New to Hearing Loss? You're Not Alone
About 48 million Americans have hearing loss, and about 3 million of them live in Florida. Most waited years before asking for help. This page is for the day you decide not to wait.
What to do first
Get your hearing tested by an audiologist. A hearing test is painless, takes under an hour, and tells you what kind of hearing loss you have and what will help. Then talk to someone who has been through it. That is what HLAA chapters and Zoom meetings are for. You do not need a diagnosis, hearing aids or a membership to come.
1. Get a hearing test
See an audiologist or an ear, nose and throat doctor. Ask for a copy of your audiogram and have them explain it. In Florida, hearing tests are covered by many Medicare Advantage plans and some employer plans.
Finding a hearing professional in Florida2. Learn the basics
Understand the difference between hearing and understanding, why noisy rooms are hard, and what hearing aids, cochlear implants, captions and hearing loops actually do.
Hearing aids and OTC hearing aids3. Talk to people who get it
Come to a chapter meeting or join a captioned Zoom meeting. Ask the questions you are embarrassed to ask anywhere else. Nobody at HLAA will tell you to just turn up the TV.
Florida chapters and support groups4. Tell the people around you
Hearing loss is invisible. Your family, friends and coworkers cannot help until they know. Short, specific requests work best. See the tips below.
Help for family and friends
How to ask for hearing help
Asking for help is the hardest part, and it gets easier with practice. Be specific about what works for you. Instead of "I can't hear you," try "Can you face me when you talk? I read lips more than I realize." Instead of pretending to follow along, try "I missed that last part. Could you say it another way?"
At restaurants, ask for a table away from the kitchen and against a wall. At the doctor's office, ask for a written summary and bring someone with you. At work, ask for captioned video calls and a written agenda. These are reasonable requests, and the Americans with Disabilities Act backs you up on most of them.
What to expect at your first meeting
Meetings are relaxed. Someone will greet you at the door or in the Zoom waiting room. There is usually a speaker or topic, such as new hearing technology, Medicare, or coping at work, followed by open discussion. You can listen without saying a word.
Every meeting is built for people who do not hear well. In-person chapters use a hearing loop, an assistive listening system or captions. Zoom meetings have live captions. Speakers use a microphone. If you have never sat in a room where you could follow everything, this may be the first time.
But I'm not ready for hearing aids
That is a normal place to be. Many people wait years between noticing hearing loss and doing something about it. Hearing aids are one tool, not the only one, and you do not need them to start getting support.
Things you can do today without hearing aids: turn on captions on your TV and phone, ask for a captioned telephone through Florida's free FTRI program, use a speech-to-text app in conversations, and learn a few lipreading and communication strategies. Many people start with these and decide about hearing aids later, with better information.
Untreated hearing loss is linked to social isolation, falls and cognitive decline, so doing something matters. It does not have to be everything at once.
Keep learning
Hearing aids and OTC hearing aids
What they do, what they cost, and how over-the-counter options fit in.
Learn moreCochlear implants
When hearing aids are not enough. What the process looks like in Florida.
Learn moreHearing loops, telecoils and Auracast
How to hear clearly in churches, theaters and public buildings.
Learn moreMental health and hearing loss
Grief, anxiety and isolation are common. So is getting through them.
Learn more
Common questions
What is considered moderate hearing loss?
Audiologists group hearing loss by the softest sound you can hear, measured in decibels. Moderate hearing loss is generally in the 41 to 55 decibel range, and moderately severe is 56 to 70. In practice, moderate loss means you miss much of normal conversation without hearing aids, especially in noise. Your audiogram shows where you fall. Talk to an audiologist about what it means for you.
What is the 60/60 rule for hearing loss?
The 60/60 rule is a guideline for safe listening with headphones and earbuds: keep the volume at or below 60 percent of maximum for no more than 60 minutes at a time, then give your ears a break. It is a way to reduce noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent. If you already have hearing loss, ask an audiologist about safe listening levels for you.
What is the most recent treatment for hearing loss?
Treatment depends on the cause and type of hearing loss. Current options include hearing aids, including over-the-counter models, cochlear implants and other implantable devices, and for some causes, medication or surgery. Research into gene therapy and hair cell regeneration is under way but not yet a routine treatment. An audiologist or ENT can tell you which options fit your hearing loss.
Do I need a diagnosis before I come to a meeting?
No. Many people come to their first HLAA meeting before they have seen an audiologist, because they want to hear from others first. That is a good reason to come. You will meet people at every stage, from newly noticing a problem to decades with cochlear implants. Bring your questions.
Is hearing loss just part of getting older?
Age-related hearing loss is common, but common is not the same as harmless. Untreated hearing loss is linked to isolation, depression, falls and a higher risk of dementia. Treating it, with hearing aids, implants, captions or communication strategies, helps people stay connected and independent. A hearing test is the place to start.
Take the first step this month
Find a Florida chapter or join a captioned Zoom meeting. You can listen without saying a word.