Better Hearing Consumer

Featured image for “Hearing Aid Envy!”
Aug. 29, 2023

Hearing Aid Envy!

Gael Hannan
It’s a funny thing about hearing aid users. Our relationship with our devices, like any relationship, has its peaks and valleys. Some people tear them off at the end of the day for  ‘peace and quiet’, while others wait until just before sleep, absorbing the last bit of sound from their day. In the early days, most of us drag
Featured image for “What’s In Our Hearing Loss Stars?”
Aug. 14, 2023

What’s In Our Hearing Loss Stars?

Gael Hannan
Do you read your horoscope? I like to peek at mine now and again, because not only am I not psychic, sometimes I have trouble knowing what’s going on now, thanks to my hearing loss, which wipes out some of the clues. Sometimes my daily horoscope is a bullseye and other times it’s so far off I wonder if my
Featured image for “Absorbing the Shocks of Hearing Loss”
Aug. 09, 2023

Absorbing the Shocks of Hearing Loss

Gael Hannan
Hearing loss is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. Once you have it, your hearing loss presents itself to you every day, in different ways. A poorly captioned TV show, a sales clerk whose lips point to her computer, a conversation with friends that spins out of control into incomprehension. Regardless of when hearing loss first occurs, experiencing one
Featured image for ““Turn Down for What?” by Tiffany Storrs”
Aug. 02, 2023

“Turn Down for What?” by Tiffany Storrs

Gael Hannan
Hearing health advocate, author and actress, Tiffany Storrs, who wears a Cochlear implant, unpacks why you really should. I’ll admit, DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s popular hit “Turn Down for What” has catchy lyrics and a funky beat, but in a literal context, “Fire up that loud” screams a hazardous message to directly ignore the fact that more than 1
Featured image for “Shocking Sounds of Better Hearing”
Jul. 25, 2023

Shocking Sounds of Better Hearing

Gael Hannan
Most sounds fade away at some point or cease to surprise us, but others retain their shock appeal until – well, forever! When I received a cochlear implant on the right side in 2017, life changed – especially my auditory landscape. Not only did sounds become louder, but I seemed to be hearing many as if for the first time.
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Jul. 19, 2023

I’m Tired of Saying “Pardon?”

Gael Hannan
One of the top activities in the life of a person with hearing loss is asking for something to be repeated. And repeated. And repeated. Even when a listening situation is optimal – there’s lots of light, no noise, the other person(s) are facing you and speaking clearly – there are bound to be moments where you must ask, “What
Featured image for “Losing Your Hearing and Wanting It Back”
Jul. 11, 2023

Losing Your Hearing and Wanting It Back

Gael Hannan
Today I’m speaking at a conference of people with hearing loss – one of my favorite things to do. The shared emotions and experiences of people who ‘get’ each other is eternally inspiring to me. Usually, I have a grateful soul. I’m thankful for technology, the support of others and the passion for advocacy that my hearing loss has given
Featured image for “Face Me Doc, I Have Hearing Loss!”
Jul. 04, 2023

Face Me Doc, I Have Hearing Loss!

Gael Hannan
In last week’s article, I relived the agonies of waiting for my name to be called in a busy clinic. Here’s the next part of the all-too-common medical appointment story. Having escaped from the waiting room zoo, I was waiting to see my new ENT specialist in, hallelujah, a real room, with a door. My previous ENT believed in the
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Jun. 26, 2023

Was That MY Name They Called?

Gael Hannan
On a recent road trip in the US, I needed to talk to my doctor in Canada. A simple, accessible telehealth appointment cleared up my issue. On the screen and using my assistive devices, I could see him, hear him and speechread him. I didn’t have to ask him to speak louder, because I controlled the volume on my devices.
Featured image for “Hearing the Vows”
Jun. 13, 2023

Hearing the Vows

Gael Hannan
  My son is getting married on Saturday. This is one of those monumental life events, not only for the bride and groom, but for me – my only shot at being the mother of, in this case, the groom. And at this wedding, I want to hear my boy Joel and his girl Jacqui say their vows. It will