Resources.
Welcome to the Empower and Hear Resources page. It is very vital that resources are your go-to when you are early in your hearing loss journey, when in the middle of your journey and throughout your life, honestly.
There is always valuable information to assist you. Such information keeps you abreast of the many wonderful things that happen in the hearing loss world. Like technology, research, medicinal information, and government assistance, to name a few.
Resources is Empower & Hear’s third part of our three initiatives to guide Women of Color with hearing loss to create a life they deserve.
Some Encouraging Words.
Legal & Hearing Advocate Latisha Porter-Vaughn, PhD. shares a message for our Community.
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The inability to hear sound.
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The most common cause of hearing loss is aging or genetics causing your hearing to slowly decline over time.
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-Asking people to repeat themselves
-Difficulty hearing a conversation in a noisy environment
-You think people mumble
-You mishear words
-People tell you your tv is too loud
-Friends and family ask you to get your hearing checked
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There are three different types
-Conductive Hearing Loss- Sound can’t travel from outer ear to the inner ear, due to a blockage
-Sensorineural Hearing Loss-Damage to the inner ear (cochlear) or hearing nerve
-Mixed Hearing Loss- A mixture of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
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Discuss your options with your primary doctor. Some family practices have the ability to screen your hearing.
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A hearing healthcare specialist, who identify, assess, and manage disorders of hearing, balance and other neural systems *sensory systems like vision or hearing that acquire and process information from the environment.
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When you are diagnosed and that is the treatment recommended. Untreated hearing loss leads to depression, feelings of social isolation, and relationship issues.
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Depends on your type of hearing loss. Hearing loss can be progressive over time. Treat any hearing loss experience at your earliest convenience.
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Earwax can build up or become impacted and partially or completely block your ear canal. Earwax is the common cause of conductive hearing loss.
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No, however, getting tested is critical to your quality of life. Follow the recommendations of your healthcare professional. Research and read about hearing loss and it’s causes; join a hearing loss support group, learn self-advocacy skills and utilize the unlimited amount of resources to help create our life.
FAQ on Hearing Loss
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Read about your rights for employment and public spaces.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
Fact Sheet on Disability Discrimination
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File a complaint with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA):
Familiarize yourself with the Disability Rights Act Law
This act provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
ADA Guidelines and Regulations for the hearing impaired.
Laws that protect people with hearing loss.
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What is advocacy?
Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
How does advocacy help?
Seeks to help all people to ensure that their voice be heard on issues important to them, to protect and promote their rights.
There are many ways to advocate:
Self-advocate- the action of representing oneself or one’s view or interests, it’s also a term of personal identity that comes with a multitude of beliefs.
The goal of self-advocacy is to equip you with knowledge to help you to make informed, authentic decisions that empowers you to make those decisions.
When you self-advocate, you are having experiences in which you are speaking up for your rights, your needs and wants. When you don’t speak up, you maybe pushed to do things that make you feel uncomfortable. This can lead to low-self-esteem, lack of confidence and even depression.
You can become a successful self-advocate. Develop a plan to achieve your goals.
• You ultimately enjoy a higher quality of life
• You grow in confidence
• You learn how to properly express your feelings
• You are empowered to make informed decisions
One of the ways to achieve the skills to self-advocate is to KNOW YOURSELF. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Are you a go-getter? Do you procrastinate? Are you easily challenged? As you learn about yourself, learn your rights, where to go for help, for support and information on standing up for those rights.
Achieving self-advocacy abilities, includes to KNOW YOUR NEEDS. Be able to identify your needs and wants and to ask for help in meeting them. You may want to promote at your place of employment. You are maybe unsure what you want to do next and need guidance, you can identify your needs to devise a plan.
Most importantly, KNOW HOW TO GET TO YOUR NEEDS. To move forward, you should be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses, you know what you want to accomplish and what you need to make it happen!
To bridge the gap between strengths and weaknesses:
INTERVENTIONS- evidence-based instruction to improve skills
Reading
Spelling
Speech
Math
Comprehension
MODIFICATIONS- alterations of the task yet having the same outcome. Ex. You could be struggling with group activities at work. Your hearing loss makes it difficult to participate. You could plan ahead with a co-worker to assist/partner with you so that you can be included in the activity.
