Hearing Loss Hearing Loss and and Relationships Relationships Shanna Groves and Melissa Frye Groves and Melissa Frye Shanna
Hearing Loss and Relationships Hearing Loss and Relationships Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of American adults report some degree of hearing loss. hearing loss. - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders -
Hearing Loss Statistics Hearing Loss Statistics • • Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women. Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women. • • Of adults ages 65 and older in the United States, 12.3 percent of men and nearly 14 f men and nearly 14 Of adults ages 65 and older in the United States, 12.3 percent o percent of women are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is identifie percent of women are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is identified more frequently in white d more frequently in white individuals and the prevalence of tinnitus is almost twice as frequent in the South as in the equent in the South as in the individuals and the prevalence of tinnitus is almost twice as fr Northeast. Northeast. • • There is a strong relationship between age and reported hearing There is a strong relationship between age and reported hearing loss: 18 percent of loss: 18 percent of American adults 45- -64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65 64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65- -74 years old, and 47 percent of 74 years old, and 47 percent of American adults 45 adults 75 years old or older have a hearing impairment. adults 75 years old or older have a hearing impairment. • • About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born deaf or hard e born deaf or hard- -of of- - About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States ar hearing. hearing. Nine out of every 10 children who are born deaf are born to pare Nine out of every 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who can nts who can hear. hear. • • The NIDCD estimates that approximately 15 percent (26 million) of Americans between the f Americans between the The NIDCD estimates that approximately 15 percent (26 million) o ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds or re to loud sounds or ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposu noise at work or in leisure activities. noise at work or in leisure activities. • • Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actu Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one. ally wears one. - -National I nstitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National I nstitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Source: Google I mages Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Source: Google I mages Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: Google I mages
Faces of Hearing Loss Faces of Hearing Loss Source: National I nstitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Source: National I nstitute on Deafness and Other Communication D isorders
Characteristics of the Hearing Loss Population Characteristics of the Hearing Loss Population • A shared communication style. Many speak orally, and some use sign language. Lip reading (also known as speechreading) is also a common way to understand one another. • A strong reliance on technology. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices are available to help the hearing loss population understand speech and hear important sounds. • A strong reliance on closed captioning. Captions assist with understanding television, movies, and (when available) live presentations. This could also fall under the technology category. • Emotional connection. This would include not always feeling connected with the hearing world because of difficulty understanding speech. For those not comfortable with sign language, they may not feel part of the Deaf culture. Emotionally, individuals with hearing loss might feel somewhat isolated from the hearing and/or Deaf "worlds." Source: http:/ / shannagroves.blogspot.com
Hearing Loss and Relationships: Hearing Loss and Relationships: Communication Communication Three things people with hearing loss need in order to Three things people with hearing loss need in order to communicate effectively with loved ones: communicate effectively with loved ones: • Confidence • Confidence – – acceptance of hearing loss acceptance of hearing loss • Boldness • Boldness – – ability to request needs ability to request needs • Patience • Patience – – allowing others time to understand you allowing others time to understand you
Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Hearing Loss Hearing Loss Myth # 1 : Hearing aids and cochlear implants cure Myth # 1 : Hearing aids and cochlear implants cure hearing loss. hearing loss. I nstead, tell them: Hearing aids and cochlear implants I nstead, tell them: Hearing aids and cochlear implants help improve hearing, but they don’ ’t restore lost t restore lost help improve hearing, but they don hearing. hearing.
Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Hearing Loss Hearing Loss • Myth # 2 • Myth # 2 : People with hearing loss can : People with hearing loss can’ ’t enjoy music, t enjoy music, phone conversations or live entertainment. phone conversations or live entertainment. • I nstead, tell them: • I nstead, tell them: Because of CART, captioned Because of CART, captioned phones and interpreters, a person doesn’ ’t have to t have to phones and interpreters, a person doesn hear perfectly to enjoy sound. hear perfectly to enjoy sound.
Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Hearing Loss Hearing Loss • Myth # 3 • Myth # 3 : In order to communicate with someone : In order to communicate with someone who can’ ’t hear well or at all, sign language is a must. t hear well or at all, sign language is a must. who can • I nstead, tell them: • I nstead, tell them: If used regularly, sign language If used regularly, sign language can help with communication. Many hard of hearing can help with communication. Many hard of hearing people may not know how to sign or been given the people may not know how to sign or been given the opportunity to practice using it. opportunity to practice using it.
Source: Jennifer Ross Source: Jennifer Ross
Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Hearing Loss Hearing Loss • Myth # 4 • Myth # 4 : It : It’ ’s hard to communicate with the hard of s hard to communicate with the hard of hearing, so why try? hearing, so why try? • I nstead, tell them: • I nstead, tell them: The GATS Code The GATS Code… … G - - Gently get my attention before you begin talking. G Gently get my attention before you begin talking. A - A - Always face me while you speak so I can read your lips. Always face me while you speak so I can read your lips. T - - Talk to me in a quiet room where it is easier for me to hear. T Talk to me in a quiet room where it is easier for me to hear. S - - Speak slowly and with good enunciation. S Speak slowly and with good enunciation.
Source: Google I mages Source: Google I mages
Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Myths Our Loved Ones May Have About Hearing Loss Hearing Loss • Myth # 5 • Myth # 5 : You : You’ ’re not really hard of hearing. You re not really hard of hearing. You’ ’re re just tuning me out. just tuning me out. • I nstead, tell them: • I nstead, tell them: Try an experiment. Place two Try an experiment. Place two cotton balls in each ear, go into a noisy room, and try cotton balls in each ear, go into a noisy room, and try to listen to a conversation with a person standing 20 to listen to a conversation with a person standing 20 feet away and with his face turned away. Difficult, feet away and with his face turned away. Difficult, huh? Welcome to my world! huh? Welcome to my world!
Hearing Loss and Relationships: Hearing Loss and Relationships: Through An Attachment Lens Through An Attachment Lens Our family’ ’s story: s story: Our family • Discovering the loss • Discovering the loss • Grieving the loss • Grieving the loss • Moving through the grief • Moving through the grief • Discovering what life looks like now • Discovering what life looks like now
The role of healthy attachments The role of healthy attachments For a loved one with hearing loss: For a loved one with hearing loss: • Creating a • Creating a “ “safe safe- -haven haven” ” • Showing empathy instead of projecting fear • Showing empathy instead of projecting fear
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