Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who are the Hard Of Hearing?
- What is hearing loss?
- Why do some people try to hide their hearing loss?
- What is it like to be hard of hearing?
- Who becomes Hard of Hearing?
- What are the causes of hearing loss?
- Do hearing aids fix hearing loss?
- How are hard of hearing persons identified?
- What is the difference between hard of hearing, deafened and Deaf?
- Where do hard of hearing people go to get help?
- What are assistive listening devices?
- What are Cochlear Implants?
- How does hearing loss affect Children?
- How does hearing loss affect adults?
- How does hearing loss affect seniors?
- Some Final Points About Hearing Loss
1. Who are the Hard of Hearing?
Hard of hearing people, who communicate primarily by speech, have varying degrees of hearing loss, and are assisted by the use of hearing aids, speech reading and other assistive devices to imperfectly interpret what is seen and heard. This group ranges from individuals with a mild loss, to persons who are completely deaf. Culturally Deaf people are not considered to be hard of hearing, however, some deaf and deafened people may choose to self-disclose as being hard of hearing. Many hard of hearing people need assistive technical devices to have any chance of leading 'normal' lives. Hearing loss is known as the 'invisible' disability, which unlike many other 'mainstream' disabilities that manifest themselves in a visible manner, cannot be seen. In addition, the ramifications of this socially-isolating disability can cause the individual to withdraw from society and become invisible. It is usually recognized only if one takes notice of a person's hearing aid(s) or when they have difficulty in communicating with a hard of hearing person.
2. What is hearing loss?
Some people use the term hearing impairment to include both the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Hearing loss is an invisible disability that causes difficulty in communication with others because the message is not heard or is heard incorrectly or only partially, thus preventing full understanding. It seriously limits accessibility to education, employment and the enjoyment of everyday social events that most hearing people take for granted. It is a very serious disability that has a major negative impact on many areas of a person's life, and for many, can lead to isolation, withdrawal from society, depression and even suicide. Unfortunately, many of the problems encountered by hard of hearing persons are created by themselves, as they will not acknowledge the problem, or they try to hide the fact from others by using hearing aids that 'hide' in the ear or wear their hair over the aids.
3. Why do some people try to hide their hearing loss?
Many hard of hearing people are still not recognized as such and are often considered to be 'dumb' or 'stupid' because they fail to respond when addressed or do so inappropriately. Although a deliberate and sincere act to hide what many perceive to be the stigma and embarrassment of hearing loss, the unintended result is that many hard of hearing people do not live as fully integrated, employable and socially fulfilling lives as they possibly could. Thus, the work of those who try to overcome society's disinterest, abuse and discrimination of the hard of hearing is hindered as a consequence. A more serious problem for many is that they either cannot afford to buy the technical assistance that is available or have serious difficulties in adapting to the technology that exists despite the fact that much can now be done to help hard of hearing people.
4. What is it like to be hard of hearing?
It is almost impossible for a hearing person to know what it is like to be hard of hearing, just as it is equally difficult to know what it is like to be blind, or to suffer from any particular disability unless one lives with it. However, while it is possible to have some understanding based on education, experience and involvement with people with special needs, complete understanding comes from having lived with hearing loss and its isolating effects. Imagine, if you can, what it would be like to be enclosed in a COCOON OF SILENCE; to be surrounded by an 'invisible' barrier that cuts you off from many of the sounds you hear daily, the sounds you take for granted, such as music, doorbells, telephones, your friend's voices. Everyday sounds are garbled, distorted, low, or it sounds like everyone is mumbling.
5. Who becomes Hard of Hearing?
Anyone with a hearing loss ranging from mild to profound, whose usual means of communication is by speech, meaning that anyone can become hard of hearing. One person in ten is hard of hearing or about 50,000 people in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, as we age, the incidence of hearing loss increases so that by the time a person reaches the age of 65, there is almost a fifty percent (50%) chance that they will have some degree of hearing loss. People who are exposed to consistently loud noises are more prone to hearing loss than those who do not.
6. What are the causes of hearing loss?
There are many causes of hearing loss, however, in about fifty percent of cases, it is difficult to say with certainty why the hearing loss occurred. The causes of hearing loss can include genetic factors, health problems in pregnancy, chronic ear infections, disease, side effects of some medications, excessive noise, accidents and aging. Most noise induced hearing loss is preventable with the use of approved hearing protection.
