|
THE 5 STEPS TO
BETTER HEARING WITH HEARING AIDS
© Copyright Wm. F. Austin All Rights Reserved
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
[top of the page]
|
