Filling in the Gaps – The Hidden Challenges of Hearing Loss

Why does a night out need a risk assessment, and why can a pool day on holiday feel so isolating? In episode 2 of The Hearing Edit, audiologist Dr Yovina and actor, model and deaf advocate Georgia Meacham talk about the hidden challenges of hearing loss, from restaurants and phone calls to dating, holidays and listening fatigue. Episode 2: Filling in the Gaps – The Hidden Challenges of Hearing Loss Living with hearing loss means thinking about lots of small things that hearing people never have to. They're little things, but they add up. In this episode, Georgia shares the everyday challenges most people don't see, and Yovina explains what's going on and how to make life easier. Together they talk about: • The safe list. Before every night out, Georgia runs through a mental tick list: where are the speakers, how's the lighting, where's the quietest corner, and are there any babies? Why that "pre-social stress" is real, and why it's OK to ask to change tables. • Friendships and being misunderstood. Some friends make adjustments without being asked. Others assume that if your hearing aids are in, you're fine. Georgia also explains why she has to be introverted to be extroverted. • Why Georgia never picks up the phone. Calls have to be planned, in a quiet room, on loudspeaker. We also talk about Bluetooth and music, and why even the best hearing aids are designed for speech, not music. • "Never mind, it doesn't matter." Why missing one part of a conversation can mean missing the whole evening, and the domino effect that follows. • When your hearing aids get misread. A hearing aid affected by the heat, a voice that came out louder than Georgia realised, and a misunderstanding that followed. Yovina explains why heat and condensation can change how you hear your own voice. • Dating with hearing loss. When do you tell someone? Georgia shares the time a boyfriend already knew and didn't think it was a big deal. Yovina explains why partners should come along to audiology appointments, and why calling from upstairs or chatting at the sink is not a realistic expectation. • Listening fatigue. It's one of the biggest hidden challenges, and one of the least understood. Imagine reading a book where every third word is missing, and your brain filling in the gaps all day. Yovina explains why hearing aids help but can't get rid of it completely. Georgia shares how she manages her energy. • Holidays. Pools, sun, beach bars and noisy clubs are some of the hardest places for hearing aids. Georgia talks about sitting out a pool day on a hen do, why holidays with her mum feel easier, and what she always packs. • The Truth Edit. How many people wouldn't date someone who wears hearing aids? The answer comes from RNID. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back to The Hearing Edit 00:54 The safe list for nights out 04:29 Deaf-aware friends and being misunderstood 06:30 Introvert, extrovert, or both? 07:13 Why Georgia never picks up the phone 08:45 Bluetooth, music and hearing aids 10:52 Telling new people about your hearing loss 14:07 "Never mind, it doesn't matter" 15:33 When your hearing aids get misread 17:43 A word from Nuance Audio 18:36 Dating with hearing loss 26:01 Listening fatigue 34:00 Holidays with hearing aids 41:17 The Truth Edit 43:11 Our takeaways Mentioned in this episode • RNID • Dinner table syndrome • Listening fatigue • Dr Yovina's blog: Hearing aids built into glasses: Nuance Audio Sponsored by Nuance Audio Nuance Audio is the invisible hearing solution built into glasses. It's designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and makes speech clearer while leaving your ears free and comfortable. Find out more at https://www.nuanceaudio.com Meet your hosts • Dr Yovina is an audiologist and the founder of Dr Yovina Audiology. Find Dr Yovina at @dryovina on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. • Georgia Meacham is an actor, model and deaf advocate. Find her at @georgiameacham. Links About Dr Yovina: https://www.dryovina.co.uk/about-dr-y... Dr Yovina Audiology: https://www.dryovina.co.uk/ Hearing aid choices: https://www.dryovina.co.uk/service/he... Hearing aid care tips: https://dryovina.co.uk/hearing-aid-ca... The impact of hearing loss: https://dryovina.co.uk/the-impact-of-... Hearing aids built into glasses: https://dryovina.co.uk/hearing-aids-b... Nuance Audio: https://www.nuanceaudio.com RNID: https://rnid.org.uk/ If this episode got you thinking, follow The Hearing Edit, leave us a review, and send it to someone who needs to hear it. New episodes every week.