You’re missing telephone calls now. sometimes, it’s that you can’t hear the phone ringing. In other cases dealing with the garbled voice at the other end is just too much of a hassle.
But you’re staying away from more than simply phone calls. Last week you missed basketball with friends. More and more frequently, this type of thing has been occurring. You can’t help but feel a little… isolated.
The real cause, of course, is your hearing loss. Your diminishing hearing is leading to something far too common: social isolation – and you can’t determine what to do about it. Trading loneliness for companionship might take a little bit of work. But we have a few things you can try to make it happen.
Acknowledging Your Hearing Loss is Step Number One
Often you aren’t quite sure what the cause of your social isolation is when it first starts to occur. So, noticing your hearing loss is a big first step. Scheduling an appointment to get fitted for hearing aids and keeping them in good working order are also strong first steps.
Acknowledgment could also take the form of telling people in your life about your loss of hearing. Hearing loss is, in many ways, an invisible health condition. Someone who has hearing loss doesn’t have a particular “look”.
So when somebody looks at you it’s unlikely they will notice that you have hearing loss. To your friends and co-workers, your turn towards isolation could seem to be anti-social. If you let people know that you are having a tough time hearing, your responses will be easier to understand.
Your Hearing Loss Shouldn’t be Kept Secret
Accepting your hearing loss–and telling the people around you about it–is an essential first step. Making certain your hearing stays consistent by having regular hearing exams is also important. And it may help curb some of the first isolationist tendencies you might feel. But there are a few more steps you can take to combat isolation.
Make Your Hearing Aids Visible
There are plenty of individuals who value the invisibility of hearing aids: the smaller the better, right? But it might be that making your hearing aid a little more visible could help you relate your hearing impairment more deliberately to others. Some individuals even individualize their hearing aids with custom artwork. By making it more obvious, you help other people to do you the courtesy of facing you when they talk to you and making certain you understand before moving the conversation on.
Get The Correct Treatment
Coping with your tinnitus or hearing loss is going to be much harder if you aren’t effectively treating that hearing ailment. Management could be very different depending on the situation. But wearing or properly calibrating hearing aids is often a common factor. And even something that simple can make a significant difference in your daily life.
Let People Know How They Can Help You
It’s never enjoyable to get shouted at. But there are some individuals who assume that’s the best way to communicate with someone who has hearing loss. That’s why it’s essential that you advocate for what you need from those close to you. Maybe texting to make plans would be better than calling. You will be less likely to isolate yourself if you can get everyone on the same page.
Put Yourself in Social Situations
It’s easy to stay away from everybody in the age of the internet. That’s the reason why purposely putting people in your path can help you steer clear of isolation. Instead of ordering groceries from Amazon, shop at your local grocery store. Gather for a weekly game of cards. Make those activities part of your calendar in an intentional and scheduled way. There are so many easy ways to run into people like taking a walk around your neighborhood. This will help you feel less isolated, but will also help your brain keep processing sound cues and identify words precisely.
It Can be Hazardous to Become Isolated
If you’re isolating yourself because of untreated hearing impairment, you’re doing more than limiting your social life. Isolation of this kind has been connected to mental decline, depression, worry, and other cognitive health problems.
Being practical about your hearing problem is the best way to keep yourself healthy and happy and to keep your social life going in the right direction, recognize the truths, and do whatever you can to ensure you’re making those weekly card games.