The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing

This Third Edition has been completely updated with all chapters revised, three new chapters added and two chapters retired. All contributors have brought the content of their work current to knowledge and technology that should prevail for the next many years. The collective effort of these writers covers about everything you would want to know if you have a hearing loss and are considering purchase of hearing aids. There can be a lot of uncertainty and emotions that surface during the process of addressing untreated hearing loss. The average American waits at least five years before seeking such help. In the interim, it can leave a trail of devastation and turmoil in its wake since procrastination of treatment is often at the expense of loved ones.
This book charts a quiet path toward action and transformation, and how to attain life satisfaction despite less than optimal hearing. A recurrent theme of pushing through the resistance gently and sensitively comes through. You’ll understand how to align your expectations with actual hearing ability. This book is written for individuals with hearing loss as well as the entire family. Thereby, it addresses the whole person, not merely one aspect of the problem.
Dr. Carmen, a clinical and research audiologist, has been writing consumer books and articles on hearing loss for more than 30 years. In this one-of-a-kind book he has assembled the most distinguished audiologists, physicians, scientists and authorities, each seasoned professionals, some who themselves have hearing loss and wear hearing aids. What you’ll read inside is state of the art and designed to change your life!

• Explore the volatile emotions and issues surrounding hearing loss
• Learn where and how to find help
• Map your own audiogram
• Discover how hearing aids can transform your life
• Read why people reject hearing aids but how they can work for you
• Educate yourself on the best choice of hearing aids
• Consider preserving hearing through diet, nutrition and exercise
• If tinnitus is a problem, learn easy, effective techniques to help
• Find out the impact of aging on hearing
• See how better listening can enhance your hearing
• Understand how wireless technology needs to be part of your life
• Review fabulous assistive products that solve hearing problems

If hearing loss is creating communication struggles in the most important relationships in your life or the lives of loved ones and friends, this book is for you. Dr. Carmen presents compelling evidence in Chapter 1 confirming that failure to use hearing aids (when they’re indicated) can result in more rapid decline in hearing. Furthermore, he explains that by not hearing correctly, you create a world of your own, one often disconnected from the true social world you seek and to which you belong. This altered state of reality based on untreated hearing loss holds tremendous emotional and health consequences.
Dr. Kochkin in Chapters 4 and 5 discusses his published research on thousands of people with hearing loss where hearing aid wearers were compared to non-wearers. The results hold devastating news. Untreated hearing loss was shown to be associated with paranoia, anger, depression, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, isolation, disorientation, fear, avoidance, self-criticism, social phobias and confusion. These consequences are unacceptable for anyone.
Hiding hearing loss, ignoring it or postponing treatment must no longer be an option. It is essential to mind, body and spirit to seek alternatives that improve hearing and restore the fundamental qualities of life.
Just in recent years there have been electronic breakthroughs in digital hearing aid technology that dramatically and positively impact hearing ability. You can now experience hearing aids with feedback control, eliminating this annoyance in most situations. This fully revised Third Edition is your Bridge to Healing.