#hearing disorder

[did-sm1-say-catfish]

something that cracks me up all the time is when im watching a show with captioning on and at the end it says “captioning done by [company name]” like, you have some balls being proud of that captioning

[cure-icy-writes]

things i’ve learned about hyperacusis, because the medical system is frankly SHIT

And frankly, I’d rather my experience help someone else who needs it. This isn’t universal or exhaustive, just something that I wanted to share. Anyone can reblog or add on, but don’t clown.

Hyperacusis is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme sensitivity to sound, and it’s a fucking bitch to deal with. I’ve had it for two years, and only recently got a diagnosis. In my case, I’m fairly certain it was caused by a combination of existing ADHD/sensory issues and the slowly building stress of high school, which is an entirely different can of worms that I still occasionally have vague nightmares about.

It’s hard to cope with, and largely not understood by the public.

You’re going to get some judgement from older folks about being “antisocial” for wearing headphones and avoiding crowds, especially if you’re younger. This is the equivalent of a squirrel encouraging a fish to be more outgoing when the fish is literally struggling to breathe and taking refuge in its bowl of water.

Earplugs will be your best friend. Don’t listen to audiologists who tell you that it’s the worst thing you can ever do to your hearing; the medical system is largely unsympathetic to your actual needs. Get them in bulk, and use them as needed. Silence is bad for your ears, yes, but damaging them with noise is even worse. Earplugs combined with over-the-ear headphones playing music is a good compromise.

Seriously. Stock the fuck up on these lil bitches. Put ‘em in an altoids tin and never leave the house without some. And don’t forget to use clean ones; these are disposable for a reason. If you store them in a dirty place, you’ll end up with an ear infection.

You may need accommodations, but that doesn’t make you any lesser of a person. Start looking around cripplepunk* spaces for confidence. Own your disability. You deserve to live just as much as anyone else, and you deserve to be happy. Accessibility may not be universal, but it sure isn’t optional either. You are worth more than what you can contribute to society.

If possible, an audiologist can help you get custom made earplugs to filter out sound equally. These let you reduce volume at all frequencies, as opposed to the foam earplugs which muffle sound.

Earplugs designed for musicians and autistic folks are also good options; ideally, you want to have something of a variety of hearing protection. Too much or too little will only make things worse. Find what works for you and allows you to function and heal. Active noise cancelling is also an option.

Lifestyle changes won’t fix the problem and you should be skeptical of anyone who says they will, but they’re also not something to be overlooked. Sound dampening panels can be expensive, but keeping soft things in your room can improve the sound absorption. For me, having a rather large fabric stash is an excellent solution, but plushies and hanging quilts are also reasonable. Reducing stress can help, too-- start setting some healthy and reasonable boundaries. Force yourself to view your distress as rational and justified, rather than something to push through.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is the main method used in treating hyperacusis, but this...can vary. In my experience, audiologists are unsympathetic shitheads about this, and can veer into victim blaming, so take it with a grain of salt and keep your own limitations in mind. It works on a similar principle as exposure therapy, rewiring the brain in order to break down the association between “noise = bad” and helping you become accustomed to normal levels of auditory processing. Never force yourself to do this if it causes you distress; take it at your own pace. Forcing yourself will only strengthen the associations created, and make things worse for you. Imagine your brain as a scared cat in a new house; give it space, then introduce new stimuli as needed. Tinnitus retraining therapy is not punishment. You don’t need to punish yourself for having this disorder, even if you think that’ll make it go away faster.

You deserve patience and love.

*cripplepunk, sometimes censored as c-punk, is a movement similar to disabled pride that centers the needs and lives of disabled folks over the convenience of the abled population. Not everyone is comfortable with reclaiming the word “cripple” and it should be used with discretion. Be wary of physical/mental separatism in disability.

Anyways, I think that’s all for now! I may add on more later, but I hope this helps.

[dimonds456]

went off on a tangent in the tages before realizing i went off topic so here they are now

[journeys-of-miso]

Keeping a positive mindset <3

Something I think is super important is always staying positive. When I was diagnosed, I found myself drowning in negativity. It didn't help that every article I read always had to talk about how it was so rare or how there was no cure.

What they forgot to mention was that just because these things aren't curable doesn't mean that they aren't manageable.

Not getting rid of something ≠ Not being able to live with it

I've learned to keep a positive attitude toward my misophonia and hyperacusis. For one thing, I refer to it as my... (drumroll please)

✨ear dazzle✨

Something else that I found helpful (if not a little silly) is viewing is my own real-life superpower (superhearing, ofc😅)

These kinds of things might seem silly, but it's little things like those that take things from unbearable to manageable.

Anything that helps you is a step forward, towards a happier, healthier you - and that's all that matters.

-Keep on feeling the love,

🧸𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑜🧸

[squeaky-kipper-blog]

You think it's an inconvenience for you when I cant hear a bloody word you say? You who covers their mouth, talks while facing down and away, repeating words at the exact same volume.

You just don’t get it.

[officialtexan]

New tattoo addition for our son.

[siearrafrost]

So today, I was resting after a long drive and I ran into something that already annoys me with #texting now invading #social-media messages. #Expectations of an immediate or #unreasonable amount of time. #Life is #chaos people and I don't have my #phone #glued to my hand. I had fun writing this one

Understanding Text Response Etiquette

[krishsst]

Top Benefits To Wearing Hearing Aid Machine

To get the best treatment for the hearing problem then our Hearing Aid Center In Chennai is the best choice.

Read more: https://fihfma.crowdicity.com/post/754499

#Hearingaid #best_hearing_aid #hearingmachine #aidshop #earaidmachine