When the hearing gets hard

by Elaine Suss

"The National Institute on Deafness reports that a total of 28 million Americans are affected by hearing impairment. For these people, routine tasks may be full of unexpected difficulties - the "simple" act of communication can become a frustrating and humiliating experience." "When the Hearing Gets Hard addresses this and other challenges with rare sensitivity and compassion. Elaine Suss, a hearing-impaired journalist, novelist, and poet, encourages people with impairment to cultivate a rewarding life by learning how to cope with telephones, doorbells, driving, shopping, and participation in other public activities. Strategies for interacting with family members, friends, children, co-workers, medical personnel, shopkeepers, and other service attendants are carefully presented to help people with hearing impairment avoid any awkwardness or embarrassment." "In addition to providing insight from personal experiences, the author recounts the fascinating experiences of hearing-impaired ac