LWB Newsletter 8th August 2024
I’ve talked before about listening fatigue, and feelings that come up with the strain of listening for long periods of time or in noisy environments. New research suggests that mental exertion is often linked to unpleasant feelings such as stress and irritation. Challenging the idea that people enjoy mentally demanding tasks. A meta-analysis of 170 studies, involving 4,670 participants from diverse backgrounds, found a consistent connection between mental effort and discomfort across various tasks and populations.
Despite the discomfort, people still engage in challenging tasks, suggesting that the motivation lies in the rewards rather than the effort itself. The study highlights that while people may choose mentally demanding activities, it doesn't mean they enjoy the effort involved; they likely endure it for the potential benefits.
All the more reason to give yourself a break when you feel tired after a long listening day.
I remember being laughed at the first time I told someone about the strange noises I was hearing. I must have been around 10 or 12, I didn’t know what tinnitus was and neither did anyone around me. I thought perhaps I was going mad and didn’t mention it again.
It wasn’t until years later when I read an article in the local newspaper about tinnitus that the penny dropped. As annoying as the sounds were, I was relieved to have an explanation.
Tinnitus in children and adolescents is under-researched, however this article in Ear and Hearing suggests that more research is needed.
The impact on daily life appears less severe than in adults, and it is unclear if affected children experience psychological distress similar to adults. However the effects rise with age.
A study involving 4,964 children and 2,506 adolescents in the Netherlands found that 3.3% of children and 12.8% of adolescents reported tinnitus suffering, with a small percentage suffering severely (0.3% of children and 1.9% of adolescents). In adolescents, tinnitus was associated with both externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems, while in children, it was linked to internalizing issues such as stomach trouble and abdominal pain.
Hopefully this area will attract more research.
I’ve tried many things to help with my tinnitus and found mindfulness helpful. This article explores how it works.
Does Mindfulness Really Help With Tinnitus?
What Is Tinnitus?
Often described as a ringing or buzzing noise, it can also sound like a lawnmower under your pillow when you're trying to sleep at night.
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Not knowing about tinnitus and hearing loss wasn’t my parents fault. There still is so little information out there that many parents feel stuck. This article gives some resources and advice about what to do next.
Finding out that your child has hearing problems can cause a range of difficult emotions, shock, grief, denial, guilt, worry. Concern about your child’s education and their future.
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Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 19th July 2024
For many of us, the idea of self care means retreating into our own space until we feel better and more ready to face the world again. But could this self imposed isolation make us feel worse?
This article from The Guardian discusses some studies showing that one of the most effective ways of stopping our stress responses is being kind to others. These studies showed that kindness, when combined with social interaction has the biggest benefits.
Supporting friends and family can significantly enhance both physical and mental well-being, according to various scientific studies. The deeper the engagement, the greater the benefits.
Despite common advice to prioritize self-care during stress, this research indicates that altruism might be more effective in reducing stress and enhancing happiness than self-indulgence.
Not that anyone is suggesting that you become a martyr for your mental health. But if your self care plan of withdrawing under your duvet isn’t working, buying a coffee for a friend and having a catch up might work instead.
This idea is backed up by a study published in neuroscience news showing that small social interactions can help improve emotional resilience.
Researchers studied the feelings of people who had been socially excluded and found that the effects could be mitigated by having a converstion with a friend.
They found that negative thoughts and feelings were also reduced.
Are men worse at self care than women?
Gender socialization often prevents men from practicing effective self-care, leading to higher risks of disease, injury, and illness.
Traditional Western norms of masculinity restrict men's behaviors and self-care practices, making them reluctant to engage in activities perceived as feminine or to seek help. It doesn’t help that most self care products are marketed at women.
These mindsets include beliefs that self-care is unmanly, enduring pain is a sign of strength, and self-reliance means avoiding help. This makes it harder for men to reach out and get support when they need it.
Overcoming these barriers involves recognizing that self-care is not inherently gendered and emphasizing the importance of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being alongside physical health, for everyone.
You can read more of this article from Psychology Today here
Hearing loss can cause anxiety and stress, my latest blog post discusses why it happens, and how to deal with it.
