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The Hearing Impaired get no respect and I just happen to be one of them.

I have an in the ear device for both left and right ears and have worn them for the past 9 years since my hearing started to go. I attribute the loss to being in the Air Force when ear plugs were not required for working around jet aircraft. I have spent over $10,000 (yes they are expensive) on hearing devices and though they have helped tremendously, my hearing will never be 100 % and that is the case with many hearing impaired folks. If I were blind, crippled or an amputee I would get more consideration than having hearing difficulty. I love my wife , but she will still talk away to me three rooms away and expect me to hear her. My golf buddies get annoyed if I just happen to ask them to repeat themselves. Conversely, if a stranger comes up to me and notices that I am wearing a hearing aid they feel compelled to shout at me.

With most people that have a hearing loss it's not the amplification of sound that is the problem, it's pitch and tone. With my hearing aids I cannot hear the digital alarm clock right in front of me. Most female voices I have no problem with. Certain men's voices with low modulation might give me a problem and if they have an accent of some kind that can add to the problem. I am really a thick skinned guy and my posting this piece is more for all with hearing difficulty than just me.

Lon why did YOU have to pay that kind of money for your hearing aids? Since it was a cause of being in the Air Force, why didn't they pay for them?



I can see how your situation would be very frustrating. I have a co-worker who is just 23 and wears a hearing aid, and she is constantly asking people to repeat themelves. I heard a customer make a rude comment about her after she'd left their table and I was all over them like flies on $h!t. I think I humbled them quite severely. People are just RUDE.

Lon wrote: The Hearing Impaired get no respect and I just happen to be one of them.

I have an in the ear device for both left and right ears and have worn them for the past 9 years since my hearing started to go. I attribute the loss to being in the Air Force when ear plugs were not required for working around jet aircraft. I have spent over $10,000 (yes they are expensive) on hearing devices and though they have helped tremendously, my hearing will never be 100 % and that is the case with many hearing impaired folks. If I were blind, crippled or an amputee I would get more consideration than having hearing difficulty. I love my wife , but she will still talk away to me three rooms away and expect me to hear her. My golf buddies get annoyed if I just happen to ask them to repeat themselves. Conversely, if a stranger comes up to me and notices that I am wearing a hearing aid they feel compelled to shout at me.

With most people that have a hearing loss it's not the amplification of sound that is the problem, it's pitch and tone. With my hearing aids I cannot hear the digital alarm clock right in front of me. Most female voices I have no problem with. Certain men's voices with low modulation might give me a problem and if they have an accent of some kind that can add to the problem. I am really a thick skinned guy and my posting this piece is more for all with hearing difficulty than just me.


I hear ya... sorry I could not resist you there.

I have to agree, it's very frustrating, and I feel some people get annoyed with repeating themselves to the likes of us that they think we are being rude.

My kids, my boss and the ex walk away from me talking or talk to me from another room. I would get stressed over this and get up and go stand next to them and ask them to repeat themselves. Now I act like I never hear themat all and if it is important enough they come to me and they will come talk to me and repeat themselves to me. It is a constant battle to hear. Never mind noisy places like malls, restraunts, airports etc.

My hearing deterioration is due to heavy scar tissue due to horrific ear infections and surgeries. None of which can be corrected with hearing aids.

SnoozeControl wrote: I work with a woman in her mid 40 that also has hearing loss, but she doesn't want to wear a hearing aid. I find if I look her in the face and make a point of enunciating clearly, she usually doesn't have to ask me to repeat something.

What is irritating is someone that hears well, but isn't listening and keeps saying "huh?"


Exactly, that works best in my case, I prefer to be face to face in a conversation for just that reason. Telephones give me huge grief.

BabyRider wrote: Lon why did YOU have to pay that kind of money for your hearing aids? Since it was a cause of being in the Air Force, why didn't they pay for them?



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It would be hard to prove that it was due to military jets 45 years after the fact. I did and do like my music loud. Medical Insurance Plans do not cover hearing aids nor does Medicare. I am fortunate that I can afford the best hearing aids. I feel sorry for the less affluent seniors that struggle with hearing loss but cannot afford to purchase hearing aids.

Lon wrote: Medical Insurance Plans do not cover hearing aids nor does Medicare.
Well, that's just wrong.

My dad should wear hearing aids but very rarely does,

i feel so sorry for my mum having to shout all the time to be heard.

I have a definate hearing loss which I feel is due to using backpack and ground blowers.The problem seems to be worse in my right ear. I found myself cocking my head to one side years ago, to use my left ear. Didnt realize I was doing it, until the motion became very regular, and very automatic. I hate it when I have to say huh? huh? Its embarassing. I watch peoples lips when they speak. I d rather look in their eyes, but I watch their lips as a back up . I have gotten to the point where I also do not bother to answer people who speak to me from another room. I get tired of saying I cant hear you.

My husband's niece was born deaf. I always make sure she can see my lips. She is quite good at reading lips. I also have a customer in her 40s that wears 2 hearing aids. While they help her, the background noise can drown out the person speaking to her. I also make sure she can see my lips when I'm talking to her.