Lifestyle support 

Coping with Hearing Loss

If you notice signs of hearing loss:

• Talk to your doctor.  ​

• Reach out friends and family about your hearing loss.

• Reduce unwanted noise sources; turn off the TV or audio player if you aren't actively listening.  

• Be aware of noise around you that can make hearing more difficult e.g. do not sit near the  restaurant kitchen or near a band playing music.

If you have trouble hearing other people, you should:

• Let people know you have a hearing problem.

• Ask people to face you, speak more slowly, clearly and louder without shouting.

• Pay attention to what is being said and to facial expressions or gestures.

• Let the person talking know if you do not understand what he or she said.

• Ask the person speaking to reword a sentence and try again.

• Find a good location to listen; place yourself between the speaker and sources of noise and look for quieter places to talk.

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Engage with national advocacy groups that respect your privacy 

• Hearing Loss Association of America

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 

• American Academy of Audiology

Share your voice with FDA to contribute to medical product development

• FDA is interested in formally engaging with you to learn about your individual experiences with  living with hearing loss, using medical products (drugs and devices) for treatment.

• Your experience help's inform the Agency's understanding of your daily life impact and perspectives as they review new medical products for approval.  

• Patient: Ask FDA

• Patient engagement opportunities

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