Hearing loss, stress, and anxiety
Living with hearing loss can be challenging. The day to day struggle of engaging in conversations, the constant struggle to hear and understand others, breakdowns in communication, frustration, and
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 5th July 2024
I’ve seen a lot of articles and forum discussions recently about whether hearing loss can cause dementia.
Hearing loss is stressful enough without worrying about whether it will affect any future cognitive decline. This study published in Better Hearing Australia sets out the facts around dementia and discusses the many lifestyle choices that can increase/reduce the risk.
Some of the effects of hearing loss are loneliness and social withdrawl which can lead to depression.
Some of the things that can make dementia more likely in later life are loneliness, social withdrawl and having depression.
So there is no direct link - having hearing loss does not automatically mean that you will get dementia, but ignoring the effects hearing loss may be having on your mental health might put you at a higher risk.
Looking after your wellbeing, getting support if you are depressed, reaching out to social networks and staying socially active are all ways you can look after your mental health well into the future.
There are many ways that you can look after your mental health. This study of the effects of mindfulness meditation shows that even one 10 minute session of mindfulness meditation can improve cognitive function, attention and cognitive flexibility.
If 10 minutes of meditation can have a positive effect on your cognitive function, imagine what a daily practice could do…
Here are the latest articles from the blog.
One discusses why finding work/life harmony (not balance) is important for everyone, but also those adapting to hearing loss.
The second post talks about the negative emotions many of us try to suppress around our hearing loss and how using a different approach may be a better way forwards.
TUE, JUN 25
Why Work/Life Harmony Starts With You
At some point most of us feel like we are too busy but not getting anywhere.
Maybe you’re suffering from the hamster wheel effect or juggling everything and hoping nothing breaks.
THU, JUL 04
It’s Ok Not To Be Ok About Your Hearing Loss
Society teaches us that we shouldn’t talk about difficult feelings when they arise. Just deal with it and get over it. Move on.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 20th June 2024
According to the RNID, there are now 18 million people living with hearing loss in the UK. The previous estimate was 12 million but there have been some changes in how this number is calculated.
Population data from the 2011 census was used, they are now using the 2021-2022 census.
People with single sided deafness weren’t included before
It now includes people with lower levels of hearing loss.
This means that in the UK 1 in 3 people have hearing loss.
It’s not so surprising then, that 62% of adults report having difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
Research published in the Hearing Review states that 3 in 5 people struggle to hear conversation over background noise. Despite this, 43% said that they have never had a hearing test as an adult.
If people had their hearing checked as often as they had eye tests or went to the dentist, they would have the opportunity to protect their hearing and get support sooner.
With more education around hearing loss as well as positive stories of people in the public eye who where hearing aids, hopefully attitudes are changing.
Hearing loss can have many other side effects, one of the main ones, which can also cause depression and other health issues, is loneliness.
My latest blog post discusses what you can do if you’re starting to feel isolated.
TUE, JUN 18
A few years ago I became ill and lost my hearing completely. It was like I had an invisible bubble around me, separating me from everyone else. I could see them and knew they were speaking, but the
LWB Newsletter 6th June 2024
Hearing aid and headphone technology is starting to cross over more and more, with huge potential benefits.
One of the challenges with noise cancelling technology is allowing some sounds through whilst blocking others – similar to the challenge of hearing aids separating speech from noise.
Researchers from the University of Washington have been finding ways of using AI to enhance what someone can hear based on their listening preferences.
They have created an AI system called ‘Target Speech Hearing’ where a person wearing headphones can listen to one person in a noisy environment by looking at them for a few seconds to ‘enroll them’ and pressing a button.
The headphones then cancel out all other voices, even if the speaker moves around. At the moment it can only track one voice at a time.
The system is still evolving, and isn’t available commercially yet, but the researchers plan to see how their system could work in ear pods and hearing aids in the future
This could mean huge improvements for hearing aid users who often struggle to hear speech in noise.
Missing out on what others are saying is the main reason that social situations are stressful for people with hearing loss.
But did you know that anxiety can also affect your ability to hear well?
