Living with Hearing Loss

Living with Hearing Loss Jennifer R. LaBorde, Au.D., CCC-ADoctor of Audiology and Hearing Aid User

Accompanied by Garrett P. LaBorde, (Dr. LaBordes Husband and Hearing Partner)

Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Hearing Loss HumorThere is no doubt that hearing loss affects not only the hard of hearing person, but those who live around them as well. Q. What are some fun stories you have about living with hearing loss?

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHEARING LOSS:

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AND YOUR LIFE!And.the People in It!Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD How Do We Define Hearing Loss?Degree

TypeConfiguration

Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD ConductiveEar wax, Perforation of the eardrum, Middle Ear Fluid, OtosclerosisSensorineuralInner ear/cochlear hearing loss due to aging, noise exposure, genetics, medical diagnosis, etc.Involves a reduction in sound level, or ability to hear faint sounds, but also affects speech understanding, or ability to hear clearly.

MixedCombination of the aboveType

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicNormal range or no hearing loss = 0 dB to 20 dB Mild loss = 20 dB to40 dB Moderate loss = 40 dB to 55 dB Moderately-Severe loss = 55 dB to 70 dB Severe Loss= 70-90 dBProfound loss = 90 dB or more

Degree

Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD The measurement of how much hearing loss is present at specific frequencies. SlopingFlatReverse SlopePrecipitously SlopingCookie Bite

Configuration

Other Descriptive TermsBilateral both ears are affected. Unilateral only one ear is affected. Symmetrical degree & configuration of hearing loss are same in each ear. Asymmetrical degree and/or configuration of the loss is different for each ear. Progressive/Late-onset becomes increasingly worse over time. Sudden hearing loss occurs quickly, requires immediate medical attention to determine its cause and treatment. Fluctuating changes, sometimes getting better, sometimes getting worse. Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHEARING LOSS SIMULATIONSHave you ever wondered, What does his/her hearing loss really sound like? or I wish (insert person) knew what it was like to have hearing loss..NOW WE CAN SHOW THEM!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHearing Loss SimulationsNormal Hearing in Quiet

Normal Hearing in NoiseMild/Moderate Hearing Loss in Quiet

Mild/Moderate Hearing Loss in Noise

VS.Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicWhen would this effect normal conversations?DISTANCE LISTENING

POOR ACOUSTICS

LACK OF VISUAL CUESLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicWHAT CAN WE DO TO COMBAT HEARING LOSS?

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHearing Aids Alone.Are Not Enough!Hearing Aids+Assistive Listening Devices+Speech-reading+Coping Strategies

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center Clinic

If you only had one coping strategy to employ for better hearing that did not cost anything, what would the single most effective hearing loss coping strategy be?

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicIt would beGET AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHow Distance Affects HearingSounds Drop OffAt ear level, sound is at 100%. At 2 feet away, sound is as loudAt 8 feet, this is 1/64th as loudAt 20 feet (back of the room), the sound is 1/400th as loud!What a difference it makes in volume!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicWhat Else Does Distance Affect?Increased Background Noise There is more between you and the speakerSpeech Becomes More DistortedSpeech Intelligence DropsLow Frequency sounds carry volumeHigh Frequency sounds carry intelligenceBecause low frequencies travel well through air, you hear them better at greater distances. High frequency sounds attenuate faster so they disappear at distances

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicMake it Better with a Mini Mic

Get Physically Closer to Each Other!Or if youd rather..Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD VISUAL FACTORS/CUESHold on, I cant hear you.let me get my glasses!

Its too dark in here! I just cant hear you!

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicVisual Cues are a NecessityLighting

Avoid having a backlit speaker (in front of a window)

Ceiling lights vs. table lights

Candles flickering/mood lightingnot our friend!

Speechreading

Almost all hard of hearing people speechread, whether they realize it or not. Lighting helps with this tremendously, as does getting close!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicCoping Skills/Strategies for Hearing LossBe Your Own Advocate! Take Charge!If you dont tell people what you need, how will anyone be able to help you?

Speak slower, speak louder, please come closer, let me come to you, please rephrase that

Lets sit here, this is the best seat for me to hear better, sit away from the kitchen at a restaurant, sit where a server has to approach you

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicIt takes Two to TangoHow this affects relationships

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicCommunication is Essential to RelationshipsHearing Loss is just that..A LossOne that we must grieve and come to a certain level of acceptance about. Both people in a relationship must do this, so we cannot be each others support system in this process

What do we grieve?The loss of easy communicationThe activities that we once enjoyed togetherIndependence as individuals in a relationshipOthers????

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicIs This Bad News?Not Necessarily.it is what we do with this news that makes the difference!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicCommunicating with People Who Have Hearing LossFace the personDo NOT talk from Another RoomSpeak clearly, slowly, distinctly, but NATURALLY without exaggerating mouth movementsSay the persons name before talkingAvoid talking too fastKeep your hands away from your faceMinimize extraneous noiseIf one has difficulty, find a DIFFERENT WAY of saying the same thingAcquaint the listener with the topic before speakingIt is harder to hear when ill or tired (mental fatigue)Bite-sized conversations Take turns speakingPay attention to the facial expressions of the listenerLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicRealistic ExpectationsIn quiet settings, hearing should improve.In moderate background noise, hearing should improve.Hearing in noise is NOT as good as in quiet.Hearing with LOUD background noise is NOT WORSE than without the hearing aids.Soft speech is audible, average speech is comfortable, loud speech is not uncomfortable.Hearing Aids should be comfortable.Aids should allow listening with LESS effort.Fatigue AND Stress make hearing worse!Hearing Aids WILL NOT restore hearing to normal levelsPatience will always be needed! Performance improves gradually.Hearing Aids WILL NOT eliminate background noise, but technology has come a long way.Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicHow Would We Expect Hearing Loss to Affect Relationships?In a study of the impact of hearing loss on a spouse, therapists have asserted that communication difficulties related to hearing loss would likely weigh on couple relationships and influence their development negatively.Aside from thinking you can grumble under your breathLiving With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center Clinic However, in contrast..the couples in the study most often reported that they either did not think the hearing loss had affected their relationship development, or that it had influenced their relationship positively!!!!!

Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center ClinicNow, youre all set!Perfectly Happy Couples.

Right?!?!Living With Hearing Loss - Jennifer R. LaBorde, AuD Friday, September 21, 2012Copyright 2012 The Hearing Center Medical Center Clinic 850.474.8328or 800.874.4542

Jennifer.Reeves@MedicalCenterClinic.com

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