How to Cope With Hearing Loss: 6 Helpful Strategies

Around 430 million people worldwide require rehabilitation for their hearing loss. That's more than 5% of the global population.¹

Hearing loss can be frustrating and isolating, and can rob you of simple pleasures like conversations with loved ones or listening to music.

Below, we provide six strategies to help you or someone you know better cope with hearing loss.

1. Make the Most of Assistive Hearing Devices

Assistive listening devices go well beyond just hearing aids. Thanks to the latest technology, there are listening devices suited to different types and degrees of hearing loss. Let's look at the options.

• Hearing aids are devices that amplify sound. They are available in different types and styles, including those worn behind the ear, in the ear and in the ear canal. There are also analog and digital hearing aids. Depending on the degree and type of hearing loss, your preferences and other ear-related factors (such as the tendency to produce excess wax), one type may better suit you than another. There are also different features available to help customize a hearing aid to better suit your lifestyle. An audiologist can help you choose the best type of hearing aid for you. Ask about trying out a few types — most manufacturers offer 30- to 60-day trial periods.²

• Cochlear implants are unlike hearing aids. Rather than making the sound louder, a cochlear implant uses electric signals that people with profound hearing loss or deafness sense as sound. It includes an external device that sits behind the ear and an internal piece that is surgically implanted under the skin. People who get cochlear implants require significant therapy with the help of an audiologist and speech-language pathologist³ to help learn or relearn the sense of hearing.

• Hearing loop systems transmit sound signals wirelessly from a sound source to a telecoil in a hearing aid or cochlear implant that's set to the "T" (telecoil) setting. They can be installed in public venues and homes so users located within the “looped" area receive the sound directly to their devices — without the background noise or distortion caused by reverberation or distance to the sound source. People without personal hearing devices can benefit from hearing loops by using a headset or telecoil-equipped earphones (LoopBuds), or a free app on their smartphone.⁴

• Personal FM/DM systems are types of remote microphone hearing assistive technology (RM-HAT) that make it easier to engage in conversations in classrooms, restaurants and at home. The speaker uses a microphone and the sound is transmitted to the listener's ears through their hearing device, a pair of headphones or ear-level receivers. Some systems can also be connected to laptops or tablets to use during video chats.⁵

• Personal amplifiers are meant for people with normal hearing, but can be useful in certain environments — like when you're outdoors or in a car — because they increase sound and reduce background noise, so it's easier to hear. They're small, portable devices that transmit sounds to a headset or earbuds.⁶

2. Practice Effective Communication Strategies

Here are a few things that can make communicating easier, whether you have hearing loss or are speaking with someone who does:⁷

• Use eye contact and body language. Visual cues can help supplement what a person is hearing, making it easier to understand. Speak face-to-face and maintain eye contact, and use facial expressions, hand gestures and other body language.

• Speak clearly and slowly. This can make it easier for the person you're talking to hear and understand what's being said. This is especially important when talking in a noisy environment or when someone reads lips or is learning to.

• Repeat back important details. Repeat back any important details to confirm that you understood what was said. When talking to someone with hearing loss, rephrase rather than repeat if they don't understand something you've said.

• Minimize background noise. Turn off other noise, such as the TV or music, or choose a quiet place when you want to have a conversation.

• Turn up the lights. Talking in a well-lit room makes it easier to see each other. Turn up the lights or choose environments with good lighting when possible.

3. Seek Counseling and Support

The psychological effects of hearing loss are well documented, with hearing loss being linked to feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness.⁸ Treating hearing loss with a device can make it easier to cope, but finding support is just as important when coping with hearing loss. Consider seeking support through:

• Family and friends. Lean on your family and friends when you're struggling. Spending time with loved ones can improve your mood and help keep you from feeling isolated and disconnected.⁹

• Mental health counseling. Connecting with a mental health professional, such as a counselor or psychologist, can help you process feelings around your hearing loss and learn coping strategies. Ask your primary care physician or audiologist for a referral.¹⁰

• Support groups. Online or in-person support groups let you connect with others who are navigating the same challenges and understand what you're going through. They can also be an invaluable resource for advice and tips on coping with hearing loss.¹¹

4. Take Advantage of Technology and Apps

Rapidly evolving hearing loss technology has given us numerous apps and products designed to make communication and day-to-day living easier. Here are some examples:

• Captioning apps translate in-person and phone conversations into text, and many are available for free. If you have a landline, captioned telephones are also available, with features such as large screens and amplification to make communication easier.¹²

• Mobile apps for hearing loss are a dime a dozen these days. You can find numerous apps designed to improve communication, including speech-to-text apps, volume boosters and apps to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Other helpful apps for coping with hearing loss include sound level meters and noise-reduction apps.¹³

• Other hearing-assistive technology that's worth considering depending on your needs and lifestyle are vibrating alarm clocks and baby cry signalers and monitors.

5. Make Your Home Work Better for You With Simple Modifications

There are several simple home modifications you can do and products you can use to make your home work better for you or a loved one with hearing loss:

• Install soundproofing to help reduce sound pollution, making it easier to hear the things that matter. Acoustic tiles, carpets and area rugs can help absorb some sound. Proper seals around windows and doors can help reduce exposure to outside noise.

• Upgrade home technology with a hearing loop system and alerting devices, such as doorbell signalers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that use flashing lights or vibrations.

• Improve sight lines by arranging furniture in a way that makes it easier to see others when communicating. For example, arranging furniture in a U-shape or circle lets everyone see each other when communicating.

6. Practice Self-Care

Coping with hearing loss can be challenging even for someone who's been living with hearing loss for all or most of their lives. Be kind to yourself and take the time to practice self-care.

Use these proven practices to help keep stress in check and improve emotional and physical health:¹⁴

• Get enough rest. This means taking breaks as needed and getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.

• Engage in regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking or any other activity that gets your heart pumping can help boost your mood, reduce stress and improve your health.

• Try a stress-reducing activity. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises and journaling can reduce stress and anxiety and make it easier to cope with challenging situations.

Taking advantage of the many tools and technology available can help you stay connected despite living with hearing loss. Lean on others for support and don't hesitate to seek professional help for coping with hearing loss.

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Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today, and more.