What Happens if You Are Diagnosed with Hearing Loss

When your doctor breaks the news to you that you need to be fitted for hearing aids, you may go through a mix of emotions. At first, you may feel hesitant or devastated about losing your ability to hear. You may even be anxious about others judging you or worried about your treatment. However, all of these are all natural responses that often occur when an individual is diagnosed with hearing loss and needs assistive devices to hear properly. Thus, those who have been diagnosed with hearing loss may struggle not just with their hearing, but also with emotional stress.  

Coping with the condition can be difficult for not only the diagnosed individual but also for his or her loved ones. For instance, parents of children who have been diagnosed with auditory issues face several challenges. In this article, hearing loss sufferers and their loved ones can find tips and strategies to help cope with the stress that follows the diagnosis.  

1. Accepting the diagnosis

One of the first steps to coping with any diagnosis is acceptance. It may sound like the beginning of an end, but it is crucial to motivate an individual to seek the treatment he or she needs. Acceptance doesn’t mean that a person must give up and live with their condition. Instead, it is realizing that there is a problem so that you can seek hearing loss treatment or other options that can help improve your quality of life. 

2. Assessing your options

Once individuals have accepted their diagnosis, they can begin to explore treatment options. Those with hearing loss have a number of possible options to choose from such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and other corrective measures.  

3. Building a plan

Hearing loss sufferers should sit down with their audiologist or physician to discuss their condition. A medical professional can help individuals better understand their condition and any medical jargon associated with it. Understanding the condition in detail can even help individuals cope with the stress. By understanding the condition, individuals can also plan ways to tackle their hearing impairment altogether. A plan of care should cover treatment options and may also go over counseling and financial assistance.  

As a parent, one of the most relieving things to hear from the doctor is that your child is healthy. But, when a parent hears that their child could have a health problem like a hearing impairment, it can be devastating. Parents may be worried about how to communicate with their child or how their child will communicate with them and others in school and other activities. Parents of hearing impaired children should talk with their children’s physician about their concerns. They can also find comfort in sharing their worries with other individuals that are in similar situations.  

Those with hearing loss may find it relieving to have a support system in place. Family and loved ones are supportive, but there are also organizations that help support those coping with hearing impairment. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Chapters is one example. Individuals can learn more and find a chapter near them as well. Individuals can also talk with their physician or audiologist, who can recommend counseling, nonprofit organizations and support groups in their area.