The "cure," hearing aids, certainly is the first step, but it is only a first step. Hearing loss is a chronic disability, likely to get worse as one ages. Though hearing loss is not a fatal diagnosis, it kills a lot of the spirit and joy in life. Hearing loss, even with the most advanced digital hearing aid, impacts many aspects of hard of hearing people’s lives. It may affect relationships, work and education, as well as undermine self-confidence, self-esteem, and mental and physical well-being. As Brenda Battat, of the SHHH national office, once said, even with hearing aids "… the bottom line is we are still hard of hearing. That means dealing on a daily basis with the stigma, embarrassment and frustration that goes with a hidden disability."

I initiated these aural rehabilitation classes for several reasons. As a hard of hearing person, I knew from experiences that the journey with a chronic disability is oftentimes plagued with questions and mixed feelings. Personally, I reluctantly wore hearing aids as a teenager and I often felt the same frustration and shame that a person in my class expressed. In 1986, I attended my first SHHH convention, and I knew when I heard hearing aids squealing in the workshop that at last I had found the place for support and growth. I had been searching for information about hearing loss and ways to cope with my hearing loss, and SHHH became my mecca.

Besides my own experiences as an audiologist teaching an aural rehabilitation group, I have observed that people dealing with a chronic disability such as hearing loss may benefit from classes on orientation to hearing aids. A few visits to the audiologist’s office for hearing aid selection may be only the beginning in learning to cope with hearing loss. The recognition of one’s hearing loss is challenging and the words such as audiogram and decibels are new. It is not so complicated but it takes time to assimilate new information. In a way, getting hearing aids may have similarities to purchasing new shoes. The shoes fit fine at the store but when one gets home, they are too tight and not what you thought you were getting. 

The classes I am now presenting are designed to help hard of hearing persons understand their loss and find options to effectively cope with their disability.

My hope is that more audiologists will expand their practices to include aural rehabilitative classes and encourage clients to explore support groups such as SHHH. Also, I hope more hard of hearing people will ferret out help for their hearing loss by asking audiologists to provide aural rehabilitation programs. After attending classes on living with hearing loss, such clients may wish further support through SHHH chapters.

We are very fortunate in New York State to have 15 SHHH chapters or groups as well as an active state organization. At a chapter meeting of SHHH, a hard of hearing person has a chance to meet with other individuals who are similarly challenged to live life fully. At chapter meetings, an educational program is provided with information on the latest assistive technology, coping strategies, communication skills, research and other topics. Most meetings are accessible for hard of hearing people through the use of FM systems, audio loops and/or captioning.

On the state level, we continue to support hard of hearing people. We have a strong advocacy component working on state issues such as hearing aid insurance, telephone access for all New Yorkers, infant hearing screening and laws regarding hearing aid dispensing. Besides advocacy, we are currently working on a statewide conference for hard of hearing people, families and professionals. The conference will be held in Niagara Falls, October 11-13, 2002. More information will follow in the next issue of NYSA Reporter.