Alltägliche und soziale Folgen von Schwerhörigkeit

Schwerhörigkeit kann das soziale Leben eines Menschen deutlich prägen und den Alltag in vielen, oft unerwarteten Bereichen beeinträchtigen.

Berufliche Herausforderungen

In der Arbeitswelt können schwerhörige Menschen oft auf Barrieren stoßen. Das Navigieren durch Meetings, das Verstehen von Kollegen in lauten Umgebungen oder das Aufnehmen von Telefongesprächen können zur täglichen Herausforderung werden. Nicht selten führt dies zu einem Rückzug aus dem Team oder zu Unsicherheiten bei Entscheidungen. Die Angst, wichtige Informationen zu verpassen oder falsch zu interpretieren, kann das Selbstbewusstsein mindern und die berufliche Entwicklung behindern.

Beziehungsherausforderungen

Auf emotionaler Ebene kann Schwerhörigkeit zu einem Gefühl der Isolation führen, selbst wenn man von geliebten Menschen umgeben ist. Es sind oft die kleinen Momente – ein nicht gehörtes „Ich liebe dich“ oder ein verpasstes Lachen – die zu einem Gefühl der Distanz beitragen. Missverständnisse wegen nicht oder falsch gehörten Äußerungen können schnell zu Konflikten eskalieren, die ohne die Hörbeeinträchtigung vermieden worden wären.

Alltägliche Aktivitäten, die viele für selbstverständlich halten, können für schwerhörige Menschen problematisch sein. Das Überqueren einer Straße kann riskant werden, wenn man herannahende Autos oder Hupen nicht hören kann. Das Fernsehen oder Radio kann ohne Untertitel oder besondere Technik zu einem frustrierenden Erlebnis werden, bei dem wichtige Informationen oder Nuancen verloren gehen.

Soziale Interaktionen

Gesellschaftliche Veranstaltungen, seien es Geburtstagsfeiern, Kinoabende oder Restaurantbesuche, können zu echten Herausforderungen werden. Das Gefühl, aus Gesprächen ausgeschlossen zu sein, wenn man nicht folgen kann, oder das ständige Bitten um Wiederholungen kann das Selbstwertgefühl beeinträchtigen und die Freude an sozialen Aktivitäten dämpfen.

Consequences of hearing loss

When we talk about hearing loss, we don't just mean a change in the ear. We are talking about impaired hearing perception, which can quickly affect the entire life of the person affected and often has far-reaching health consequences.

Hearing loss can affect both physical, mental and social health, as it turns our ability to experience the world around us upside down.

What does hearing loss mean?

Hearing loss does not simply mean that you have difficulty recognizing sounds or noises. It is a complex sensory problem that affects countless people worldwide. This hearing loss can occur in varying degrees, from minor problems at certain frequencies to complete hearing loss.

Before we dive deeper into the individual facets and types of this impairment, we must emphasize that hearing loss affects not only the individual, but also the way they communicate and interact with family, friends and society as a whole.

Different forms and types of hearing loss

Hearing loss can be classified in different ways. The most common types of hearing loss include

Conductive hearing loss:

This is caused by problems with the transmission of sound waves through the outer ear and the middle ear. Possible causes include blockages caused by earwax, perforation of the eardrum, inflammation or diseases of the middle ear such as otitis media or otosclerosis.

Sensorineural hearing loss:

This leads to problems in the inner ear or auditory nerve. Causes can include ageing, exposure to noise, injuries, certain medications, illnesses and genetic factors.

Combined hearing loss:

This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Both parts of the auditory pathway, i.e. the middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve, are affected.

Central hearing loss:

The processing of auditory impressions in the brain is affected. The transmission of sound through the ear is normal, but the brain cannot interpret the information correctly.

Functional hearing loss:

There is no physical cause for hearing loss. Instead, it can be triggered by psychological or emotional factors.

Sudden hearing loss:

Rapid hearing loss that occurs within a few hours or days. The exact cause is often unknown, but it is assumed that viral infections, circulatory disorders or immune reactions may play a role.

The effects of hearing loss

It's not just the lack of sound that makes life difficult. The consequences go far beyond hearing.

Physical consequences of hearing loss

The physical problems resulting from a hearing impairment are extensive and often under-recognized. It is not just the hearing that suffers.

Inner ear and hearing loss:

The inner ear, in particular the cochlea, is at the center of our hearing system. Stressful hearing influences such as persistent noise can cause ringing in the ears and in some cases lead to tinnitus. The fine hair cells that convert sound into nerve signals for our brain can be damaged. The consequence? A continuous background of unwanted noise and reduced hearing capacity.

