If you are experiencing hearing loss, you are undoubtedly surrounded by friends and family willing to lend their help and encouragement. But often, there is no substitute for solidarity with others going through the same things. Hearing loss support groups, either in person or online, are valuable outlets for people of all ages with hearing loss. By sharing experiences, those who have experienced hearing loss and thrived can arm others with strength and information for the road ahead.
The Right Support Group for You
If you would like to try a support group and aren’t sure how to find one, know that you have many options easily available to you. Your first contact should be with your Hearing Care Professionals office. In some cities, hearing centers or audiologist offices organize their own groups for their patients and designate a hearing professional to lead the group. These types of hearing loss support groups can give members access to information on the latest technology and provide an opportunity for honest discussion about the struggles of hearing loss.
There are also many organizations dedicated to serving as resources, advocates and support for those with hearing loss, such as the Hearing Loss Association of America or the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Both nationwide groups have local chapters, and many sponsor regular support group meetings.
Encouragement is as Close as Your Keyboard
The Internet has made our world simultaneously smaller and larger, and this phenomenon makes the Web a helpful stop for those dealing with diminishing hearing capability. Virtual hearing loss support groups have arisen as sufferers find each other through a wide variety of websites. One online message board on www.dailystrength.org, for example, has a post with the title, “My hearing is going and I’m scared,” penned by a young mother who is worried about how her hearing loss will affect her children. The respondents to her post were able to offer support and point her to resources that could help illuminate her search for answers. Message boards exist to connect people navigating any kind of health or relationship problem imaginable, and those suffering from hearing loss are no different.
No Man or Woman is an Island
The loss of your hearing can make you feel isolated from loved ones and your community, but hearing loss support groups have the opposite effect: they create a bond between people in similar situations and allow professionals or those who have been coping with hearing loss longer to share the newest information, technology, and help available. If you need answers and haven’t found the right support group yet, a Beltone specialist is the ideal place to start. Make an appointment today and prepare to turn up your world.