3 Ways to Cope When You Find Out You're Losing Your Hearing

Losing your hearing can be incredibly difficult, and overcoming it can often feel insurmountable. It's not, though.   

Losing your hearing is tough. It can feel like you're losing a piece of yourself. Like some facet of who you are as a person has died off, and you'll never be the same again. 

That's not an easy thing to cope with, and it doesn't help that hearing impairment still tends to be overlooked as a disability. Adjusting to hearing impairment is not an insurmountable challenge, though. We'll even give you a few pieces of advice to help you better cope with your impending hearing loss.

Research, Research, Research.

Learn about your condition. Study current medical technology and treatment options, and look over emerging trends and research. With knowledge comes acceptance, and eventually, confidence. 

Keeping your knowledge current can also help you avoid predatory companies that are attempting to sell you false hope. 

There are still many misconceptions surrounding hearing loss, especially when it comes to treatments. Driven by those desperate to reverse their condition, the web is rife with misinformation. Many people genuinely believe that you can simply eat some superfoods or apply some essential oils, and your hearing is fixed. 

So do your research. Check facts, investigate sources, and examine with a fine-toothed comb any company attempting to make outlandish claims. Ultimately, the goal here is to understand as much about your situation as humanly possible.

Reach Out and Touch Base

You are not alone.

There are multiple blogs and publications entirely dedicated to the complexities of hearing loss, from lifestyle to mental health. More importantly, there are also tons of highly-active support groups and communities. With just a quick Google search, you can potentially connect with an entire worldwide network of people facing the same challenges and struggles as you "” people who can help you better understand what you're going through, and provide you with a wealth of coping advice. 

More importantly, they can validate how you feel. That there are no rules about how to process or cope with tragedy, and everyone has their own methods. Although we'd advise against isolating yourself, you are allowed to be emotional. 

You are allowed to express anger, frustration, fear, and whatever else you're feeling. Your emotions are valid, and everyone overcomes adversity at their own pace. You need not rush yourself.

Remember The Context

Hearing impairment is a challenge, but it's far from the end of the world. Remember that, in spite of what you're going through, you are still you. Moreover, hearing aid technology has come a very long way in recent years. 

That means that, in most cases, you need not resign yourself to living a life of silence. It might not be curable, but it's very likely treatable. And with a few adjustments, there's the potential for you to live your life almost as you were before.

Because at the end of the day, losing your hearing doesn't have to mean losing your life, too.