Hearing Loss

Lesson 2: Recovery From the Emotional Trauma of Hearing Loss

Professional Therapy

When I lost my hearing I went to ear, nose and throat doctors, to audiologists, to hearing aid practitioners – I saw many people who were professionals in the field of hearing loss. The one person I was never sent to was the person who might have helped the most. A therapist.

When my doctor and audiologist told me my hearing loss was permanent and irreversible, they should have recommended therapy to help me adjust. Losing one of our senses is hard to come to terms with alone.

Losing hearing is not like losing your keys, losing your wallet, losing a glove, scarf or hat. Hearing is a vital part of our ability to communicate and losing it is very traumatic. You can’t replace it and you have to cope. You can’t just fill in some forms and be back to normal in a few days.

Before I started to adjust, I went through a few hard years of isolation, depression, fear, missing something, and a sense that life was never going to be good again. Therapy should be offered right away for those who want it. It should be part of the treatment.

While it’s true that a therapist can’t make you happy about losing your hearing, he or she can help you learn to accept it and get on with making your life better a lot faster. A therapist can’t help you hear again, but he or she can help you adjust to living with your loss. A good therapist can help you see that you’re still the same person, that you’re able to go on, and that you can handle it.

If you're depressed, especially if you're depressed, you should consider professional help. Some people suffering from depression benefit from medication, which only a doctor can prescribe. Talking to an objective professional lets you say things you might hesitate to say to those close to you. Therapists have training and experience that others don't have and can help speed up the healing process.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation. It takes courage, strength and wisdom to ask for help. A hearing aid isn’t enough. Therapy is a major step towards recovery from the emotional trauma of hearing loss.

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