How To Find Support Groups For Those With Hearing Loss

There is a support network for pretty much everything these days. So, you don’t have to go it alone when you experience hearing loss. In fact, in countries like the United States, there is a strong community of hard-of-hearing. Here is some advice for support.

Hearing Loss Affects All Ages

Age doesn’t matter when you need support. And losing your hearing is no different. In the US alone, 13% of people aged over 12 have a loss of hearing in both ears. And around two percent of those aged 45 to 54 also have profound hearing loss. This further increased to around eight percent for adults aged over 55. And there is, as of yet, no discernible age at which hearing begins to deteriorate. No matter your age, don’t feel like you have to face it alone, and find support.

Everyone Needs Support Now and Then

Many of us don’t like to admit it, but we can all use support every once in a while. And with something as life changing as hearing loss, you are more than entitled to feel like you need some friends. Your general practitioner and local audiologist can advise you about support networks for hearing loss in your area. And you will almost always find that it can help. This is mainly because there are many other associated issues that come with hearing loss, such as anxiety and depression.

Why It Can be Hard to Socialize

Some of the main issues that arise when you lose your hearing can severely impact your quality of life. While you can work on many of them, it is often the things that most take for granted that will cause the biggest issues. Mainly, being able to socialize properly becomes challenging:

• You may not be as assertive as some other people in your life.
• It can be challenging to pick up visual cues when reading people.
• You don’t want to ask people to repeat themselves.
• It can be hard to tell if you are speaking at the right level to others.
• Social stress and anxiety can begin to affect your daily life and work.

Not being able to socialize at work, with friends or with your general peers can cause mental stress. And this can make feelings of loneliness and isolation worse, to the point of not knowing where to turn. But support is available, and all you have to do is be willing to look for it.

Ways to Find Support

There is a lot of support you can find when you lose your hearing. Your audiologist can advise you about local support groups. But there are also alternatives as well. Some ages prefer different methods of support. For example, as a younger person, you might want to communicate online. But as an older person, face-to-face discussion at a meeting might suit you better. Help and support are out there. So here are some places you may find useful.

Local Groups

Almost every community has a support group for just about anything. For instance, there’s alcoholics anonymous, narcotics anonymous and support for the recently bereaved. And hearing loss is no different. If you experience hearing loss, you can Google local support groups in your area, and you are guaranteed to find something. Additionally, local job centers, health clinics and audiologist offices can put you in touch with groups that can provide support.

Social Media

A modern approach, and one that might be more convenient, is to use social media to find support groups for people with hearing loss. But more than convenience, social media also gives you a chance to feel included and valued, without fear, when you find it hard to venture outside. With social media you might feel more inclined to be a part of a group, this can help you feel safe and see if others are experiencing the same symptoms as you.

Smartphone Apps

As we are all well aware, there is an app for everything. And finding support for hearing loss is no different. You can make a friend and build relationships with volunteers, healthcare workers and other hard-of-hearing people using apps.

Finding support doesn’t have to be hard. When you lose your hearing, you can connect with others using social media, local groups and even apps. Your audiologist can also offer advice. So, call Hearing Solutions of Northwest Michigan at (231) 518-4422 to learn more about hearing loss or support groups.