Hearing, Listening, and Understanding
Hearing is accessible — seriously, it takes no effort whatsoever. Hearing is so easy; you can even hear it while sleeping!
Listening is “hearing with desire.” What do I mean by that? When you want to hear something, you focus on it and are, therefore, listening. Is there an exciting television show? Did something catch your attention when you were on the phone? You were listening. Not too hard.
Understanding. Ah, now that is the hardest of them all. Although I would love to wax on about the philosophical and existential ideas of understanding our world and our purpose, for my sanity and your interest, I will stick to the concept of understanding words and the speech they comprise.
Understanding Words
Words are made up of little bursts of sound called “phonemes.” Different combinations of phonemes create other words. Often, two words can vary by only one phoneme. For instance, the words “hot” and “pot” contain only a minimal difference, but that difference dramatically changes the word’s meaning. Tell me you haven’t argued with someone because you thought they said one word and they said another entirely. Unfortunately, that’s what happens plenty of times with those dealing with hearing loss.
If you have hearing loss, detecting and understanding these slight differences between words can make it difficult, if not impossible, to understand speech, making it tiring to listen for long periods. It is exhausting to do so much mental math every day. Hearing loss isn’t so much about losing your ability to hear clearly – it’s about concentrating harder without becoming frustrated; that alone can be a tiring experience.
Hearing Aids and You
The best hearing aids that are well-fit and provide maximum audibility (your ability to hear those little phonemes) can make a huge difference in your understanding. However, if you’re like most, it has been years since you could listen to those little sounds, and you’ve long lost the art of listening. Listening isn’t just about hearing things. Listening and understanding go together when you learn to manage your hearing loss more effectively.
With good hearing aids comes improved hearing and understanding, so now it is time to practice listening. We have often discussed aural training and rehabilitation, but it’s too important to stop beating the drum. The more you hear, and the more you can understand, the easier listening will become — but only if you actively engage in the process. We’ll be honest: learning to listen more intently and with better concentration can be challenging for many. However, that challenge can be overcome if you dedicate yourself to it, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Active and engaged listening takes effort and skill, in addition to desire. It is also challenging and takes practice. When you get your new hearing aids, make a point of practicing listening. I mean listening. A lucky few can put on new hearing aids and feel like everything is back to normal. For most, however, getting used to hearing many new sounds is surprisingly complex, and more surprising is how much practice it takes to learn to listen again. The brain is fickle, and you may lose focus on what you should be hearing versus what you’re hearing. While the amplified sounds of birds chirping or the wind flowing through the leaves may be pleasant, you don’t want to miss the conversation you may be trying to have with a loved one.
Here are a few tips to get you started. Whether you have worn hearing aids for years or are just starting on your better-hearing journey, you will likely benefit from one or two of these exercises:
Start Slow
If the sounds you hear with your new hearing aids seem overwhelming, give yourself a more structured approach. Start by wearing them for a few hours each morning or evening, preferably in a quiet environment like home. In a few days, increase the time you wear them or start to shake things up by wearing them in the car or the grocery store. You WILL get used to them, but you must give your brain time to normalize the new sounds.
Yes, that’s the way you used to hear. Discovering what you’ve been missing can be a slight shock — it’s a loud world! However, you don’t need to hear everything on the first day. If you’re struggling with too much sound, ask your audiologist to step down and gain a little to give you the chance to grow accustomed to everything. You do have to hear it all at some point, though, so be sure to structure a schedule whereby she can slowly increase the gain to ensure you have achieved maximum benefit.
Never Give Up!
Please don’t stop trying; you WILL benefit from your hearing aids, but you must stick with them. It’s a simple tip, but it’s worth writing down. Yes, it might feel silly to jot advice down that seems more suited to a T-shirt, but you need every bit of compassion, care, and concern to help. Trust us when we say self-love is a valuable skill when you struggle to improve yourself.
Ask for Help
Ask those you love (especially those you live with) to take it easy and follow some rules: talk to you directly and in the same room, turn off distractions, and repeat as necessary. These are basic courtesies and imperative to your ability to both listen and successfully understand. Plus, asking for compassion and help along your hearing journey will open you up to being able to ask for help more often. There’s nothing wrong with independence, but no one should struggle alone.
Understanding speech should be the goal for everyone who wears hearing aids. Rather than seeing perfection, strive toward a result you can live with so your newfound hearing is rewarding and you can listen with pleasure.
Stay Vibrant!
Vibrant Hearing is here to help you in any way during your hearing loss treatment journey. We aim to be a friend and a trusted guide as you learn to hear, listen intently, and fully understand. Contact us today to learn more about our hearing treatments or schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
Your struggle shouldn’t be a lonely road. Let us guide you as you open your mind to new hearing possibilities.