Accepting a hearing loss

When you encounter the diagnosis of your child, it is common that chaotic feelings like anger and guilt are present.

In time these feelings will change depending on how you as a parent to a hearing impaired child learn to cope with the hearing loss. This can be described as a process with a fluid series of points. Perhaps you may identify some of the points in the list below?

The chaotic feelings are quite normal. A certain amount of healing and acceptance must occur to prepare for the times ahead.

You are not alone

Many of these emotions may arise from unanswered questions. Often, the answers to these questions and awareness of the solutions available can be a source of great comfort.

Therefore, talk about it to anyone whom you may feel will shed some light on the subject or simply be there to listen to your concerns. Such questions as "Will my child’s life be hampered by the hearing loss?", "Will my child speak normally?" are quite typical. Remember that you are not alone.

Resources available to you and your child

You may wish to talk to your hearing healthcare professional, physician, other parents, educators or other hearing impaired persons.

Not only can these people help to answer your questions and address your concerns, but their stories may also help give you a positive perspective on the entire matter.

Ask your child’s hearing healthcare professional to direct you to organisations for hearing impaired people in your area.
 

Accepting your child’s hearing loss
  

Denial is a very normal reaction and is commonly experienced by a parent who has just been told that his or her child has a hearing loss. Denial occurs when the hearing healthcare professional objectifies the hearing loss i.e. with a hearing test.

Resistance is characterised by unwillingness to receive help i.e. by joining support groups or meeting with peer counsellors. Both resistance and denial are used to minimise the pain of the grief process to protect oneself.

Affirmation is seen when a parent may take his or her new identity on tentatively. The parent has a desire to help others and becomes active in organisations.

Integration or acceptance arises when the parent learns to live with the child’s hearing loss and spends time on others matters.

Reference: Luterman, D. M.  (2001). Counseling Persons with Communication Disorders and Their Families. Pro-ed, 1-207.