The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing

The process of finally taking the right step forward to do something about your hearing loss can take more than five years. In the interim, it can leave a trail of devastation and turmoil in its wake since procrastination of treatment is often at the expense of loved ones. A lot of suffering goes on for the person with the hearing loss, for the family, for friends and loved ones.

There needed to be a bridge to healing for the person with hearing loss who was ready to do something about the hearing loss. The most important tool is education—to know what to do, where to go, who to see, how much to spend, and what to expect. It was this reason we chose the subtitle: Bridge to Healing. We expected this book to be the very bridge to healing that sufferers and loved ones sought. Because the book is written by so many contributors, some of them with hearing loss and even some who wear hearing aids, we believed this was the perfect guide for those both new to hearing loss, and experienced hearing aid wearers wondering if there was more they could do.

This 2009 Third Edition has been completely updated with all chapters revised, three new chapters added and two chapters retired. All contributors have brought the content of their work current to knowledge and technology that should prevail for the next many years. The collective effort of these writers covers about everything you would want to know if you have a hearing loss and are considering purchase of hearing aids. There can be a lot of uncertainty and emotions that surface during the process of addressing untreated hearing loss.

This book charts a quiet path toward action and transformation, and how to attain life satisfaction despite less than optimal hearing. A recurrent theme of pushing through the resistance gently and sensitively comes through. You’ll understand how to align your expectations with actual hearing ability. This book is written for individuals with hearing loss as well as the entire family. Thereby, it addresses the whole person, not merely one aspect of the problem.

Dr. Carmen, a clinical and research audiologist, has been writing consumer books and articles on hearing loss for more than 30 years. In this one-of-a-kind book he has assembled the most distinguished audiologists, physicians, scientists and authorities, each seasoned professionals, some who themselves have hearing loss and wear hearing aids. What you’ll read inside is state of the art and designed to change your life!

• Explore the volatile emotions and issues surrounding hearing loss
• Learn where and how to find help
• Map your own audiogram
• Discover how hearing aids can transform your life
• Read why some people reject hearing aids but how they can work for you
• Educate yourself on the best choice of hearing aids for you
• Consider the possibilities of preserving your hearing through diet, nutrition and exercise
• If tinnitus is a problem, learn easy and effective techniques that can help
• Find out the impact of aging on hearing
• See how better listening and assertiveness can enhance your hearing
• Understand how wireless assistive technology needs to be part of your life
• Review fabulous assistive technology products that solve hearing problems

If hearing loss is creating communication struggles in the most important relationships in your life or the lives of loved ones and friends, this book is for you. Dr. Carmen presents compelling evidence in Chapter 1 confirming that failure to use hearing aids (when they’re indicated) can result in more rapid decline in hearing. Furthermore, he explains that by not hearing correctly, you create a world of your own, one often disconnected from the true social world you seek and to which you belong. This altered state of reality based on untreated hearing loss holds tremendous emotional and health consequences.
Dr. Kochkin in Chapters 4 and 5 discusses his published research on thousands of people with hearing loss where hearing aid wearers were compared to non-wearers. The results hold devastating news. Untreated hearing loss was shown to be associated with paranoia, anger, depression, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, isolation, disorientation, fear, avoidance, self-criticism, social phobias and confusion. These consequences are unacceptable for anyone.
Hiding hearing loss, ignoring it or postponing treatment must no longer be an option. It is essential to mind, body and spirit to seek alternatives that improve hearing and restore the fundamental qualities of life.