Sophia’s Reviews > Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness: A guide to owning it and loving it > Status Update

“Stop apologising for existing. Instead of ‘I can’t hear’, choose ‘I don’t hear’. Instead of ‘Sorry, I’m deaf,’ choose ‘I’m deaf’ - and see what adjustments are made. Don’t waste energy or pain on those who don’t value who you are, what you need, or what you’ve been through.”

Aw, this is very sad to hear she had to give up live comedy because of her hearing loss and the consequent concentration fatigue and the effect it had on her mental health.

“Deafness and hearing loss affects your energy levels, with something known as listen fatigue. This comes from increased focus and concentration, whether this is following a conversation or being extra-alert to your surroundings. It is physically and mentally exhausting to keep up and follow along with hearing people.”

“There's nothing worse than trying to communicate with a hearing person who just says, 'Oh, don't worry about it’ and walks off. Do not dismiss us and refuse to try an alternative method of communicating; there is nothing more upsetting than being disregarded because we aren't initially understanding you.”

It is upsetting.

“Hearing loss caused by noise actually results in an initial loss of the higher frequencies. This will then spread to other frequencies if the exposure continues. My hearing loss was originally in the higher frequencies, which means goodbye to birdsong, some doorbells and my watch alarm.”

I hope they introduce BSL as part of the school curriculum.

'Basic deaf awareness goes a long way - make sure you face someone when you're talking, and repeat or rephrase information if the person doesn't understand you the first time. Don't make assumptions’.

I’ve heard: “but you can hear” after I’ve made up the gist of a sentence based on the words I HEARD. Which does not mean I heard everything you said. The assumptions *sigh*

12 million people in the UK are living with hearing loss and deafness. That’s about 1 in 5 people in the UK.