According to this research, the physical symptoms of anxiety – muscle tension, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, can also make tinnitus worse.
Many studies have shown a corelation between anxiety and tinnitus. During panic attacks, some people experience a loud ringing sound or a feeling of fullness in the ears.
When you’re feeling anxious, all your senses are on the lookout for threats, including your hearing. This means that it will be harder to concentrate on a conversation and hear what’s being said as your brain is focusing on other sounds.
This means that background noise may seem louder than usual, adding to the stress.
There are many ways to reduce anxiety, such as physical exercise, practicing self care, mindfulness as well as journaling.
You don’t have to see yourself as a writer to start journaling. And there’s no right or wrong way to start. You might want to write a list of accomplishments each day, or write about a certain event or task to get your thoughts in order.
You may want to get creative with your journal and use drawings, doodles or photos from your day. The process itself can calm your mind, gain some clarity around your thoughts and improve your wellbeing
This article from mindful explores the benefits of mindful journaling and how to get started
In my latest blog posts I’ve discussed the benefits of mindfulness for those with hearing loss. Whilst practicing mindfulness can’t bring your hearing back, it can help with self compassion and acceptance, and help you to move forwards.
The second post is about sign language, and the wellbeing benefits of learning something new and creating a new support network. I love learning sign language. I’m not fluent enough to coach or run courses in BSL yet, but love the idea of being able to support others in the future.
TUE, MAY 28
How Mindfulness Can Help With Hearing Loss
Whilst there is plenty of technical help for hearing loss, from hearing aids and sound streamers to transcription apps, there is less support for the emotional side of losing your hearing.
TUE, JUN 04
How learning sign language can support your wellbeing
As a life coach, I’m often encouraging clients to try new things.
Learning a new skill engages your brain in a different way than work does and it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 25th May 2024
Have you ever noticed that when you come across a pleasant scent – like cut grass or the air after rainfall – that you breathe deeper?
Does it make you feel more relaxed?
Calmer?
Focusing on the breath is the basis of many meditation practices, and noticing what you can smell is sometimes mentioned during sensory practices.
However this recent study suggests that we need more understanding of how natural scents affect wellbeing.
There have been plenty of studies saying that being out in nature improves our physical and mental health. But not much research has focused on how natural smells from plants around us can affect our health.
This could inform further research as well as action on air pollution and protecting natural spaces.
Whilst aromatherapy practitioners say that inhaling different oils from plants have many beneficial effects, so too could simply walking in nature, or sitting in the garden, and breathing.
I think that’s a good reason to buy some more plants. (Not that I ever needed an excuse!)
If you’re interested in improving your wellbeing, I have a new 8 week Mindfulness course, for people with hearing loss or tinnitus, starting in June.
No previous experience of mindfulness is necessary. Reply to this email if you have any questions.
When my hearing started to get worse, I often felt like my head was fuzzy. Even though I could still hear what people were saying , I couldn’t focus or hold the information.
It felt like I was half asleep and just couldn’t concentrate.
After speaking to others with hearing loss I found out this is quite common.
This weeks blog post is about how to cope with it.
THU, MAY 23
Is hearing loss affecting your concentration? Here’s what to do about it.
Are you forgetting things?
Are you finding it harder to concentrate and stay on task?
I once confided in a friend that I was worried about my focus and memory, she laughed and made some comments about …
After much thought and some research, I’ve decided to change this newsletter to bi-weekly. As ever, if you have any comments or suggestions, just reply to this email.
Thanks.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 16th May 2024
You may have seen this week that The Guardian ran an article about a child that had their hearing restored.
The 18 month old, called Opal, has auditory neuropathy, a genetic disease that causes deafness by not allowing signals from the ear to reach the hearing nerve.
She is part of the CHORD trial, which uses gene therapy to correct the faulty gene.
Reactions to this news are mixed.
Many Deaf people are against this kind of intervention, as they see it as further attacks on their language and culture.
Publishing this during Deaf Awareness Week just added insult to injury as it’s a week where sign language and deaf culture are celebrated.
However many people who lost their hearing in later life, and aren’t part of the deaf community, welcomed the news and would love to have their hearing restored.
