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The school has been in session for a while, and everyone is happy to see their friends, meet new people, and learn new things. However, hearing might make some students unhappy. Some people say that hearing loss is like having the flu because it makes you feel cut off from the world around you. This “Flu” never goes away, which is a shame. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do things, especially in college.
We want people to know that you should never have to choose between getting good grades and caring for your hearing. You can deal with hearing loss, and there are many things you can do. Here are some tips for young adults who are going to college for the first time:
Get involved!
It can be hard to get involved, but making more friends will make you happier, give you more confidence, and help you find people who share your interests.
Check out the student resources
There may be a center or office for students with disabilities on your campus. It’s essential to learn about their services, like seeing an audiologist, taking speech or sign language classes, or asking professors to reduce the volume in their classrooms.
Find out more about your teachers
With your advisor’s help, you can inform your teachers ahead of time about how you need to be helped. Try to meet with them in the first week of the new semester, and send them an email to set up a time. This will let them know what you need for class and give you a chance to start preparing yourself and your environment for the best learning possible.
Some students wrote a short description of their hearing problems and tips and strategies they and their teachers could use to help them study better. You can email it to them or print it out for them to read. You might be able to prepare better if you ask for lecture or meeting schedules ahead of time, and following up to check material can help you stay on track.
Tell people you have trouble hearing.
It’s not easy, but speaking up for yourself is essential. If you do this in college, you’ll be ahead of the game when you start working for a living. Some of your classmates may have never met a deaf or hard-of-hearing person. When it comes to being able to talk to them, this may make them uncertain, just as it may make you uncertain. Take the time to meet with a few people you think will be involved in your studies or class projects. This will help them understand your needs and help you be more productive and interested in your work.
There are many possible solutions, but the one that helps people talk to each other more quickly is probably the best. You could say, “I have trouble hearing out of my left ear, so it would help me a lot if you faced me and spoke more to my right side during our conversation.” before using it in college or university, it would also be helpful to try it out with a trusted friend or family member.
Pick the best place to sit
Look around your classroom or lecture hall to find your best seat. Choose a seat away from windows, doors, busy areas, and loud fans or ventilation systems. Tell the teacher ahead of time what you plan to do, and depending on how the room is set up, try to sit near the front and in the middle for the best view. This will give you a better view of your lecturer when they talk and any audiovisual aids they may use.
How to treat hearing loss
Please get in touch with us if you started college this year and are worried about hearing loss. Our dedicated hearing professionals will ensure you get the help you need so you can understand your professors and classmates. Our hearing aids aren’t too big and come with great programs to help you hear better at school and at home. Find out how hearing aids can help you do well in school, from features that help you tell where sounds are coming from to those that reduce background noise and improve speech.