Imbalance and dizziness:

Interestingly, our inner ear not only affects our hearing, but also our balance. People with hearing problems often complain of dizziness or problems with body stability, which greatly affect their autonomy of movement.

Psychological consequences of hearing loss

The extent to which hearing loss affects the psyche is often difficult to grasp.

Feelings of loneliness:

The feeling of being left out can be overwhelming. It often starts subtly: a missed conversation here, an unheard joke there. But over time, this constant barrier between yourself and the world can lead to deep loneliness. The constant feeling of not being there, even when you are physically present, can lead to a withdrawal from social life. This in turn can cause or exacerbate serious mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Loss of self-esteem:

The constant questions and requests for repetition can undermine self-confidence. Many sufferers begin to see themselves as a burden or a disorder, which can lead to further isolation and a drop in self-esteem.

Cognitive impairments:

Hearing loss not only affects the ear, but can also have an impact on the brain. There is growing evidence of a link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment, including dementia. Studies have found that people with hearing loss have a higher risk of developing cognitive problems or dementia compared to those without hearing loss. The constant struggle to understand can overwhelm the brain, which can drain cognitive resources over time and lead to problems with memory and thinking.

Stress and excessive demands:

Living with hearing loss on a daily basis can be a constant source of stress. Struggling to hear in a noisy environment or the fear of missing important information can lead to chronic stress, which in turn can cause or exacerbate other health problems.

Everyday and social consequences of hearing loss

Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person's social life and affect everyday life in many, often unexpected ways.

Professional challenges:

In the world of work, people with hearing loss can often encounter barriers. Navigating through meetings, understanding colleagues in noisy environments or taking phone calls can become a daily challenge. It is not uncommon for this to lead to withdrawal from the team or uncertainty when making decisions. The fear of missing or misinterpreting important information can reduce self-confidence and hinder professional development.

Relationship challenges:

On an emotional level, hearing loss can lead to a feeling of isolation, even when surrounded by loved ones. It's often the little moments - an unheard "I love you" or a missed laugh - that contribute to a feeling of distance. Misunderstandings due to unheard or misheard utterances can quickly escalate into conflicts that would have been avoided without the hearing impairment.

Problems in everyday life:

Everyday activities that many people take for granted can be problematic for people with hearing loss. Crossing a road can be risky if you can't hear approaching cars or horns. Watching TV or listening to the radio without subtitles or special technology can become a frustrating experience where important information or nuances are lost.

Social interactions:

Social events, be it birthday parties, movie nights or restaurant visits, can become real challenges. Feeling left out of conversations when you can't follow or constantly being asked to repeat yourself can affect your self-esteem and dampen your enjoyment of social activities.

Consequences of hearing loss in old age

Hearing problems often increase with age. Presbycusis is a natural process, but it has clear consequences.

Risks in old age: Age-related hearing damage, such as noise-induced hearing loss or otosclerosis, can have a significant impact on life. It is therefore important to have regular ENT examinations.

How can we deal with the consequences of hearing loss?

Hearing loss not only affects the person affected directly, but also has an impact on their social environment. It requires a joint effort to effectively help those affected and to overcome the challenges of hearing loss. It is not just the individual affected person who should take on this task - as a community, as friends and as a family, we can and should all take action to make a difference.

Show understanding:

The basis of successful support and communication with hearing impaired people is empathy. Through understanding and empathy, we can better understand the situation of the person concerned and act accordingly. A little empathy can make a significant difference to a hearing impaired person's quality of life.

Inform:

Education and knowledge are key when it comes to effectively helping those with hearing loss. Find out about the type of hearing loss the person is experiencing and the options for treatment. A doctor can be a valuable source of information and advice on how best to provide support. The more we know about hearing loss, the better we can support those affected and make them feel that they are not alone.

Support:

Support can come in many forms. Sometimes it can be a simple gesture, such as offering an earphone or reducing background noise in a noisy environment. For a hearing impaired person, this can make a significant difference to communication. Through collaborative action, understanding and ongoing education, we can give affected people a sense of belonging and acceptance while reducing the negative effects of hearing loss.

Aids for hearing loss

Hearing aids:

Small technical marvels that are capable of significantly improving the quality of life.

Cochlear implants:

An option for people for whom hearing aids are not enough.

TV audio amplifier:

The OSKAR TV hearing amplifier from faller audio improves the viewing experience for people with hearing impairments by amplifying dialog and speech and filtering out distracting background noise.