Other research is focused on solving the problem of understanding speech in noise and working out where sound is coming from.
This article published in Science Daily discusses research from Marcquarie University, which changes a 75 year old theory about how our brains work out where sound is coming from. The previous theory was that humans had a complicated neural network for sound localisation.
Hearing aid technology has been based around this theory.
However researchers found that the process is much simpler, and carried out by a much smaller neural network.
This research could mean changes in the way hearing aids and smartphones are developed, meaning there could be big improvements in the future.
If you’re interested in improving your wellbeing, I have a new 8 week Mindfulness course starting in June. No previous experience of mindfulness is necessary. Reply to this email if you have any questions.
Last week may have been deaf awareness week, but it’s something we face everyday.
Work can be especially stressful, so if things start changing at work it can cause more worry
This weeks blog post is about how to cope with it.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 9th May 2024
Have you had negative experiences from your hearing loss? You aren’t alone.
Statistics from recent research carried out by the RNID says that 67% of people who are deaf or hard of hearing have experienced negative attitudes from others in the last year.
Sadly, 48% have experienced these negative attitudes from their own family. These experiences include being shouted at, being ignored, or being excluded from conversations where people say ‘it doesn’t matter’.
Is it any wonder that people who are deaf or are losing their hearing feel isolated and excluded? The attitudes of others can have a deep impact on our self esteem and wellbeing.
Educating others can be exhausting. And it’s difficult to advocate for yourself if you aren’t confident with talking about your hearing loss.
Deaf Awareness Week is focused on changing attitudes and lifting stigmas around deafness and hearing loss, which is great. But if this is something you’re struggling with, it’s important to look after your wellbeing too.
Whilst ‘looking after your wellbeing’ may conjure up an image of having a bath with a glass of wine, a better option for good mental health is getting active.
This study from Anglia Ruskin University found links between low to moderate intensity exercise and a reduction in depression and anxiety
You don’t have to put in hours at the gym to benefit from exercise. Activities such as walking, golf and gardening were shown to reduce the risk of depression by 23% and anxiety by 26%.
So instead of breaking out your aerobics gear, go for a walk. Make it a part of your daily routine. It’s a chance to get away from the busyness of your day, get some fresh air and clear your head.
You could also try mindful walking, which involves focusing on your breath, body and senses as you move.
Notice the way your muscles and body feel with each step.
Notice what you can see, the different colours and textures around you.
Notice the feelings on your skin, the breeze or the sunshine.
What else usually boosts your mood?
Make a list of activities that you enjoy doing.
What will you do first?
Latest post from the blog.
How wearing hearing aids (and taking them off) can support your wellbeing.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe
LWB Newsletter 2nd May 2024
It all begins with an idea.
Next week is deaf awareness week.
It’s when various people and organisations raise awareness and try and lift the stigma of being deaf or having hearing loss.
But what about when our own feelings about our hearing loss are at odds with ‘deaf pride’ and the idea that people with hearing loss can do anything.
Many people who lose their hearing in later life feel the opposite.
A study published in the journal of the American Auditory Society, Ear and Hearing, looked into the relationship between how people feel about their hearing loss and social stigmas.
It found that social stigma can be internalised and can change how someone sees themselves.
They found that the stigma of hearing loss is strongly related to the stigma of aging, such as becoming incompetent and useless as we grow older.
Overall, they found that social stigma can make people with hearing loss feel negatively about themselves. This results in feelings of becoming incompetent, worthless or not good enough, leading to isolation and depression.
Hopefully with increasing awareness, the social stigma around hearing loss will begin to fade.
And by showing kindness and compassion to ourselves, the internalised negativity will be replaced by something positive, non-judgemental and forgiving.
This can take time.
So, if deaf awareness week makes you want to hide under the duvet, that’s ok too.
Latest posts from the blog
What’s hearing loss really like?
There are many different types and levels of hearing loss, but experiences are the same.
How To Be Mindful When You Don’t Have The Time.
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day — unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” -Zen proverb
This article discusses how to bring mindfulness into the everyday.
Talk soon,
Sue.
Founder of Live Work Breathe