Better Hearing Consumer

I have done some dumb things in my life, but one of the most absolutely ridiculous, un-self-aware things that I have EVER done, was to take a job as front desk receptionist for a professional association of chartered accountants. I mean, with my severe hearing loss, how did I honestly expect to successfully work a switchboard?! My only excuse was

I Heard A Bird A lovely bird was flying by, I called him to my side, And asked him to sing alone for me And then I told him why. “When you sit high up in trees, I cannot hear you singing, And if, by chance, I hear a bit, I can’t tell where you’re perching.” He looked me in

It’s my anniversary!   On August 15, 2011, following an invitation to join the editorial team at HearingHealthMatters.org,  I posted my first blog as the Better Hearing Consumer  – and I haven’t stopped writing since.  When people ask how I think of something to write week after week, my answer is that hearing loss touches every corner of our lives and so there

Do you get tired of using the same old phrases when you ask people to repeat themselves?  If so, spice up your life and change how you ask. The most exciting change would be not having to ask at all – to be able to understand people the first time, every time. This would spare everybody a lot of extra

What happens if the groom says “I Do,” and the bride says “Pardon?”  If you don’t hear your partner’s wedding vows, are you legally married? Some people dismiss a marriage certificate as just another piece of paper that has no bearing on the quality or substance of a committed relationship. That may be true for some folks, but I believe that

I am delighted to welcome a guest blogger this week – Peter Stelmacovich, the FM and SoundField Product Manager for Phonak Canada.  Peter is a late-deafened audiologist and a CI user whose expertise and advocacy have supported people across the continent (and  probably around the world).  He is also a fellow Canadian, as well as my colleague at the Canadian

“You have your hearing aids in, how come you didn’t hear me?” “I guess you see better than other people because of your hearing loss, eh?” It’s difficult to understand hearing loss if you don’t have it. We know this because hard of hearing people are asked variations of these and many more questions all the time. Every day, everywhere

Ah, Paris – it was the highlight of a two-week vacation with the Hearing Husband in Belgium and France. The ‘City of Light’ is busy and noisy and full of wonderful sounds, most of which (I think) I heard. But really, who cares about perfect communication when you’re gazing open-mouthed, in awe, at the night-lit Eiffel Tower? And what’s the

Ever since I joined up with the Hearing Loss Association of America and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, I’ve been immersed in positive hearing communication strategies.  Over time, I’ve been dunked, dredged and baked into a confident and assertive advocate for people with hearing loss. But on occasion, little cracks appear in the armor.   I have bad hearing moments

This is a short blog, because I’m going on vacation tomorrow and if you’re reading this, I’m already there. As I pack for this trip, I’m keeping a hard-learned lesson in mind: always be prepared. To most people, preparedness means double-checking that all essential clothes and travel documents are packed and the cell phone is updated with crucial text and