STEP
1 | STEP 2 |
STEP 3 |
STEP 4
| STEP 5
Be
sure to pick up your free workbook
at Gateway Hearing Center.
|
You have made an important
decision to begin the process of
using hearing aids. This
workbook is a result of a
year-long study to learn what
causes the difference between a
person who uses their hearing aids
all of their waking hours, versus
a person who rarely or casually
uses their hearing aids.
From this study we have isolated
five principles which are the
factors of success. Each
factor is discussed in a chapter
of this workbook. Keep a pen
or pencil handy and make notes as
you use the book. Review
this text often to help you
understand the 5 Steps and you
will grow to become proficient at
using your new hearing aids. |
STEP
1 - Admit I Have A Permanent
Hearing Problem
 By
now you have had your hearing
professionally tested and have
been told the fact that you have a
permanent hearing problem.
You
now have two choices:
(1) denial or (2) acceptance.
It is normal for most people to go
through a period of denial.
What is sad is that most people
wait five-to-seven years
before solving their hearing
problem. A person in denial
uses a typical thought process.
- "I
hear fine, it's just that
people mumble; they don't
speak clearly any more."
- "It's
the noisy places where I have
trouble hearing ... I'll just
avoid those places and I'll be
OK."
- "My
hearing will heal in
time."
- "I
hear what I need to hear, I'll
just ask them to repeat."
- "I
can cope with it. I'll
just concentrate a little
harder."
- "It's
really not bad enough that I
need hearing aids yet."
- "Wearing
hearing aids does not fit into
my self image."
- "If
my hearing gets any worse,
then I'll get help."
 The
fact is, you cannot hide
your hearing loss. It's more
obvious than any pair of hearing
aids. Your associates,
clients, friends and loved ones
already know that you have
it. You can push the fact
out of your mind, but you are only
fooling yourself. You can
decide to try and conceal your
problem, but the symptoms
have already given your secret
away.
- You
answer the wrong questions.
- You
confuse similar words, like
"bathroom" and
"vacuum,"
"dime" and
"time,"
"peach" and
"teach."
- You
turn up the TV too loud for
normal listeners.
- You
have started a pattern of
asking others to repeat what
they have said.
- When
listening, you get a confused
look on your face.
 And
if you continue to conceal your
problem, you are like a person who
looks at himself in the mirror,
sees cake crumbs on his face, and
stubbornly refuses to brush it
away. Your commitment to
concealing your hearing problem
will begin a downward social
spiral. Here are the
most usual consequences. You
will eventually:
- Give
up your favorite activities
rather than be embarrassed by
your hearing problem.
- Avoid
all situations which could be
difficult.
- Lose
your sharpness, your vibrant
self.
- Unknowingly
shift your burden to your
loved ones.
- Cause
loved ones to give up on you.
- Become
a victim of your decision to
do nothing.
 The
first step to overcoming your
communication problem is admitting
to yourself and to your nearest
loved one(s) ...
- That
you have an irreversible
hearing problem.
- That
your hearing problem is
affecting the quality of your
life.
- That
medication will
not 'open up' your ears.
- That
there is not a surgery
that will correct
sensorineural or a mixed-type
hearing loss.
- That
your friends, loved ones,
clients and associates already
know you have a
problem hearing.
- That
the only positive choice you
have is hearing aids.
STEP
1 | STEP 2 |
STEP 3 | STEP 4
| STEP 5
©
copyright Wm. F. Austin - All
Rights Reserved
|
