Living with Hearing loss
Hearing loss gives rise to communication problems that can have a significant impact on everyday life and generate a feeling of loneliness, isolation and frustration, especially in elderly patients.
The most typical psychological complications are embarrassment, guilt and anger; pity; concentration problems; concern and frustration; anxiety and suspicion; insecurity and self-criticism and low self-esteem or low self-confidence.
The most frequent social complications are isolation and withdrawal; reduced attention; distraction/lack of concentration; problems at work; difficulty participating in one’s social life; communication problems; loss of intimacy and sexual problems.
Regarding physical consequences that the hearing loss can provocate are tiredness; headache; dizziness; muscle tension; stress; eating and/or sleep problems and increase blood pressure.
How to live with Hearing loss
Many ambient factors can affect how a person with hearing loss hears and understands what other people are saying. Among them stand out:
The type of room or space and how it is arranged.
The distance between themselves and the person speaking. Sound loses strength over distance, so patients always hear better when they are closer to the speaker.
The presence of distracting background noises, such as heaters or air conditioning, traffic noise or a television.
Uncarpeted floors and other hard surfaces that cause sounds to bounce and produce echoes. It is much easier to hear in carpeted rooms with upholstered furniture.
There are also factors that can help people to improve their understanding of words:
Ensure there is enough lighting to see facial expressions and other nonverbal signals.
Place the seat so the back faces a light source at the level of the eyes.
If the patient has better hearing in one ear, place the seat so the speaker is on the stronger side.
In addition, to follow a conversation better, patients should:
Tell the person you are talking to about your hearing problem.
Stay alert and pay attention to what the other person is saying.
Ask the speaker to talk to you face-on, clearly and slowly, and articulate well. Ask them to pronounce words clearly and avoid shouting as it is unnecessary and can give off the impression they are angry. It is not a question of speaking louder, just more clearly.
Listen to the flow of the conversation for a while in case there are things that you do not catch at the beginning. Some words or phrases often reappear in most conversations. If you lose the thread, pause the conversation and ask them to repeat.
Lip reading can help you integrate better.
Use the so-called speech reading technique to help you understand the conversation. This method consists of observing a person’s face, posture, gestures and tone of voice to gain a better understanding of what they are saying. It is different from lip reading. The room must be well-lit when using this technique, so you can see the other person’s face.
Make a mental note of key words or phrases if you do not understand the conversation.
Healthy habits
Alcohol. Several studies have shown that long-term, excessive alcohol consumption can damage the brain’s central auditory cortex and produce brain shrinkage. As the brain deteriorates over time, the auditory nerves are also affected. Therefore, even moderate drinkers run the risk of nerve damage and hearing loss.
Smoking. A large number of studies show a link between smoking and hearing loss. Tobacco smoke can cause inflammation of the Eustachian tube and cause otitis media. This has been described even in young children whose parents smoke in their presence. Clinical and experimental studies with animals have also been published that demonstrate smoking is related to changes in the inner ear, causing hearing loss
Obesity. Hearing loss is related to high blood pressure and diabetes, which are also related to obesity. Obesity also affects the circulatory system, which has an impact on hearing. The ear is a part of the body with a great metabolic activity, and depends on adequate blood flow to function well.
Diet. There are studies that show that the consumption of some foods such as vitamin A or fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss,.
Physical exercise. Many studies have shown a correlation between the health of the cardiovascular system and hearing. Exercise improves the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure around ear cells is higher in fitter people. This could explain why exercise is good for hearing.
The exercise is good four our hearing. The blood pressure around the cells in the ear is higher in people in good physical shape.
Sexuality. Hearing loss is not only detrimental to communication, it also has a negative effect on the patient’s quality of life, psychosocial profile and sex life. Patients must remember that hearing loss is not just an auditory problem, but also a strong indicator of a reduction in their quality of life.
Travelling. People with hearing loss are advised to:
- Observe everyone else and copy what they do.
- Always carry some paper and a pencil.
- Prepare the journey in advance.
- Take itineraries with you.
- Do not chat while driving.
- Remove your hearing aid when travelling by plane.
Recommendations to sleep
- Perform relaxation exercises.
- Exercise regularly. People in good shape tend to sleep better. However, avoid exercising just before going to bed.
- Go to bed when you feel tired and not because it is your bedtime. If you do not manage to sleep within 20–30 minutes, get up, go to another room and do something relaxing. Go back to bed when you feel tired again.
- Get up at the same time every day. This is one of the most important recommendations for improving your sleep.
- Try to restrict the amount of caffeine and nicotine you consume at night, since they are stimulants.
- Keep your bedroom at an appropriate temperature, neither too cold nor too warm.
- Do not read or watch television in bed before going to sleep.
- Reduce your level of activity at least one hour before going to bed.
- Use an alarm clock or pillow with a radio that can play relaxing sounds in the room, e.g., the sound of waves or birdsong.
Social and emotional support. People who live with someone with hearing loss should observe the following guidelines:
- Before starting to speak, ensure they are paying attention.
- Wait until they are looking at you before talking.
- When talking in a group, you must all respect each other’s turn to speak and indicate who will speak next.
- Talk face-on and speak towards the side with better hearing.
- Make sure they can see your mouth when you speak.
- Speak clearly, naturally, not too quickly and articulate well.
- Do not shout. Speak at a normal volume, unless they tell you otherwise.
- Avoid noisy locations when talking to someone with hearing problems. Remember that background noise interferes with their hearing aid.
- Explain things using more basic words when they do not understand what you say. If necessary, write things down.
- Use gestures to explain. Give visual hints or cues when you want to change the topic of conversation.
- Repeat the message if they did not understand. Say the same thing but with simpler, yet always complete, sentences and using synonyms.
- Use natural gestures, writing or drawings to help get the message across.
- Above all, be very patient and with a positive attitude.
Gender differences in Deafness
Some differences in deafness have been noted between the sexes. Some of them are:
- Prevalence. Some studies indicate that men are more likely than women to experience severe hearing loss, especially in advanced ages, due to factors such as greater exposure to noise, working conditions and greater consumption of toxic substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
- Access to care services. Women can face different barriers to access auditory health services. Social, economic and cultural factors can influence their ability to seek treatment or use hearing aids.
- Impact on the quality of life. Hearing loss can affect the quality of life of men and women differently. Women may be more affected in their social and emotional life due to gender roles that prioritise interpersonal communication and interaction.
- Support networks. Differences in support networks can influence how men and women handle deafness. Women tend to have wider social networks and benefit more from them, although they can also feel more pressured by the need to overcome deafness barriers in their relationships.
- Cultural perspectives. Cultural expectations about gender role can influence how deafness is perceived and addressed. In some cultures, deafness is associated with vulnerability and, therefore, can affect men and women differently.
- Education and awareness. Men and women may be educated about hearing health differently, which can lead to differences in the prevention and treatment of deafness.
Exploring these differences is crucial to developing effective intervention and support strategies which are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of each gender.
Substantiated information by:
Published: 18 May 2018
Updated: 28 March 2025
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