My kids have all been very fond of the Harry Potter series, both the movies and the books. One of the featured magical items in the series is the Cloak of Invisibility, which when worn would render the wearer invisible. It was one of the Deathly Hallows and the only Hallow known to have been passed down from generation to generation.
Hearing loss is surprisingly a lot like a cloak of invisibility. It can be passed down from generation to generation and when you are in a crowd it renders the “wearer” invisible. Imagine being with your friends and family at an event such as a birthday or graduation party and you can hear everything happening around you, but you can’t understand a word anyone is saying. So, you stand there saying nothing or you smile and nod politely because the conversation is lost to you. After a while it might seem as though people forget you’re there because you’re not participating in the conversation. You become invisible, isolated in a group of familiar faces.
Hearing loss is very isolating, and this is a fact. Hearing loss is a serious and overlooked public health issue that according to the NIDCD, affects an estimated 30 million people. It is known to be associated with dementia, increased risk of falling, reduced mobility, depression, anxiety, and social isolation. After a while people with hearing loss stop attending social engagements because they can’t actually socialize. Who wants to spend time with a group of people when you are going to sit there wearing your cloak of invisibility.
It is very important to recognize the signs that someone you are with is having a hard time engaging in conversation because they can’t understand what is being talked about. Typically, people are not bored or just ignoring the conversation, so please make an effort to make sure they are engaged with you. Rip off their cloak of invisibility.