When I first started losing my hearing, I thought the best approach was to stay quiet. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I didn’t want pity. I didn’t want to be “the guy with the hearing problem.” Actually given that my hearing loss was diagnosed when I was 13 years old, I most definitely didn’t want to be ‘that kid with hearing loss’
But staying silent didn’t protect me, it isolated me. Conversations became exhausting. I pretended to hear when I didn’t. I laughed at jokes late, hoping no one noticed. I responded in the wrong way on the odd occasion when I wanted to join a conversation. The more I hid my hearing loss, the thicker my wall of isolation grew and as a result the smaller my world became.
Everything began to change when I found the courage to speak up. This was not a lightbulb moment where I changed overnight. It was a long, painful, emotionally draining trek. I was barely floating in a vast ocean of sounds and conversations that I missed for most of my life and in the end I either had to clutch at the proverbial straw or just give up and sink into my oblivion. Thankfully the straw become my lifeline and by embracing my hearing loss rather than avoiding it I was able to transform it into something that gave me strength and the courage to advocate.
Why I Chose to Speak Up
Speaking up wasn’t about being brave for the sake of it, it started as survival, but over time, it became something more. It became empowerment, both for myself and for others.
For years, I expected people to just “get it,” to understand what it meant to live with hearing loss. But how could they? Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, you can’t possibly know the daily challenges, the exhaustion, the isolation, the constant guesswork. I realised that if I wanted people to include me, I had to give them the tools to do so. It wasn’t about demanding special treatment, it was about education, awareness, and connection.
When I finally began telling friends, colleagues, even strangers that I had hearing loss, something unexpected happened: I began to accept my hearing loss more deeply myself. Instead of hiding it, I leaned into it. I realised that the lessons I had learned, after years of struggling, missing out, and feeling overwhelmed, gave me not only knowledge but also confidence. And with that came a purpose: to make sure as few people as possible would have to go through what I did in silence.
What once felt like my greatest weakness became a source of strength. By speaking up, I could participate again. I could connect, contribute, and live more fully. My world didn’t shrink anymore, it expanded. And in doing so, I discovered that my voice could help others find theirs too.
Advocacy Starts Small
Advocacy doesn’t have to mean standing on a stage or leading a campaign. More often, it starts with small acts, asking someone to repeat themselves, moving to a quieter spot for a chat, or letting people know you lipread. These moments might seem minor, but they send a clear message: needs matter, yours and other people’s.
Several years ago, I saw this in action. I was on my lunch break at my favorite café when I noticed a young man ahead of me, possibly deaf, wearing hearing aids and communicating by pointing at the menu high on the wall. The staff member kept asking questions he clearly couldn’t understand. After what felt like too long, I stepped forward and said, “Just write down what you’re trying to ask him!” The staff member froze, then grabbed a notepad and wrote the question. Problem solved, instantly. The young man looked relieved, the staff member embarrassed, but the order went through.
As I left, another customer stopped me and said, “I saw what was happening, but I didn’t think it was my place to say anything. Thank you for helping that man.”
That moment stuck with me. Advocacy isn’t just about speaking up for yourself, it’s also about stepping in when someone else can’t. And sometimes, by stepping in for them, you give them the confidence to do it themselves next time. This is why I do what I do!!
Small acts of advocacy don’t have to be big or intimidating, they often show up in everyday moments. For example:
- In a café – You might choose a seat away from the coffee machine or speakers, then explain to your friends that sitting there helps you follow the conversation more easily.
- At work – Instead of relying on verbal instructions, you could ask for key details to be sent by email or text. This ensures nothing important gets lost in the background noise.
- With family – Simply requesting captions when watching TV together can make the experience more inclusive, and it often helps everyone catch things they might otherwise miss.
- In public – A polite request for someone to slow down or speak more clearly can make a world of difference in understanding.
- For others – Advocacy also means looking out for people around you. You might rephrase what someone else has said, write something down, or take the lead in suggesting a quieter spot for a chat.
Sometimes it’s as simple as turning on captions, emailing meeting details instead of just saying them out loud, or offering a bit of extra support when you know someone nearby is living with hearing loss. These small actions add up, they create environments where everyone feels heard and included.
These moments add up. Each time you speak up, whether for yourself or for someone else, you’re showing people how to communicate better, not just now, but in every future interaction they have with someone who has hearing challenges. In essence, you’re helping to create environments where everyone feels heard and included.
Advocacy doesn’t have to be confrontational. Most people want to help, they just need to know how. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Over time, advocating for needs, your own and others’, becomes second nature.
Why Your Voice Matters—No Matter Where You’re At
One of the most common things I hear from people with hearing loss is, “I’m not at the point where I need to speak up yet.” Or, “My hearing loss isn’t as bad as yours, so I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
But here’s the truth: there’s no such thing as “not hearing badly enough” to deserve inclusion. Your experience is valid whether you’re struggling in crowded restaurants, missing the odd word on the phone, or relying entirely on captions and lipreading.
Speaking up isn’t just for people with profound hearing loss, it’s for anyone who wants to understand and be understood.
When you share your needs, you do three important things:
- You Educate Others
Most people have no idea what hearing loss feels like. They may not realise how much background noise can drown out a conversation, or how exhausting lipreading can be after a long day. By speaking up, you’re opening their eyes, and often, they’ll carry that awareness into other interactions, helping more people than you’ll ever know. - You Break Stigma
For generations, hearing loss has been something people hide. Many still associate it with old age, frailty, or disability, assumptions that simply aren’t true. When you speak confidently about your hearing needs, you show that hearing loss is just one aspect of who you are. You shift the narrative from “something to be ashamed of” to “something to work with.” - You Pave the Way for Others
Every time you ask for the captions to be turned on, or request a quieter space, you’re making it easier for the next person who needs the same thing. Advocacy has a ripple effect, it can lead to small changes in workplaces, schools, venues, and communities that benefit everyone.
And there’s another reason your voice matters: hearing loss changes over time. If you get comfortable speaking up early, you’ll be better prepared to advocate for yourself if and when your hearing changes. You’ll already have the confidence, the language, and the mindset to get what you need, without the fear of being a burden.
Whether you’ve just noticed your first signs of hearing trouble, or you’ve been navigating life with hearing loss for decades, your voice has power. It can shape how others see hearing loss, how they communicate, and how inclusive our society becomes.
Every conversation you have is a chance to make the world a little easier, not just for yourself, but for everyone walking this same road.
It’s Time to Speak Up
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey with hearing loss, it’s this: silence may feel safe, but it keeps us invisible.
When we speak up, whether it’s to ask someone to face us when talking, request captions at an event, or share our story publicly, we send a powerful message: I deserve to be part of the conversation.
And when more of us do that, something incredible happens.
The world starts to adjust. Workplaces install hearing loops. TV networks improve caption quality. Restaurants think twice about cranking up the background music. Little by little, inclusion stops being an exception, it becomes the default.
Advocating for yourself isn’t selfish. It’s an act of kindness, courage, and leadership. It’s telling the next person with hearing loss, “You belong here, too.”
My Challenge to You
If you’ve been staying quiet about your hearing loss, try one small act of advocacy today. Tell one person what you need to communicate better. You might be surprised at how positive the response is.
I’ve learned that my hearing loss doesn’t define me, but my willingness to speak up does. And I hope it will define you, too.
Because when we speak up, we don’t just hear more.
We live more.
Talking Hearing Loss 
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