7. Do hearing aids fix hearing loss?
Unfortunately, hearing aids do not fix hearing loss. Hearing aids provide an audiological boost in an attempt to replace some of the sound levels and frequencies that are affected. Hearing aids do not help all persons with hearing loss; some get excellent benefits, some receive little or none.
8. How are hard of hearing persons identified?
It's hard to believe, but there are many persons who are obviously hard of hearing to others, but not to themselves. This happens because, for many people, hearing loss is so gradual that they are unaware that they lose their ability to hear everyday sounds. They can still converse, but it can be difficult, especially for others. Most people can be identified as being hard of hearing if they turn up the volume on the television or radio, speak loudly, fail to respond when spoken to or spoken to repeatedly, ask others to repeat themselves or say that people are mumbling. If someone you know is like this, please convince them to get help quickly.
9. What is the difference between hard of hearing, deafened and Deaf?
These terms are often confusing and many people often mistake them or use them interchangeably. Being hard of hearing means that a person has some remaining or residual hearing that can be used, with hearing aids, assistive listening devices, lipreading and other supports, can hear and communicate with hearing people. Late deafened means that a person grew up with normal hearing and speech development, but for some reason, such as head trauma or an acoustic neuroma (tumor on the nerve), became deaf later in life. This is an especially sad and isolating condition because the person grew up hearing but now, is not hard of hearing, deaf or Deaf. Being deaf means that a person was born deaf and has no residual hearing and uses sign language to communicate. Because of their deafness, many deaf persons do not have good language skills though many do become proficient with intense training. Deaf (with a capital D) means that a person was born to Deaf parents and grew up in a deaf culture.
10. Where do hard of hearing people go to get help?
Hard of hearing people can obtain help in a number of ways; by visiting a hearing aid dealer, an audiologist or an E.N.T. (Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist). The policy of CHHA-NC is to refer people to their family doctor, who will usually send them to an E.N.T. if they are unable to help. The E.N.T. will check for medical conditions and if they cannot identify or fix the problem with medication or surgery may refer them to an Audiologist or a Hearing Instrument Specialist (commonly called a Hearing Aid Dealer) for assessment for a hearing aid or other assistive listening device. In Newfoundland, people can also make appointments with dealers directly or with the Audiology departments of regional hospitals, but referral to an E.N.T. in these cases is not automatic.
11. What are assistive listening devices?
Assistive listening devices come in all shapes and sizes and are usually attached to everyday communication devices to send the audio signal from the source to the hard of hearing listener through a special receiver similar to a walkman. To listen, regular headphones or ear buds can be used if the listener does not have hearing aids, but if they wear hearing aids, these must have a special T-Switch to pick up the electronic signal from the audio source. The T-Switch is a small magnetic coil in the hearing aid (not all hearing aids have them but should), that picks up the magnetic emissions given off by all electronic devices. Fortunately, these emissions carry the audio signal also so that assistive devices can pick up the signal. Assistive listening devices most commonly use an FM or radio signal, an IR or Infra Red (light waves) signal or a direct audio hookup to transmit and receive sound signals.
12. What are Cochlear Implants?
Cochlear Implants are highly complex hearing devices that are implanted in the cochlea inside a person's head. The cochlea is a small structure that captures sound waves transmitted through the ear canal and the bones of the middle ear. The sound waves travel through a special fluid that contains the tens of thousands of tiny hair cells that pick up the mechanical energy of the sound waves and converts them into electrical energy that is transmitted along the auditory nerve to the brain. The brain then translates these nerve impulses into words with meaning. When a person is born deaf or becomes deafened or severely hard of hearing, then they may be a good candidate for a cochlear implant. The implant stimulates the hairs in the cochlea so that a signal can be transmitted to the brain to be translated. People interested in cochlear implants must be carefully screened by an audiologist an ear specialist.
13. How does hearing loss affect Children?
If children are not born with a hearing loss, they can be affected at any age. Many children suffer temporary losses due to ear infections, but chronic ear infections can cause permanent loss. While losing one's hearing is, in itself, a primary and important loss, it is the secondary losses and problems that arise which are most important if intervention procedures are not undertaken at the earliest possible time. So, what begins as a sensory problem in children, can become any or all of the following problems: perceptual, speech, cognitive, social, emotional, educational, intellectual, and vocational.