ACCOMMODATIONS- tools that help you accomplish your task at hand. Ex. You order supplies for your boss. It is to be completed every month by the 15th. However, you still have everyday work duties to attend too and completing the supply order takes time. Because of your hearing loss and your need to communicate with your team leader and the dept your order from, your employer allows you to take up to three days, 2 hours a day leading to the 15th to complete your order.
JOIN A GROUP- In this case, join a hearing loss support group or create your own social media platform. In any case, you get to network with others like yourself and you learn how to make a difference in your life. Do it afraid!!!
EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK- Joining a group of those like yourself will definitely help with your social life and learn about other diverse cultures who maybe themselves are struggling to self-advocate. Interact and enjoy educational experiences.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS- The road to effective self-advocacy is good communication.
Written Communication-through the use of written language
Oral Communication-through the use of spoken language
Non-verbal and visual Communication- through the use of imagery, wordless cues, body language and facial expressions.
Active listening-restating what you hear in your own words to confirm understanding, helps to avoid misunderstanding, resolve conflicts and build trust.
Contextual Communication- Effective communication in different context including, populations, persons, situations and environments. Professional, cross-cultural, online academic and crisis communication.
The power of advocacy goes along with educating the public.
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HEARING LOSS CONVERSATIONS: STIGMA
Stigma- mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person;
Is the disapproval of or discrimination against an individual or group based on percieved social charactertics that serve to distinguish from other members of the society.
There is a stigma attached to hearing loss.
It can come from advertisers who sell hearing aids. The public, your employer and even yourself.
Our topic today is self-perceived stigma.
The negative connotation surrounding hearing loss, is part reason why many people avoid seeking treatment. Did you know that stigma is the underlying factor for denying hearing loss?
Self-Perceived Stigma- Internalized perceived prejudices which develop into negative feelings about themselves.
Based on a study of hearing aids and stigma, published by Margaret Wallhagen Ph.D
The study breaks down stigma in 3 parts:
~Altered Self-Perceptions- to put it simply, because there is something physically wrong with me, it is upsetting to me and it prevents me from doing anything about my hearing loss.
~Ageism - thoughts of age, gray hair, walking with a walker as a statement of aging. I am embarrassed to wear hearing aids. I need hearing aids to help me hear.
~Vanity- wearing hearing aids, takes away from my appearance. It will make me look old.
Overcoming the stigma is vital to your overall health. Here is some key information to help with your deciding factor when dealing with hearing loss and seeking treatment.
~Hiding your hearing loss and dealing with untreated hearing loss can be very harmful to your mind and body.
~isolation
~dementia
~risk of falls
~The fear of wearing hearing aids
I will look old
Instead ask your healthcare professional if your hearing aid style can be in the ear canal style or Bluetooth piece.
~I don’t like to visit doctors
If visiting doctors are intimidating, ask a spouse, a loved one or friend to accompany you on your visit. Research information about audiologists to get a general idea of your first visit
~I won't be able to pay for hearing aids
Hearing aids can be costly but seek out the many options available:
-monthly payments
-veteran’s administration
-vocational rehabilitation
-social services; Lion’s club
-work-related hearing loss; SSI Benefits
Working internally is essential to embracing your hearing loss. Breaking the barriers of self-perceived stigma is one of many steps to growth on your hearing loss journey.
If you or someone you love suspect hearing loss, your first step is finding a hearing loss specialist.
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Hearing Gap Between Men and Women
According to Hearing Aid donations website; men are twice as likely to experience hearing loss and less likely to seek help. Men are likely to talk about their hearing loss as well.
Hearing Loss More Common Among Men Than Women
• Men and hearing loss: Hearing loss is common in men
• Statistics of men and hearing loss: Learn the statistics of men with hearing loss
• Hearing loss differences between men and women: There is a hearing gap
• Why men have trouble with acceptance of hearing loss: Men are in denial
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Hearing loss support groups
Comprehensive Services and Resources
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Financial Services