing loss that you value them? Here are 8 tips.

How can you show the people in your life with hearing loss that you value them? Here are 8 tips.

The film "Sound of Metal" accurately displays the anguish of hearing loss, but its one-sided portrayal of the hearing loss experience left me cold.

Shyness

What Do You Do When Things Get Loud?

Shari Eberts on February 11, 2021

When caught in an unexpectedly loud situation, don't be shy about using your fingers to plug your ears. Hearing protection is critical for us all.

When caught in an unexpectedly loud situation, don't be shy about using your fingers to plug your ears. Hearing protection is critical for us all.