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| Living with Hearing Loss
From the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education Every now and then, a reliable, accessible, accurate book on selected important issues in deafness appears in print. Living with Hearing Loss by Marcia Dugan is such a book. It is clear that the author wrote “for the consumer with the minds and heart of a consumer. Well organized, easy to read, and eminently practical, she covers all the bases…” (pp. ix-x). At first blush, it seems that this book is specifically for older adults, who—I learned—may wait as long as five to seven years before seeking assistance for their hearing difficulties. However, the consumer is actually a broad-based entity; this book has important information for parents, teachers, and professionals interested in deafness. There is indeed something for everybody. There are 42 chapters, many of them just a few pages in length. The book also contains a glossary and appendices, one of which provides information resources on hearing loss. There are few text citations, probably because the author felt that this interferes with accessibility. I would have preferred the use of citations that support many of the statements in the book. There are several themes around which the chapters are organized. The first few chapters cover the concept of hearing loss its affects on family and friends. The next few chapters focus on the anatomy and physiology of the ear and the various effects of medication on hearing. Considerable space is devoted to hearing aids, with one chapter on cochlear implants. Other topics include speech readings, oral interpreting, legal rights, effects on hearing in various places, use of the Internet, assistive devices, and psychosocial effects of hearing loss. There is even a brief chapter on SHHH (Self Help for the Hard of Hearing), for which the author served as a national board member and president. For many professionals in the field of deafness, none of the information is new. Nevertheless, it is gratifying to read some of the author’s remarks. For example, she debunks myths associated with hearing loss and the use of amplification systems. Her style is so positive, assertive, and encouraging that I started to feel guilty for all the times that I have faked my hearing loss in past social situations. Even experienced professionals may learn new information, especially about the effects of certain medications on hearing and the interesting concept of tinnitus (noises in the ear) and its treatment. There are tips for improving communication and signs for recognizing a hearing loss that would be useful information for general education classroom teachers. In essence, there is a wealth of accessible in formation in this little book. If readers desire additional or more in-depth information, they can contact the respective organizations in the appendix on resources. I think it would have been better to add a suggested reading list at the end of each major theme (i.e., after several chapters). Nevertheless, this is a good, practical book, and I promise the author that I will not fake my hearing loss again.
--Peter V. Paul, The Ohio State University
Marcia B. Dugan, who has a hearing loss and is a former president and Board of Trustees member of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), lives in Penn Yan, NY. ISBN 1-56368-134-X, 5 ½ x 8 ½ paperback, 192 pages, figures, index $13.95t
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