Beverly Hills Hearing Center was founded in 1983 by Bonnie Baehr. Prior to that, Dr. Baehr practiced at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles as a staff audiologist for seven years. She was involved with diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluations, research and rehabilitation. Dr. Baehr did her clinical fellowship training at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in downtown Los Angeles. She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech Language and Hearing Association, California Academy of Audiology and Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Latest posts by Bonnie L. Baehr, Au.D. (see all)
- What to Know About Disclosing Hearing Loss - March 15, 2025
- Treating Hearing Loss Can Help Prevent Other Health Issues - March 5, 2025
- Types of Hearing Loss - February 26, 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 37 million Americans have difficulty hearing, making it one of the leading chronic health concerns in the United States.
When hearing loss appears in your life, adopting new communication strategies can seriously improve the ease of conversation. Choosing and using a way of sharing your hearing loss with people you are speaking to, is a proven and successful way to negotiate improved social interactions.
Types Of Hearing Loss
There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. The former occurs when sound is blocked from reaching the inner ear. This type of hearing loss is most often reversible, and common culprits include compounded ear wax, bony growths, or foreign objects (typically occurring in small children).
The latter type of hearing loss, sensorineural, results from a problem in the structures of the inner ear or the auditory nerve. Most sensorineural hearing loss cases are irreversible, and most are progressive. The leading causes of this type of hearing loss are aging and exposure to excessive noise.
How Hearing Loss Impedes Communication
We live in a highly verbal world, and changes to hearing health can greatly reduce the ease and enjoyment of conversation. When age and noise exposure harm the sensitive cells of the inner ear, the result is a reduced ability to hear the full frequency of sound, which impacts speech clarity.
Why A Disclosure Strategy Can Help
Letting people around you know that you struggle with hearing can improve conversation in a few ways. Instead of concealing the problem, bringing it into the open can alleviate the burden of trying to get it right. Once you’ve acknowledged that you are having trouble hearing what is being said, it is easier to ask people to repeat themselves.
Types Of Disclosure Strategies
There are two fundamental types of disclosure strategies. The first, a Basic Disclosure, simply means telling someone that you have hearing loss. It can be a simple sentence like ‘I have trouble hearing.’
A second type of disclosure statement also provides a solution, and it might sound like ‘I have trouble hearing, but it helps if you speak a bit slower and face me directly.’ Perhaps there are alternative tips that help you hear that you’ve discerned through trial and error. What’s important is that you share what works for you.
Practice your disclosure strategy sentence a few times by yourself until you feel comfortable. Then, begin practicing with a trusted friend. Adjusting to a hearing loss diagnosis isn’t easy, but research shows that it does get easier to disclose over time.
Schedule A Hearing Consultation Today
If you’re ready to investigate recent changes in your hearing, schedule a hearing consultation with us today. We’ll guide you through a simple hearing exam and thoroughly explain your results.