How to Talk About Your Hearing Loss
Quite often, those facing hearing loss can feel shame or embarrassment when talking about their hearing or the accommodations they need. However, statistics show that an overwhelming number of people are already facing hearing loss or will face some degree of hearing loss at one point in their lives. Rather than hiding your hearing loss, disclosing it will ultimately be more beneficial to you and those around you. Here’s how to discuss your hearing loss with others.
A study recently showed that people who choose to disclose do it in one of three ways:
Basic disclosure: describes those who disclose that they experience hearing loss and may also include more details about their condition. Ex: I’m partially deaf due to an ear infection I experienced years ago.
Nondisclosure: describes those who do not disclose their hearing loss but use other more common phrases instead. Ex: I can’t hear you, can you please speak up?
Multipurpose disclosure: describes those who disclose their hearing loss and offer a strategy for accommodation as well. Ex: I have hearing loss in my right ear. Please walk on my left side.
While you can choose to discuss your hearing loss in any way that makes you feel most comfortable, researchers found that multipurpose disclosure usually works best.
Multipurpose disclosure can help others understand you further and immediately removes back-and-forth questions about how to be accommodating, how your hearing loss works, etc. Millions of people in the U.S. face hearing loss, don’t let embarrassment hold you back from disclosing your hearing loss with others!
