The time has arrived for society to acknowledge the humanity and dignity of people with hearing loss.
By Daniel Pistritto
I was diagnosed with otosclerosis as a teenager and suffered total loss of hearing in my left ear as a young adult due to stapedectomy complications. My experiences and struggles with hearing loss led me to pursue a career as a hearing care professional and I now share my experiences through my personal blog ‘Talking Hearing Loss’ and on my LinkedIn profile. My mission is to break the stigma surrounding hearing loss and help those impacted by loss of hearing to find ‘Life after Deaf’.
As an audiometrist who has traversed the labyrinth of life with hearing loss as my constant companion, I am compelled to illuminate the often-overlooked hurdles faced by individuals with auditory impairments. Living with hearing loss transcends difficulty in hearing; it entails manoeuvring through a world that frequently overlooks your needs and fails to grasp your experiences.
From tender years, I grappled with the barriers and misconceptions enveloping hearing loss. Mundane tasks such as deciphering conversations in bustling environments or tuning into television programs morphed into daunting challenges. Society’s lack of awareness and empathy compounded these difficulties.
The dread of standing out as ‘different’ or becoming a target for ridicule in school compelled me to shun hearing aids. Growing up with a parent who lost their hearing during adolescence and was encouraged to conceal their impairment and hearing aids from society, I knew no alternative. Reflecting now, I ponder how many of my perceived ‘behavioural issues’ during high school stemmed from my struggle to hear adequately.
Later, when I began working, I did all I could to keep my hearing loss hidden including using a hearing aid disguised to look like glasses. I look back on the mistakes I made trying to hide my hearing difficulties and realise the only person I was fooling was myself.
Despite remarkable technological strides, misconceptions and stigma continue to shroud hearing aids and cochlear implants. Many perceive them as emblems of frailty or senility rather than life-changing tools that enable us to fully engage with the world.
I, too, grappled with this perception. I loathed my hearing loss and detested the arduous endeavour of concealing my disability to blend in with societal norms. The fear of being perceived as feeble or equated with the elderly stifled my willingness to seek assistance. This stigma deters countless individuals from seeking the support they require, depriving them of the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and pursue passions.
The pervasive lack of accessibility in our communities further isolates people with hearing loss. Public spaces often lack essential accommodations such as captioning or hearing loop systems, rendering it arduous for us to fully participate in social and cultural endeavours. Even basic communication poses a challenge when others are oblivious to effective communication strategies with individuals with hearing loss.
By the time I started work, my hearing had deteriorated to the point that I could not ignore it. Every day was a struggle, just trying to understand what was being said around me.
Often in meetings I would miss key things that were discussed so when I gave input or asked a question, I would be told that question had been asked, the issue had been covered or my question was irrelevant. I quickly learnt it was easier for me to keep quiet and not contribute. People interpreted this as me being introverted, anti-social and not having a good work attitude.
It can be difficult to raise with your employer that you need special accommodations but I felt they did not understand what hearing loss meant which made it harder to get the help I needed. My self-esteem dropped to an all-time low; I was constantly depressed at work and became irritable about the smallest things. My self-worth was so low I could see no way out.
The most profound obstacle is the emotional toll of feeling isolated and misunderstood. Envision continually advocating for your needs, explaining why you can’t hear well, or enduring the exasperation of being sidelined in conversations. It’s a draining, disheartening, and profoundly unfair ordeal.
The time has arrived for society to acknowledge the humanity and dignity of people with hearing loss. We must endeavour for heightened empathy, comprehension, and inclusivity across all spheres of life. This necessitates acquainting ourselves with the intricacies of hearing loss, challenging stereotypes and fervently advocating for accessible environments and accommodations.
Let us shatter the silence enveloping hearing loss and amplify the voices of those who have languished in the margins for too long. By cultivating a culture of empathy and understanding, we can fashion a world where every individual, irrespective of their hearing ability, is esteemed, respected, and embraced.
About the author:
Name: Daniel Pistritto
Affiliations: Connect Hearing, Carlton
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Years in industry: 10
