Gael Hannan

Gael Hannan is an author, speaker and advocate on hearing loss issues. In addition to her weekly blog at the Better Hearing Consumer, which has a passionate international following, Gael has written two acclaimed books, “The Way I Hear It: A Life with Hearing Loss”and “Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss”, written with Shari Eberts. She is regularly invited to present her uniquely humorous and insightful work to appreciative audiences around the world. Gael has received many awards for her work that advocates for individuals to become more knowledgeable and successful at dealing with their hearing loss and a more inclusive society for them to live in.

Featured image for “Listen to Your Inner Hearing Aid!”

Listen to Your Inner Hearing Aid!

“Listen to your inner voice.” How often are we encouraged to heed those voices that supposedly guide us through life? But as people with hearing loss (who are always listening in our attempts to hear and understand), we should also pay attention to what our assistive technology is trying to tell us. It sends us clues that, far too often, we

Featured image for “Not-So-Silly Hearing Loss Questions”

Not-So-Silly Hearing Loss Questions

“Were you born with ‘it’?” I get this question a lot when I, and my hearing loss, meet someone for the first time. Sometimes they ask hesitantly, not sure what to call ‘the problem’, which they indicate with little finger jabs at their own ear. Hearing loss is my favourite topic and I’m drawn like a moth to the flame

Featured image for “A HoH’s Gospel”

A HoH’s Gospel

As a person living with hearing loss, and as an advocate who has dedicated an enormous percentage of my waking hours to its issues – there are a few things that I have come to believe, passionately. These form my credo, Latin for ‘I believe’. This gospel, which for me is absolutely true, gives me strength to survive the bad

Featured image for “I Swear By These Hearing Loss Tips”

I Swear By These Hearing Loss Tips

It’s hard to get away from ‘advice’ these days. We live in a world of advice on how to do anything better. Sleep better, eat better, dress better, get rid of wrinkles better. How to live with hearing loss better. There’s a lot of great information available on how to live well with hearing loss and tinnitus, much of it

Featured image for “That Inner Hearing Loss Chat!”

That Inner Hearing Loss Chat!

“I couldn’t hear my friends very well during that talk – I should have told them I was struggling. But I hate interrupting the convo-flow all the time. They’re usually so good about making sure I’m hearing OK, so I don’t want to bug them with everything I miss. Why do I always do that to myself?” Does this sound

Featured image for “Tiny, Daily Miracles of Hearing”

Tiny, Daily Miracles of Hearing

A miracle, in my books, is an unexpected occurrence that causes a wonderful, however small, change in your life. Forever, for a day or even just for a moment. The hearing of sounds can be that kind of miracle. Lately I’ve been too focused on the roadblocks on the typical hearing loss journey. You know the ones I mean, like

Featured image for “Have You Offered Hearing Help To A Stranger?”

Have You Offered Hearing Help To A Stranger?

The cashier at the Safeway checkout was talking animatedly to the customer standing on the other side of the plexiglass shield. The customer kept shaking her head and her hands made movements that said I don’t understand you and, finally, I give up. I’d been in that same position many times since the pandemic started, struggling through masks and shields

Featured image for “Tinnitus, 1…Good Mood, 0”

Tinnitus, 1…Good Mood, 0

This tinnitus thing is the pits. Two days ago, I would have told you there was absolutely no connection between my hiking and my tinnitus. I love hiking and I don’t love my tinnitus. But I’d forgotten the dark power of T (which is what some of us call our tinnitus, and it’s not a term of endearment). Given even

Featured image for “Listen Up, Year #2022”

Listen Up, Year #2022

Dear New Year #2022, Hey there! We are the people with hearing loss and tinnitus. You must be excited that it’s your turn to roll out the next 365 days of our lives. But we don’t know what to expect from you! Remember Glinda the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz? She asked Dorothy, “Are you a good witch,

Featured image for “Readers’ Choice 2021: A Prayer for Healing of Tinnitus-Stress”

Readers’ Choice 2021: A Prayer for Healing of Tinnitus-Stress

Dear Readers: During this holiday season, the editors at Hearing Health & Technology Matters (HHTM) are taking some time off. However, we are not leaving you without anything to read on our blog this week. Instead, we are publishing a special holiday edition filled with what we call our Readers’ Choices. Our Readers’ Choices featured this week are the posts