The Hidden Impact of Hearing Loss

08/21/2024

I am approaching the completion of my book, 'I Still Hear His Voice: Reflections from a woman's journey to profound hearing loss and how she learned to better navigate the unique challenges that arise.'

08/08/2024

Trauma is held in our bodies and it becomes stuck when we’re unable to defend ourselves from a traumatic situation, or when we’re unable to run from it. Our fight or flight response is activated, but never resolved. And so, the trauma stays with us, held in our bodies, held in our nervous system, dysregulating it, keeping it stuck in a loop it can’t resolve.

However, with somatic practices, we can discharge this stuck trauma from our body and our nervous system, and actually resolve long standing fight or flight responses. This greatly contributes to nervous system regulation, alongside symptom relief, and the release of stored emotions which need to be expressed as they are released.

As you can see, there are many examples of somatic practices and they range from gentler, simpler practices such as breathwork and aromatherapy to the more involved such as TRE (Trauma Releasing Exercises) and Qigong. At Primal Trust we devote an entire module to Somatic Awareness and Movement as part of our Level 1 Regulate program, taking you through various somatic practices and guiding you on pacing these.

Sometimes the thought of the movement involved in practices like yoga or walking can seem overwhelming - the important thing is to do what works with where you’re at just now. Look to mindful walking as a goal, and focus on somatic practices that are less work just now such as massage and breathwork.

As you slowly begin to release the trauma from your body, you’ll become capable of more than you thought possible, both in emotional and physical capacity! 🧡

08/08/2024

Here is some inspiration for your upcoming month! 😊

When it comes to visualization, it can be difficult for our mind to go to these sorts of places or even come up with ideas when we’re stuck in chronic stress patterns.

Visualization is a powerful brain retraining tool that builds and develops neuroplasticity - so when you do this practice you are actually forming new neural pathways and activating those associated with the imagined experiences. This practice also calms your limbic brain and reduces stress by signalling safety to the brain.

The practice of visualization is also important to pattern disruption. By retraining our brain to respond positively as you practice, you are overwriting the negative thought patterns our brains may have become addicted to while in a maladaptive stress response. The more you practise visualization, the more you overwrite negative thought patterns with positive ones, and soon this is what your brain will default to.

So, the more you do it, the easier it gets. It can be difficult when you’re starting out, or perhaps feel a lack of positive memories for inspiration, so for those of you new to the practice these ideas will hopefully help. For those of you more experienced, these can add to and enhance your daily visualizations.

Feel free to share your favourite visalizations in the comments, and let us know if you’re using these! 🧡

07/30/2024

Too funny!! 🤣😂

07/10/2024

Yes, I recently penned my story about hearing loss, and my aim is that it would be a tool of empowerment and support for those with hearing impairments and their loved ones to navigate life, much like my workshops have done for 25 years.

06/21/2024

At 15, Patty Duke meets Helen Keller.

05/21/2024

Our brain and our body are intimately connected. Our thoughts create feelings and sensations that our body then has to respond to and process. But our limbic brain can get hijacked by repetitive thoughts when it’s trying to keep us safe.

We often have the same thoughts every day - and while most of the time these are totally innocuous, when it comes to our brain being stuck in a chronic stress response we have to practise conscious awareness to break out of these unhelpful thought patterns. This is where consistent brain retraining exercises can help us, but also where somatic practices are just as important.

When these chronic stress responses get stuck in our brains, they don’t have anywhere to go but our bodies, where they get stuck because they are in a cycle they can’t complete. Somatic practices can help trauma patterns to be felt safely and then released.

So when we say you don’t need to believe everything you feel, it’s not because it’s not real, but because these feelings are often telling you that you’re not safe, that you’re stuck, or that there’s no way forward. And that isn't true - through nervous system regulation, brain retraining, and somatic practices you can work towards feeling safe enough to let feelings flow through you 🧡

05/11/2024

Tinnitus affects 90% of people with hearing loss, and 70% of those with hearing loss remain undiagnosed and untreated. However, the good news is that 60% of people who receive treatment for hearing loss also experience significant relief from tinnitus.

05/07/2024

“Kindness is a language in which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Mark Twain

05/06/2024

For most people it's not a matter of if, but when, they will lose some sense of hearing. Still, we don't give hearing loss or hearing aids much thought until...

05/06/2024

Thanks to all the nurses involved in hearing healthcare! 💙

04/29/2024

It is like a jigsaw puzzle in your head, trying to put together what they are saying to you, all day every day, it can be exhausting 🧩

Photo Credit: Asphyxia 🥰

01/23/2024

It sure is!!

01/22/2024

NEVERMIND.

I asked a group of readers who are deaf or hard of hearing what it feels like when someone says NEVERMIND.

Many of the feelings were universal, things those with natural hearing take for granted or don’t realize.

Here is what they shared:

It causes a feeling of isolation.
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I feel like I am not important enough to be included.
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It seems like it takes too much effort for someone to repeat something for me.
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I work tirelessly to fill in the blanks. When I miss something, it is stressful.
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All I want is to fit in.
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Reading lips in exhausting. And I might not be good at it. When I ask you to repeat it, it is because I am either unsure or didn't hear it all.
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Imagine trying to understand a conversation at a concert or in a loud nightclub. That is what a group conversation is like for me.
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It’s incredibly frustrating.
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People treat me like I’m dumb or not important because I didn’t hear the first time.
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Degrading.
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As a teenager, I am never sure if someone is talking bad about me behind my back.
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Frustrating.
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I absolutely hate the word.
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At the moment someone says nevermind, I feel sad.
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I’m trying to participate and interact with others and if someone isn’t willing to repeat what they said, I feel excluded.
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It takes a lot of effort to listen to others but they won’t put in the effort with me I want to give up.
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It makes me want to participate less and less. ~
Makes me feel like I am nothing like I don’t matter; I’m not important enough.
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I feel alone.
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Belittled.
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Unimportant.
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I get so angry.
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GUTTED!

Next time someone who is deaf or hard of hearing asks you to repeat yourself, remember saying it again without judgment can make a huge difference in someone's life.

Understanding is key.

05/10/2023

This Q&A delves into the impact of Cochlear's Engagement Managers (EM) and Recipient Solutions Managers (RSM). Read on to see how these relationships can bolster clinic efficiency and further increase your recipients’ confidence with their new devices and to achieve hearing goals.

09/21/2022

08/31/2022

New hearing aids? Please read.

It can take awhile to get used to hearing aids, especially if you've never worn them before. These 7 tips will speed up your acclimation.

06/17/2022

Excited to have a camper turn counselor, Mackenzie, join us for the 10th annual campUS event!!

06/03/2022

Love this guy!

05/26/2022

So relate to this! Especially after I got my cochlear implants!!

04/24/2022

So precious!

04/19/2022

Amen!

03/03/2022

YES!! Please do! Your health and wellbeing depend on it!!

02/26/2022

Sweet…..

02/12/2022

The Super Bowl will include a spectacular halftime show, as usual, with some of the biggest names in hip-hop entertaining the masses while championship-contending teams take a break.

01/21/2022

Do you listen to music through earbuds? Our doctor explains why it's smart to turn the volume down to avoid permanent hearing loss.

01/14/2022

This special edition of This Week in Hearing offers a candid discussion on the health care landscape, as provided by two accomplished and distinguished

12/23/2021

Precious……
Merry Christmas!

Watch this adorable little girl sign for her deaf parents during her Christmas concert. It’ll warm your heart! In the middle of a sea of her classmates gesturing along to the song, this…

12/22/2021

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