Beyond the comfort of conformity

“Fitting in is the greatest barrier to belonging.” This statement by Dr. Brené Brown aptly describes one of the paradoxes of hearing loss: People don’t want to talk about their hearing loss because they don’t want to stand out from the crowd. But talking about hearing loss – accentuating uniqueness and daring to be different – is a precursor to successful communication.

Hearing to the Max

This paradox is one of the key topics in John Greer Clark’s recently published book, Hearing to the Max: Improving Conversations in the Most Difficult Listening Environments. In the book, Clark makes a strong case for talking openly about hearing loss – for stepping outside the comfort of conformity – and he offers step-by-step guidance on how to make communication management techniques a life-long habit.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Clark about his motivation to write the book, about the human instinct of fitting in, and about his relentless drive throughout a long and remarkable career in hearing healthcare.

Watch the interview below... 

About John Greer Clark

Over the past four decades, John Greer Clark has made exceptional contributions to the field of audiology through his teaching, research, clinical work, and as an author of influential texts. Clark has served on the boards of directors for both the Ohio Academy of Audiology and the American Academy of Audiology, is a past chair of the American Board of Audiology, and a past president of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology.

For further details on Hearing to the Max, visit Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology. The book is also available for bulk purchase with a practice-specific customized back cover. For details, contact Clark at jg.clark@uc.edu.