[Jqi3721]

Last October I was told I have mild hearing loss (left side - borderline right) but I still can't get used to it.
My hearing aid still annoys me when I wear it but even more when I don't 'cos then I just have to rely on lipreading and it seems rude to constantly have to look at someones lips when their talking.
I wasn't supposed to have to deal with this for another 15-20yrs and then only if I got the unlucky side of the genes. (Although some of my work is done at music festivals directly down in front of the stage speakers so i was told that contributed to it a lot).

Just wish I could accept it but I don't know how.

[spondiferous]

I totally get what you mean. I'm 34 and have had severe hearing loss at least the past few years, and at least mild hearing loss since a teen. I just received two hearing aids earlier this year, as it's in both ears. I find that the aids don't really work well for me though; I have to be in a quiet place with the volume turned up most of the time to hear people. I try to read lips. I don't know if it's the meds I'm on making my brain slow or what, but I can't read lips anymore. I am still barely getting by even with two hearing aids. In fact I've stopped wearing them unless I'm in meetings or groups and need to hear.
It's difficult to accept. I have moments of utter torment and anguish about it. I'm not deaf, but I can't hear. I can't converse with my friends, most jobs (even if I could work) are out for me because I cannot interact with customers or even other employees and employers. It's isolating and kind of depressing. But my partner (who has hearing loss in one ear, since birth) and I are going to take ASL together in the winter, so that we can begin to communicate better with each other, as we cannot understand each other either. And then maybe I can get a job in a deaf environment.
I don't know what to tell you. Things just happen to people and there's no sense in most of it, I tend to agree. Do you have any deaf or hard of hearing friends? Have you considered checking out events in the deaf and hard of hearing community where you live? It will probably help to at least be talking to and hopefully hanging out with people who understand. I know that a lot of people get impatient with me because I can't hear them. Even after 5,6,7 times of repeating themselves.
You are also welcome to talk to me, anytime you like, if you need help coming to terms with stuff, or just want another friend who has hearing loss and knows what it's like.

[Jqi3721]

Thanks. I'm sorry things are like that for you but I'm glad that you can understand.
My sister moved in with me a month ago and I have to ask her to repeat herself so i can catch what shes saying when we're in busy places even with my aid in and it gets tedious for her - although shes quickly getting used to facing me now - but constantly asks if the battery's dying!(jokingly)
I've got to go and have a checkup appt again in oct and I know its gonna have gotten worse.

I don't know anyone who has hearing problems apart from my dad and a couple people in his side of the family. I might see whats down in the community centre though - I've been thinking of taking a class in BSL but not sure I can afford it.

I also don't know what to do about work. Do I have to disclose it as a disability?? I've just graduated so I haven't worked for a few years (took the summers to recouperate)

[spondiferous]

I don't think you have to disclose it as a disability. I would just consider the working environment. If you have to work in say customer service, it's probably not going to be a good fit for you, especially if it's fast-paced. But if it's office work or field work where you spend most of your time alone or interacting mostly with other employees, it's probably more suitable. I usually tell people that I'm hard of hearing if I know it's going to be an issue. Nobody really cares, they just kind of say, Okay, let me know if you need me to speak up.

My niece is an audiologist and talks about how important it is for patients to keep working with their audiologist to adjust the hearing aid so that it works best for them. Every patient's needs/environment is different, so that can take some time and repeated visits. Have you been working with your audiologist to find the right adjustments? My dad finally broke down and got his hearing aids this year. He's needed them for years but was pretty stubborn about it. Anyway, he calls my niece and talks to her about his hearing aids, and she's always referring him back to his audiologist for adjustments.

I work with two teachers right on my hallway who have hearing aids. As far as I know, they don't have to report their need for aids to anyone. Hearing aids are pretty common anymore, and they are SO much improved over what was available in the past.

Hope you get them working correctly for you and get adjusted. I know it can take time.

[Jqi3721]

Yeh thats a good way of going about. I guess I just don't want to be looked over for those jobs I could do. My CV already has a gap of a year and half from when I was signed off, I worry enough that that's gonna make employers doubtful.

Its just so frustrating.

[Jqi3721]

Chris, I've only ever seen my audiologist once - when i got my aid last October because he said I was being childish and told me to come back in a year - since I only have Mild hearing loss and should've been able to hear my proffs in the lecture theatres. I just assumed you got them and didn't go back till your reviews?

You might look for a different audiologist then and see if you can get some better adjustments made. Sounds like the one you had was useless.

[Jqi3721]

ok, thanks, i'll look into it