It can easily be seen that there are many risk factors at all stages of a child's development and not just in the early years which many people focus on to their detriment. Hearing loss can occur at any age for any number of reasons, many of which if recognized and attended to, can prevent, overcome, or reduce the effects of hearing loss. Unfortunately, all too often, parents and children, especially young adolescents do not pay enough attention to the possibility of hearing loss. The negative effects on their development can occur at any stage, most of which can be prevented. It is quite obvious then, that early intervention is mandatory and can be argued for on ethical, moral, humanistic and even economic grounds. Unless the child is helped in a positive manner, the adult may become an unnecessary burden to society with financial costs far outweighing the costs of intervention. With help, the hard of hearing person can become a fully functional and contributing member of society.
14. How does hearing loss affect adults?
Eventually, as the hard of hearing child matures and becomes a hard of hearing adult, the life-long frustrations experienced by the child can lead to many problems for the adult which are often handled in negative ways; drinking and drug use, mental health problems, depression, abuse of loved ones, loneliness, despair, poverty, and suicide. Many of these adult problems are compounded because of developmental problems in childhood which have resulted in their being undereducated and usually underemployed or unemployed. Many of these adults spend their lives on social assistance but with better understanding and the appropriate supports, many can be trained and placed in rewarding employment situations. Often the cost of accommodation is minor but employers must be educated about what can be done. CHHA-NC has met this need with the development of an Employer's Reference Manual titled Increasing Workplace Accessibility for the Hard of Hearing. With the assistance of the Department of Labour and Environment this manual has been distributed to selected businesses and Occupational Health and Safety Committees across the province. This initiative will help to educate employers and thereby improve opportunities for hard of hearing adults.
15. How does hearing loss affect seniors?
Hearing loss in seniors is the more traditional scenario that comes to mind when hearing loss is considered. A great deal has been done to improve services for seniors but much still remains. CHHA-NC has several programs for seniors: "To Hear Again" is directed towards institutionalized seniors and the second is called "Better Hearing For Seniors" primarily directed towards the 50 Plus or younger senior who lives in their own home. Its purpose is to help keep them there for as long as possible since the more independent a person is, the less likely he/she will become unhealthy and less likely to become users of the health care system. However, such services are only available to seniors in the St. John's area. CHHA-NC does not have the financial means to set up regional centres across the province that would provide easier access for the seniors of this province. At the present time, limited hearing health advice is available outside St. John's through a family doctor or through an Audiologist. Such services are limited because most doctors (surprisingly) know very little beyond a physiological standpoint about what is involved in hearing loss. While audiologists have more training specific to hearing loss, in most instances they do not have the time to provide the in-depth personal consultation and support. CHHA-NC currently provides this type of consultation and other individualized supports, where possible.
Adjusting to hearing aids is one of the major problems that seniors have in the rehabilitation process and many stop trying because of the lack of supports available to help them cope. Another major problem is that of cost. Many seniors recognize that hearing aids may be of some help to them but many simply cannot afford to get them unless they are receiving social assistance or are living near the poverty line. The price of hearing aids and associated costs are high but the alternative is often an unnecessary life of lonlieness and depression because a hard of hearing person is cut of from the hearing world. As well, some seniors become institutionalized or suffer other health problems because of their hearing loss which in the longer term costs the province a lot of money. Some European countries have recognized the problems of hearing loss and provide hearing aids to anyone who needs them as a preventative health measure. Maybe it is time for similar programs here in this province.
16. Some Final Points About Hearing Loss
To gain a better understanding of what it means to be hard of hearing in a hearing world, it is also important to know the following points in relation to hearing loss:
- Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing, either in quality or volume. Much more is involved than simply turning on a switch.
- Unless restricted by other means, all environmental or background noises are amplified by hearing aids thereby masking or interfering with speech sounds which defeat the purpose of hearing aids.
- Loss of hearing is unique to each individual, therefore, the severity of the loss and the adaptation to the loss is also unique, resulting in a wide range of rehabilitative responses.
- For many hard of hearing persons, speech is often distorted even with the use of hearing aids, so that many can only recognize 25 % of the words spoken to them. The remaining 75% of comprehension is gained by assumption, guesswork and deduction.
- Hard of hearing people must concentrate intently to understand what is being said. This is very tiring and stressful and often leads to problems in dealing with fellow employees, employers, friends, family and other people on a daily basis.
- Many hard of hearing persons are undereducated and underemployed for many of the reasons already mentioned, which often forces hard of hearing persons and their families to live at or below the poverty level.
- Hard of hearing persons may also face developmental problems in education, social, psychological, emotional and intellectual areas.