| Often one of the symptoms of acoustic neuroma is | | | | is moving their lips. They seem to be talking to you. |
| single sided hearing loss. Depending on the tumor size, | | | | You have no idea how long they have been speaking. |
| type of treatment and other factors, single sided | | | | They do not seem to notice that you have not |
| deafness or near deafness can be one of the | | | | heard a single word. |
| outcomes of treatment. | | | | The following tips are being offered to help you |
| If you are living with one sided hearing loss or | | | | cope: |
| deafness, you may be familiar with some of the | | | | *Use visual cues and knowledge of your environment |
| following scenarios. | | | | to figure out where a voice is coming from. |
| You are walking down the street, or across campus, | | | | *Use seating arrangements to your advantage. With |
| or through a parking lot. A friendly voice is calling your | | | | experimenting, you will eventually figure out the best |
| name. Your look around but can't see who it is. They | | | | places to sit in a group setting. |
| continue to cheerfully call out, "Over here!" Each time | | | | *Turn to face a person sitting on your deaf side, |
| you ask where, they again call out, "Over here!" | | | | even though it feels awkward at first. |
| You are in a noisy restaurant at a work related | | | | *Communicate your needs to others. Be easy on |
| meeting. You can't hear the person beside you on | | | | them if they forget. Just tell them again. |
| the side of your deaf ear. You can hear some of | | | | *Be easy on yourself. It is not your fault this |
| what the person on your other side is saying. You | | | | happened. You owe it to yourself to speak up so |
| can hear some of what the person across from you | | | | others can help to include you. |
| is saying. You can't hear your boss, who called the | | | | *Have a sense of humor. The best laid plans are |
| meeting. You hope you aren't missing any important | | | | bound to go wrong, and it would behoove you to |
| information | | | | learn to laugh about it. |
| You are at a social get together. Not everyone there | | | | *Relax! In most social settings, most people won't |
| knows you well or knows about your single sided | | | | hear most of what is said. You can always catch up |
| deafness. You are doing your best to participate and | | | | with people one on one, later. |
| to fit in. You are picking up the gist of the | | | | *Have a daily relaxation routine, such as breathing |
| conversation with those right across from you or | | | | exercises, yoga, or walking. It will go a long way |
| right next to your hearing ear. In fact, you are doing | | | | toward helping you cope and put things in |
| a bit of grinning and nodding, and making a few | | | | perspective. |
| comments here and there, which you hope are | | | | I hope these tips have been helpful to you. I wish |
| relevant. You happen to look to the side of your | | | | you the best on your acoustic neuroma journey. |
| deaf ear, and see that the person sitting beside you | | | | |