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sadness, fear, anger, and distrust are common and understandable among people seeking help for hearing loss – and might not always be obvious. We started this article with one example of a person seeking empathy. Here are some others: “Your tests have got to be wrong. I’m sure my child hears much better than you say.” “These new hearing aids seem to make [...] “I think I can get by without hearing aids. I’m only 52, not some old lady.” If you’re a hearing care professional, you’ve probably heard something like this many times. And your instinct is probably to reassure your client by saying things like: “Lots of younger people have hearing aids,” or, “They’re really small these days.” But what your client [...] approach most of the time and rarely offered empathy, despite clients expressing concerns and despite those clinicians speaking positively about the person-centered approach when asked (Grenness et al., 2015). And it’s entirely understandable. Audiology programs don’t spend a lot of time teaching empathic communication and many clinicians are uncomfortable

Connect Hearing Loss Support Group : Online, moderated forum to connect with others experiencing tinnitus and/or hearing loss Living Well with Tinnitus by Hashir Aazh and Brian Moore: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioral therapy, written by two recognized experts Living with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis by Laurence McKenna, David Baguley, and Don McFerran: [...] interactive tools, apps, and training options. It’s far from comprehensive, but designed instead to give you a jumping off point to learn more, find support, and move forward on your tinnitus journey. Have a browse, share the list with others, and tell us what you think. Information and support Tinnitus First Aid Kit : Information and advice for people e [...] McFerran: A deep dive into the causes and effects of tinnitus, plus strategies and practical advice for living with it Check out the websites of Tinnitus UK , the American Tinnitus Association , and Soundfair for information about tinnitus, online forums, and lists of support groups. And read this research on the benefits of tinnitus support groups

resources, and online courses remain available as usual. While we’re extremely sad that the Ida Institute will not continue in its current form, we’re also immensely proud of what we have achieved over the last 15 years. Our learning resources have given thousands of current and future hearing care professionals a unique grounding in the principles and practice [...] collaborations with professional and consumer partners, universities, and industry, and the practical tools we’ve created together have helped fuel an astonishing growth in the implementation of this approach. Thank you to everyone who has been on the journey with us – without your expertise, innovation, collaborative spirit, and support in so many ways, we [...] been nearly as successful in our endeavors to improve hearing care. Thank you also to William Demant Foundation for their support over 15 years, and for their continued support as we’ve explored other funding models and now explore ways to keep our resources available. Read more about the scale down and what it means for you in these FAQs . If you have

to express my needs and have them met. Finding reliable information The highlights of my year are the live meetings and conferences where people with hearing loss can share best practices and learn, laugh, and cry together. However, not everyone has the time or the resources to attend these events. Online peer support has become an anchor in my life [...] to ask and how to express my needs and feelings. Because I believe in the transformative power of a strong client-professional relationship, I choose providers who embrace the same philosophy and who refer clients to strategies beyond the hearing aid. This is a marked change from my earlier adult years when clinical interactions were limited and not always [...] conference in 1995. I went with a single question and the inspiring answer has led to thousands more questions that are answered and practiced every day. It has become my passion and life’s work to share these ideas with others. There is no shame in having hearing loss. I have the right to participate, to hear, and to be heard. When I have the confidence to

understanding, more individualization. And everyone wants everything to be done as fast and affordably as possible. Well, according to a recent Ida Institute poll of 116 people with hearing loss and 61 hearing care professionals, one relatively easy opportunity to improve hearing care may lie in the pre-appointment. Preparation According to the poll, clients [...] appointments so they are better informed about what will happen, and so they know their hearing care professional (HCP) is aware of their lifestyle, their goals, and their hearing needs. 54% of consumers would also like information on hearing aids, including manufacturer pamphlets. People with hearing loss rate the importance of preparation materials as 8 out [...] materials. And the most common type was information about location and parking, which is not among the most desired types of preparation materials, however practical it may be. So, with almost everyone in agreement on the importance of preparation, the question becomes what to send and how. Of course, the options are as numerous and varied as hearing care

Published: 09-06-2023 16:10 by Clint McLean

Michael and Emma are siblings with hearing loss. He’s an audiologist, she’s a student. Here, they talk about coming to terms with their hearing losses, the catalyst for Micheal’s career choice, and how Emma inspired her big brother to get a cochlear implant.

nutshell, it is feeling and functioning well. Most definitions include physical, mental and social health and consider home life, work life and social interactions. And many explicitly state that well-being is not merely the absence of illness, but that you consider yourself to be in good health and thriving. Good for the individual and good for the employer [...] From a hearing care perspective, it’s not hard to see how hearing well is not only part of well-being but can contribute to improving it through greater involvement, more fulfilling social interactions, and easing of hearing-related challenges. Well-being, and by extension, healthy hearing, are good for the individual, good for employers, and good for [...] lips these days – and for good reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that higher levels of well-being are “associated with a decreased risk of disease, illness and injury; better immune functioning; speedier recovery; and increased longevity. Individuals with high levels of well-being are more productive at work and are more likely

with hearing aids every day, it is easy to forget that, to our clients, some features can sound like they were pulled from the pages of a sci-fi novel. Beamforming. Environmental adaptation. T-coil. Data logging. These unfamiliar names can make it difficult for consumers to research possible options when in the market for new hearing aids. And it’s [...] to explain every feature or possibility across multiple devices and brands. But a new resource from National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) offers a solution that puts knowledge in the hands of consumers. The new NALguide, Hearing aid features explained , is a cheat sheet of common terms and features consumers may come across when considering devices. The [...] organized into six categories, with explanations and related words for everything from binaural directionality to remote programming. It makes a great first stop for people to get an overview of possibilities and a sense of which options are of interest to them. Of course, every brand has their own preferred — and usually trademarked — term for each feature

Published: 05-09-2023 14:26 by Clint McLean

Michael and Emma return with more sound advice from the perspectives of people with hearing loss — one of whom is also an audiologist. In this episode: What separates a great audiologist from the rest? Have you seen Micheal and Emma episode 1?

condition using language that is easily understood and void of jargon. Tell them any positive things first (it is not as bad as feared, for example) and chunk information so it is more easily remembered. Confirm your client understands what you tell them. Empathy Identify and name the emotion, show understanding and respect to your client’s entitlement to their [...] their feelings. Identify the source of the emotion and let them know you recognize the connection between the emotion and the cause. Summary/strategy Close the appointment and ask if your client has any further questions. Tell about the purpose and agenda of the next appointment or next step. The SPIKES protocol helps you share bad news in a way that [...] In a field like hearing care, giving bad news comes with the territory. But that doesn’t mean it’s ever easy. One way to become more comfortable delivering bad news is through training. As with most skills, having a method to guide you can alleviate apprehension and improve results. It’s like having a map to direct you in unfamiliar territory. The SPIKES