In 2013 in my first book, “Shouting Won’t Help,” I wrote about the difficult experience I had adjusting to a cochlear implant I received in 2009. That section was excerpted in Bloomberg View and it is still easily available online. I often get letters from people who have seen the article and are worried by … Continue reading How I Learned to Love My Cochlear Implant.
Hearing Health
Good News About Hearing Loss, With Qualifications
Hearing loss is declining, according to a study published on December 15 by researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This is good news. But before you put back in those earbuds and conclude that all those reports of an “epidemic” of hearing loss were wildly exaggerated, read a little closer. The study of almost … Continue reading Good News About Hearing Loss, With Qualifications
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Hearing Loss? Don’t Neglect Your Eyes
For people with hearing loss, even a small decrease in vision can affect the ability to lip-read and understand better what they hear. — Getty Images/Hero Images Those of us with more than just moderate hearing loss tend to take care of our hearing. We make sure our hearing aids are in good working … Continue reading Hearing Loss? Don’t Neglect Your Eyes
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Hiding Your Hearing Loss? Not Worth It
New York’s second annual Disability Pride Parade on July 10 included representatives of various national hearing loss associations. They marched because hearing loss is a disability, but more importantly, because hearing loss is a hidden disability. We can never remind people too often that people with hearing loss need accommodations as much as someone in … Continue reading Hiding Your Hearing Loss? Not Worth It
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Higher Medical Bills for Those Who Don’t Treat Hearing Loss
The cost of hearing loss treatment is far less than the cost of not treating. by Katherine Bouton. First published on AARP, April 19, 2016. Two new studies point out the serious consequences of untreated hearing loss. In one, researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina found that middle-aged adults with untreated hearing loss had … Continue reading Higher Medical Bills for Those Who Don’t Treat Hearing Loss
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Reflections on Hearing Loss
Interview with Stu Nunnery, After hearing loss, Katherine Bouton finds new purpose in life. This paragraph about HLAA is just one part. Click on the link to read the whole interview. Stu: Hearing loss has many side effects short and long term and most troubling to many of us is the isolation, depression, and other long … Continue reading Reflections on Hearing Loss
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Talking About Hearing Loss With Someone Who Doesn’t Want to Listen
The one question I am asked more than any other is: “How do I talk to my spouse about hearing loss?” Every time I try to bring the subject up, they say, the spouse brushes it off. “I can hear fine,” is the impatient reply. Or, “It’s because you mumble.” Or, “It’s too loud in … Continue reading Talking About Hearing Loss With Someone Who Doesn’t Want to Listen
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Dogs and Us
Dogs go deaf, just like we do. But this isn't about doggie deafness. It's basically a link to a lovely article by David Dudley titled "What Our Dogs Teach Us About Aging" from the AARP magazine. Here's the takeaway: "Eat the best food you … Continue reading Dogs and Us
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Dear Abby, Please Think Again!
Dear Abby, your response to “Trapped in a Situation” about her hearing-impaired husband “Norm” almost made me weep. "Wife of deaf husband seeks to cope in new place." I wonder what deaf husband thinks of all this. Yes, of course Norm should inform the retirement community director about his hearing loss. But why did you … Continue reading Dear Abby, Please Think Again!
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Good News! For a change.
Good news for people with hearing loss. Last week CMS, which runs Medicare and Medicaid, reversed itself on an earlier proposal to eliminate coverage for bone-anchored cochlear implants, like Cochlear’s Baha and Oticon’s Ponto. This is good news for two reasons. First, it preserves coverage for an important and expensive technology. People with certain kinds of hearing … Continue reading Good News! For a change.
Katherine Bouton: Smart Hearing 