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 “Handling Those Small Indignities of Hearing Loss”

Handling Those Small Indignities of Hearing Loss

Pardon? Sorry, one more time? I’m not catching what you’re saying, it’s so noisy in here. Are you asking me if I want a bag, have a membership card, or something else to which the answer is no? I had been inching my way forward to the cashier in a big box store, and now I was holding up the

Featured image for “Tinnitus: Let’s Just Keep Going”

Tinnitus: Let’s Just Keep Going

People who have tinnitus will try almost anything to make it go away. On tinnitus social media groups, when someone writes about a thing that reduced their head noise or even – omg, a miracle – made it disappear, it’s not unusual for hundreds of readers to respond. Where can I buy it? Tell us exactly what you did. I’ll

Featured image for “It’s That Time of Year Again!”

It’s That Time of Year Again!

It’s here – the time of year that amplifies all the biggest challenges for those of us with hearing loss. Music that we love but can no longer hear or enjoy the way we used to. Lots of people gathered in one place: no matter how few or how many, it’s a crowd. And crowds are noisy and indecipherable.

Featured image for “Stick ‘Em Up! My Worst Hearing Loss Nightmare”

Stick ‘Em Up! My Worst Hearing Loss Nightmare

One of the biggest challenges of hearing loss is not understanding what’s being said – especially if it’s being said in an emergency. Like a bank robbery. Being in the bank during a robbery is my all-time worst nightmare. I fixed that potential problem by doing my banking online. Still, occasionally I do need to go the actual bank.

Featured image for “Caption Us! A Message to Hearing Care Professionals”

Caption Us! A Message to Hearing Care Professionals

My hearing advocacy colleague Shari Eberts and I were excited as always to attend a conference of hearing care professionals (HCPs), where we were scheduled to present the patient’s perspective. We were dismayed, at the first presentation of the conference, to find that the captioning access we depend on was not available. While we had not expected that the

Featured image for “Another Nervous Curve in the Hearing Journey”

Another Nervous Curve in the Hearing Journey

I’ve got an audiology appointment this week and, I’ll admit it, I’m nervous. Things have changed. I’m not hearing as well as I was just a few weeks ago. Noisy situations almost bring me to my knees. Speech isn’t always clear. As the minutes tick towards my appointment in two days, my mind is doing pretzel knots with questions that

Featured image for “When It’s Time to Change Your Hearing Care Professional”

When It’s Time to Change Your Hearing Care Professional

I am a big fan of hearing care professionals, both as a group and individually. Regardless of their designation, I respect and applaud the audiologists and hearing instrument specialists who have chosen the life of a clinician, researcher, industry representative and clinic owner – or a personal combination of these practices. As members of the field of hearing care

Featured image for “The Big Communication-Accessible Trip to Europe”

The Big Communication-Accessible Trip to Europe

I’ll admit it – I’m excited! For most of this month, I will be in Europe (Poland, Germany and France) with girlfriends to celebrate a birthday of significance. And while any big trip requires preparation, there are a few extra things on the packing list for people with hearing loss. Because I often travel on my own for business, it’s

Featured image for “Do People Wish You’d Shut Up About Hearing Loss?”

Do People Wish You’d Shut Up About Hearing Loss?

Does this happen to you? Someone asks you about your hearing aids, or cochlear implant, or ask how long you’ve had ‘it’. And as you start talking, eyes glaze over as your family or friends listen to that same hearing loss talk once again. When I told the Hearing Husband that this week’s blog topic is about whether people (i.e.

Featured image for “The Social Cringe of “Talking Over””

The Social Cringe of “Talking Over”

I had one of those hearing loss cringe-moments last night. Actually, it was this morning. OK, it happened last night, but I found out about it this morning, when the Hearing Husband pointed out what I had done last night: repeatedly talked over another person. Apparently, as they talked, I loudly chimed in, more than once and on a