Hearing Loss Is a Practice, Not a Perfect By Shari Eberts
I am almost as passionate about yoga as I am about hearing loss advocacy. I try to practice yoga every day but during COVID-19 when I could not visit the yoga studio, conditions were not ideal. I created a dedicated space for my yoga practice at home, but it is also the walkway out to the backyard. When temperatures dropped I brought in space heaters to simulate the warm temperatures of my studio, but they can only do so much. “It’s a practice, not a perfect,” my yoga teacher reminds us as we struggle with the frustrations of taking class from home. “Optimize the conditions and do the best you can in the moment. Then try again tomorrow.” Good advice for practicing yoga, and also for living with hearing loss. Wouldn’t it be nice to approach each listening challenge with this same attitude— open-minded, without expectations, but all the while actively working to optimize the circumstances to help you hear your best? This outlook can be the difference between anger or determination, isolation or engagement, and frustration or peace in living with hearing loss, tinnitus, or both. It is not an easy task. These thoughts may go through our minds each time we hit a challenging listening situation. “My hearing will never be perfect.” “Hearing aids help, but they don’t work like glasses, restoring hearing back to ‘normal.’” 8
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