Hearing loss can seriously impact your mental health and even lead to conditions like anxiety and depression. One of the main reasons for such issues to develop is the social isolation that often comes as a result of living with hearing loss. Life on the deafness spectrum within a hearing world can be very lonely: a lot of people simply do not know how to effectively communicate with individuals who are hard of hearing, which makes socializing hard for the hearing-impaired.
It is no surprise that, as a result, many people on the deafness spectrum become frustrated and sometimes even give up on social interaction altogether. However, despite the physical and emotional hardship involved in maintaining friendships as a hearing-impaired individual, doing so is an important part of a full, happy life. Read on to find out our favorite tips for remaining socially active despite hearing loss:
Stay In Touch With Your Loved Ones
You don’t have to throw yourself into an unfamiliar environment as soon as you decide that you would like to live a more socially active life- taking small steps is perfectly okay. You may find out that simple actions like having a cup of coffee with an old friend or family member within a safe, comfortable space, makes a huge difference for your mental health.
Remaining in touch with those closest to you can also be incredibly beneficial in the long run: according to studies, supportive relationships can be a major protective factor against mental conditions and help increase our general wellbeing.
Be Upfront About Your Deafness When Meeting New People
Being open and honest about your hearing loss can significantly benefit your social relationships. When you meet new people, make sure you make them aware of the specific type of hearing loss you are impacted from, the best ways in which they can communicate with you, and the spaces within which you feel most comfortable. This will help both parties be on the same page which in turn will make conversations much easier.
Attend a Deaf Support Group
Partaking in a deaf support group will help you find individuals who are going through a similar situation as you, giving you the opportunity to share your feelings and exchange coping strategies. Ultimately, this will help you gain a better understanding of your own experience, as well as a sense of empowerment, minimizing feelings of distress, depression, and anxiety.
There are various deaf support groups that can provide help to individuals struggling with hearing loss, as well as their families. You can find a list of US-located support groups for the hearing-impaired here.
Maintain Established Relationships
It is not always easy to meet people that you like, but once you have done so, it is a good idea to make a habit of exchanging contact details and making effort to remain in touch. Accepting friends and acquaintances’ invitations to social events and initiating activities yourself are both great ways of ensuring that, but sometimes even a quick text message can make a difference.
Other good ideas in terms of maintaining and building trust within your relationships include engaging in active listening and being open and honest about your feelings.
Give Hearing Assistive Technology a Try
If you have already received a diagnosis and have found hearing aids suitable for your needs, looking into hearing assistive technology is a great way to further increase your ability to communicate clearly and with ease. Various solutions exist nowadays that can help those suffering from hearing impairment improve their social experiences, including FM hearing systems, Bluetooth hearing aid streamers, and infrared wireless devices.
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) provide a quality listening experience even in environments with lots of background noise that might otherwise be challenging for individuals on the deafness spectrum. They can be used with both hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Are you currently on the lookout for a solution to improving your social interactions? If yes, why not check out our shop? We have an amazing range of affordable, but top-quality devices that can help you communicate more easily. Click here to browse our products today!
