News: The first step is acceptance

The first step is acceptance

10/11/2017 - Hearing loss, Treatment

One of the biggest issues with hearing loss, surprisingly, is people don’t seek treatment for it. In Australia it takes an average of seven years for someone to get professional advice on their hearing loss.

Shari Eberts writes a blog called Living with Hearing Loss, and has penned a piece about probably one of the hardest things to deal with when talking about hearing loss… acceptance.

It took us a while to come across this piece (it was written in 2016) but, coming from the point of view of someone with hearing loss, it’s a strong piece of writing urging people to accept and come to terms with hearing loss, and then to do something about it.

The piece starts:

“Hearing loss does not discriminate. It impacts people of all ages, races, creeds, and phases of life. It can be caused genetically, or from excess noise, or from ototoxic drugs. Sometimes it happens suddenly. Other times it sneaks up gradually as part of the aging process. But one thing is true for all – hearing loss will affect your life. The degree and type of impact is partially up to you.”

Shari, like many do, hid her hearing loss from others, and herself, for 10 years before finally taking steps to address it. Her “Ode to Hearing Loss Acceptance” is her call to action, having gone through the process herself, to not let hearing loss become the albatross around your neck it doesn’t need to be.

Thank you, Shari, for writing what we are calling a treaty on hearing loss acceptance.

To read Shari’s ode in full, click here.

If you, or someone you love, feels ready to tackle hearing loss we have more advice in our News section or click through to Six things you must know when ready for hearing aids.

 

 

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