Grieving the Old You After Hearing Loss
Hearing loss doesn’t just change how you hear; it can also change how you see yourself. Many people are surprised by the sense of grief that can come with it. You might still be working, parenting, and socialising, and on the surface, life may look much the same. Yet hearing loss often reaches into many areas of our lives, because hearing plays such a key role in how we interact with the world, make sense of our surroundings, and feel safe.
What I Wish I Knew About Living with Hearing Loss
Losing part of your hearing can feel like losing a part of you. It’s not just sound. It’s connection, ease of conversation, confidence, and your sense of place in the world. Looking back, I realise how important it was for me to accept the reality of my hearing loss. I gave myself time and space to process it all. I allowed myself to be in shock, angry, frustrated, and sad. I took time to reminisce about times when my hearing played an integral part in my enjoyment of life, such as summer music festivals, honouring the hearing I had lost.