| When hearing loss strikes, whether it is a gradual | | | | manifest itself as outright rage. The person might |
| onset process or sudden deafness, several emotional | | | | become snappish and short tempered. They might |
| stages will follow. Knowing what these stages are | | | | lose patience easily, or they might become hostile in |
| and how they might affect you or your loved one | | | | other ways. |
| will help you understand the process and move | | | | Stage Four: Depression |
| through the various stages more easily. What are | | | | Depression is often the next stage in the process of |
| these stages? Actually, there are five stages here, | | | | realization that loss of hearing has occurred. A person |
| much as there are five stages in the grieving process. | | | | might have feelings of worthlessness; they might |
| Some experts point out that there are other | | | | develop low self-esteem or become very lonely. |
| similarities here, as the person losing their hearing is | | | | Depression can be a dangerous stage, though it is |
| actually grieving for their lost faculty. | | | | often short lived. If you know someone in this stage, |
| Stage One: Denial | | | | attempt to engage them in conversation, actively |
| Denial is the first stage of the process, just as it is | | | | listen to them and include them in as many activities |
| with many other traumatic experiences. Losing one's | | | | as possible. If you find yourself within this stage, it is |
| hearing is certainly a traumatic thing and many | | | | important that you understand your feelings are |
| patients will disbelieve that it is occurring to them. | | | | derived from grief, rather than from reality. |
| Usually, the person will attempt to place blame for | | | | Stage Five: Acceptance |
| the loss of hearing on others. They might say that | | | | As with any other loss, the final stage in this process |
| other people mumble, that the environment is too | | | | is acceptance. Once a person has accepted the fact |
| loud or attempt to shift the blame from themselves | | | | that they are losing their hearing, due to whatever |
| in another way. | | | | reason, they can begin taking steps to rectify the |
| Stage Two: Withdrawal | | | | situation. However, until the acceptance stage is |
| Once the person realizes that their loss of hearing is | | | | reached, the person will likely be unwilling to |
| real, this realization will have a direct affect on the | | | | investigate their options. Treatment options do exist |
| way in which they live their lives. They might | | | | though, such as rehabilitation, hearing aids, aural |
| withdraw from social situations, or opt out of | | | | training and even surgery in rare cases. |
| activities they once found enjoyable. This is a natural | | | | Understanding these five stages will help you |
| reaction, as the person is still dealing with the | | | | overcome your loss of hearing and begin moving |
| repercussions of their loss. | | | | toward finding a solution. If you know someone going |
| Stage Three: Anger | | | | through this process, knowing ahead of time what to |
| It's quite natural to become angry about hearing loss | | | | expect will help you be there for that person and |
| during the grieving process. However, this might not | | | | help him or her come to terms with his or her loss. |