Independent Living with Hearing Devices – How to Make it Work

For individuals with hearing devices, the journey towards embracing and empowering solitude is a journey that requires trial and error. In this article, we will explore how hearing devices can be used as an advantage for independent living, allowing individuals to relish in the quiet moments while savoring the loud ones. 

Independent Living and Listening Between the Lines 

For those with hearing devices, solitude can become the new normal. As an individual living alone with hearing aids, it is not uncommon to hear things you normally would not pick up on when living independently. For example, common sounds such as birds chirping, doors creaking, or neighbors wrestling, would be sounds that would be tricky to pick up on if others were around. By living independently, people with hearing aids are able to pick up on these sounds and listen between the lines. 

Enhanced Connectivity Within Yourself

For individuals who are living alone with hearing loss, enjoying enhanced connectivity to the surrounding environments can be an unexpected perk. While living alone, individuals can dig deeper into their inner thoughts and understand themselves just a little bit better. Living alone is a great way to jumpstart your journey to self-discovery, no matter if you are hard of hearing or not! 

Understanding Joys of Reading and Learning

For those who are avid book readers or poetry junkies, living alone with hearing aids can be a great time to invest in your love of literature. oftentimes, people with hearing aids find that the joys of literature are amplified. if it has been a while since you have picked up a book, screenplay, or poetry novel, consider this your sign to do so! 

Mastering the Art of Unplugged Living

Just because you live independently does not mean that you have to constantly be connected to technology. In fact, it is recommended for those with hearing aids to disconnect as they rely on technology so heavily to communicate during the day. Mastering the art of unplugged living as somebody with a hearing device is a great skill to practice when living independently.

Establish a Support System

Establishing a strong support system when you live alone is an important way to stay connected with friends and family. Be sure that you will inform important people around you about your hearing loss, such as building managers or neighbors. You never know when they might be able to help Advocate on your behalf! 

Invest in Assistive Devices

There are many assisted living devices that have been recently introduced to the world of technology that can be extremely beneficial to those with hearing loss who are living alone. These pieces of Technology include alarm clocks, captioned telephones, doorbell signalers, and more. 

Create a Visual Environment

Tapping into your visual side and creating a more visual environment can be a great way to make your space more comforting and tailored to your needs. Try using color-coded labels, visual timers, and other visual methods of communication and navigation to help yourself live independently in a confident way. 

Develop Effective Communication Strategies

Developing effective communication strategies and staying true to what works for you is a great tip when it comes to living alone with hearing loss. As you interact with others, make sure to communicate your preferred methods of communication and what works best for you. Self-advocacy is one of the most important lessons you will learn when living alone, especially if you are hard of hearing!