SMART HEARING

A manual provides advice on navigating the nuances of adult hearing loss.   

In her third book on the subject, veteran journalist and lifestyle blogger Bouton (Living Better with Hearing Loss, 2015, etc.) offers additional guidance and strategic pathways to live and thrive with adult-onset hearing loss. In addition to presenting surprising statistical data and in-depth research, the author anecdotally draws from her experiences as a woman who began noticing hearing loss in her early 30s and, just a few decades later, now uses hearing aids in both ears. Supplementing basic tips, like how to talk to someone with hearing loss, the guide addresses such integral issues as the importance of assessing your own hearing abilities and looking for signs of impairment, the causes of aural problems, recommendations for finding a good audiologist, and what to expect on your first visit. A significant section thoroughly examining the wide world of hearing aids (including how to finance them) and cochlear implants is approachably written and easily readable, making the book ideal for readers of any age who suffer from varying stages of aural loss. Bouton also gets personal with this subject, noting that hearing aids involve vanity and pride factors because less than 20 percent of adults “ages 20 to 69” who “could benefit from” the items actually use them. Highly descriptive and comprehensive, this savvy book makes an attractive companion volume to the author’s 2013 memoir (Shouting Won’t Help), which plumbed the fear, denial, and stigma of coming to terms with hearing impairment, showing how its deleterious effects can extend to encompass relationships with family and significant others. Suggestions on how to travel comfortably with hearing impairment complement tips on choosing quieter restaurants and attending social gatherings. Bouton’s manual emphasizes the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of what she calls an “invisible disability” and that early treatment is key while delivering a final word of encouragement that a cure for hearing loss is surely on the medical-breakthrough horizon.  

Sage guidance and practical tips for the management of hearing loss along with a reminder of how “important healthy hearing is for healthy aging.”