Hearing Center: The Social Signs of Impairment

When people think of a hearing center or of those who need a listening aid, they may not realize the many consequences and implications that come with auditory impairment. It is a disability that can grow to affect your entire life. It precludes your ability to hear movies, music, and other forms of entertainment, but these are relatively minor annoyances when compared with what it can do to your social life. No man is an island they say, but having an auditory impairment can make you feel like you're on one. Here are some of the common social signs of a problem. Requiring Repetition One of the most obvious signs of impairment is the need for others to repeat themselves when talking to them. They may also need others to tell them what was just said in a movie. This is, of course, because of volume loss, but it's also because those without the ability to hear perfectly can often get lost in a conversation. It takes a great deal of concentration and a good environment to hear every word perfectly. Even if you can hear well, you might find it difficult to understand the dialogue in a noisy action scene, for example. For those with auditory impairment, even some minor background noise can produce this effect. Difficult Conversations Holding conversations where more than two people are involved can be a challenge for those with auditory loss. As you probably know from your own life, social gatherings commonly involve many people, some of whom will all insist on talking over one another. Again, this is an instance where someone who can hear perfectly will be able to sympathize. It can be difficult to follow a three or four way conversation even when your ears are working fine. When they aren't, it can become much more difficult or even impossible. This is why many people who come into a hearing center complain about having to withdraw from such situations. Inappropriate Responses Because it can become very tiring on both parties to constantly need to ask for repetition, many people with auditory impairment will simply start trying to guess what was said. Often, this can lead to answering a question with the wrong response or saying something that comes across as a non sequitur. This is one of the reasons why it's important to go to a hearing center, get the proper tools and techniques to cope with loss, and tell others that they may have to be patient. Having support from friends and family willing to make concessions can make a big difference.