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E.A.R.S. in Action

Summary:

Hearing aids are not a quick-fix purchase. They are the important tool that provides the amplification you need to become a better listener and communicator. If you are motivated to improve your communication by obtaining hearing aids and ready to actively engage in our E.A.R.S. rehabilitation process, then your chances for improved communication are excellent.

E.A.R.S. Rehabilitation Exercises to Help Re-Sharpen Your Listening Skills:

  1. Practice learning to identify and differentiate between different sounds. With your new hearing aids, listen carefully to (for example) the hum of your refrigerator. Out loud, identify this sound as the refrigerator. Next concentrate on a different “background” noise in your home, perhaps the sound of a neighbor mowing her lawn. Out loud, identify this sound as a lawn mower. Now, tune in to each sound individually, identifying each sound out loud as you focus in on it. This exercise will help you to identify sounds you may not have heard for a very long time, as well as strengthen your ability to both concentrate on and tune out various sounds. Practice this focused concentration on various sounds.
  2. Draw up a list of words that are similar in sound — try “mat” and “math,” for example. Ask someone to pronounce these words slowly and distinctly. While listening intently, carefully watch the speaker’s lip movements. Next, close you eyes and have the speaker repeat the words. Listen intently, focusing on discriminating between the words.
  3. Practice locating sounds by listening. Sit in a chair with your eyes closed. Have a friend speak to you from different places in the room. Identify where your friend is located through the sound of her voice. Next, have your friend move around the room while talking. With your eyes still closed, track the movement of your friend, pointing to her location as she moves.
  4. Practice listening and speaking in a group. Hearing loss can make group communications a challenge. With your new hearing aids, you will need to relearn this dynamic. In your home environment (where you’ve already been practicing tuning into and out of the everyday background noises), gradually increase the number of people with whom you talk and listen to in a group. Start with conversations about familiar topics. As you increase the number of people in the group conversation, be aware of the other skills you’ve been mastering: tuning out background noise, differentiating between similar sounds, locating the direction of sounds and actively focussing your listening attention.
  5. Use visual cues while communicating. People often will say, “I can’t lipread” but, in truth, we all lipread to some degree. The eyes are powerful in taking in visual speech information. The brain then masterfully combines the visual speech cues with the hearing cues so that your understanding of the speaker increases dramatically. Make a practice of positioning yourself in front of a speaker so you you have a full view of his face. Use lighting to your benefit, positioning yourself so that the light is behind you and the speaker’s face is clearly lit. Avoid facing a bright light, which can cast a shadow on the speaker’s face and gestures. Attempt to find a quieter area of a room for your conversations.
  6. Keep a journal during your rehabilitation journey.  Questions, successes, challenges, goals - keeping track of your thoughts and experiences will help you monitor your progress and guide you through each step of the rehabilitation process.  Be sure to bring your journal to your E.A.R.S. visits and share your thoughts with your Counsellor.
  7. Relax and enjoy company and conversation! This may be a great opportunity to reconnect with events in your family and community. Keeping abreast of news near and far will enable you to follow discussions more easily. Do not worry if you miss an occasional word. We all fill in missed words with context.

More Tips:

An Idea:  You probably own a number of helpful devices already that you are not using to your best advantage. Some creative strategizing can help turn everyday items into devices that work better for your needs. Perhaps you regularly set your cell phone ringer to vibrate; have you determined which particular jacket or purse pocket best transmits the vibration so you catch more calls in noisy environments?

Another idea:  Check your computer’s operating system settings for a visual indicator for system alerts. Most newer systems allow for a screen flash in addition to a chime.

Take a moment to think creatively and set yourself up for success! Our staff can help with more ideas, strategies and suggestions tailored to your specific needs.

If you’d like more information on better hearing strategies, hearing rehabilitation and our DigiCare E.A.R.S. program, please contact us by phone or email.

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