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.

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Wasting Time on Hearing Loss?

People with hearing loss – have you ever considered the time you’ve been wasting? If we no longer had hearing ‘issues’—if our hearing was suddenly and miraculously restored—what on earth would we do with all that extra time? How would we replace all those minutes and hours spent on the technology, rituals and emotions of hearing loss? When I was a

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A New Year’s Blessing for HoHs

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice.” T.S. Eliott, Four Quartets (HoH: slang for person with hearing loss, derived from hard of hearing) People with hearing loss must work hard to make communication a positive, not negative, element of their lives. There are things we have to do: processes to

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Best of Hearing Health: Boundary Area Between PSAPS and Hearing Aids, Part 1

Another chance to enjoy the best of Hearing Health, in the first post of the Device Disruptions series edited by Richard Einhorn. Mead C. Killion, Ph.D., Sc.D.(hon) Editor’s Note: In the 70’s, Mead Killion, PhD, ScD (hon), urged high sound quality for hearing aids when hardly anyone else cared, let alone understood, its crucial importance. He is the inventor of

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Best of Hearing Views: Making a List – Checking It Twice: Someone’s Been Very Naughty

By Angela Loavenbruck, Ed.D. Over the past several months, the Crabby Audiologist has been doing a little historical review of Audiology’s transition from a tiny, barely known profession to one that’s made it onto the 10 Best Jobs List the last several years running. In that transition, no one can deny the importance of ASHA’s early work (1950’s and 60’s)

Best of Hearing International: Sonic Warfare – Noise as a Weapon

I am off on holidays this week, but hope you will enjoy this top post from 2015. Audiologists have long known that noise damages the auditory mechanism and that high level noise over 85-90 dBA for a long period of time can cause deafness. But what does it take in sound levels to produce a truly

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Best Of The Better Hearing Consumer: WHAT A HOH NEEDS TO KNOW

I am off on holidays this week, but hope you will enjoy this top post from 2015. (Note: Person with hearing loss = hard of hearing person = HoH) She did it again—she started talking to me from another room. His baseball cap shades his eyes, and I always have to ask him

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When the Christmas Music Changes

I adore Christmas, especially the tingle-inducing music. But this holiday season, I’m wondering—when did I lose the ability to sing it? (Some in my family would tell you that I never had that ability, but they’re such kidders. They know I can sing well—if I manage to stay on key.) Growing up, I sang in Christmas choirs (being flanked fore and

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You Have to Read This! Books on Hearing Loss

Katherine Bouton is a renowned writer on hearing loss issues. This week, she looks at books that make great gifts for people affected by hearing loss. You Have to Read This by Katherine Bouton The holidays are upon us – and that means gifts. For your friends and family with hearing loss, I’d like to suggest a gift

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When Hearing Changes, So Does Life

“Gael, we’re going to give you a cochlear implant!” I looked at the doctor blankly for a moment. Then, “You are?” “Yes, we are.” He paused, “Do you want a CI?” And that was the moment my life changed – again. How did I really feel about getting a cochlear implant (CI)? For years I’d been told that in spite of

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Can YOU Hear a Burp?

I have a small bone to pick with people who can hear well. It’s not that I begrudge them their hearing—but do they have to be so show-offy about it? These people let you know when they hear a pin drop. They can understand what’s being said way over there. They can understand speech in noisy situations—on a roller coaster, for example. And that’s