Even now you’re missing phone calls. You don’t hear the phone ringing sometimes. In other cases coping with the garbled voice at the other end is simply too much of a hassle.
But you’re staying away from more than simply phone calls. Last week you missed a round of golf with friends. This kind of thing has been occurring more and more. You can’t help but feel a little… isolated.
Your hearing loss is, of course, the real cause. Your diminishing ability to hear is resulting in something all too common: social isolation – and you can’t understand what to do about it. Getting away from loneliness and back to being social can be tricky. But we have a number of things you can try to make it happen.
First, Acknowledge Your Hearing Loss
In a good number of cases, social isolation first manifests when you aren’t entirely sure what the underlying cause is. So, recognizing your hearing loss is an important first step. That may mean scheduling an appointment with a hearing professional, getting fitted for hearing aids, and making it a point to keep those hearing aids in working order.
Recognition could also take the form of alerting people in your life about your loss of hearing. Hearing loss is, in many ways, an unseen health condition. There’s no specific way to “look” like you have hearing loss.
So it’s not something people will likely recognize just by looking at you. Your friends might start to feel your isolation is a step towards being antisocial. If you tell people that you are having a hard time hearing, your reactions will be easier to understand.
Your Hearing Loss Shouldn’t be Kept Secret
An important first step is being honest with yourself and others regarding your hearing loss. Getting regular hearing aid examinations to make certain your hearing hasn’t changed is also essential. And it may help curb some of the initial isolationist tendencies you may feel. But you can overcome isolation with several more steps.
Make it so People Can See Your Hearing Aids
Most people think that a smaller more invisible hearing aid is a more ideal option. But if others could see your hearing aid they might have a better understanding of the struggle you are living with. Some individuals even individualize their hearing aids with custom designs. By making it more obvious, you help other people to do you the courtesy of facing you when they talk to you and making certain you understand before moving the conversation on.
Get The Correct Treatment
If you’re not effectively treating your hearing condition it will be quite a bit harder to deal with your tinnitus or hearing loss. Management could look very different depending on the person. But wearing or properly adjusting hearing aids is usually a common factor. And your everyday life can be enormously impacted by something even this simple.
Be Clear About What You Need
Getting shouted at is never fun. But there are some people who believe that’s the preferred way to communicate with somebody who has hearing loss. That’s why it’s essential that you advocate for what you require from people around you. Perhaps texting to make plans would be better than calling. If everybody is in the loop, you’re not as likely to feel the need to isolate yourself.
Put People In Your Pathway
In this time of internet-based food delivery, it’s easy enough to avoid all people for all time. That’s the reason why you can avoid isolation by deliberately placing yourself in situations where there are people. Instead of ordering groceries from Amazon, go to your local grocery store. Get together for a weekly game of cards. Make those activities a part of your calendar in a deliberate and scheduled way. There are lots of straight forward ways to see people like taking a walk around your neighborhood. In addition to helping you feel less isolated, this will also help you to identify words precisely and continue to process sound cues.
It Can be Hazardous to Become Isolated
If you’re isolating yourself because of untreated hearing impairment, you’re doing more than limiting your social life. Anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and other mental issues have been connected to this type of isolation.
Being sensible about your hearing condition is the best way to keep yourself healthy and happy and to keep your social life on track, be realistic about your situation, and do what you can to ensure you’re making those weekly card games.
