Resources

---

In Part 1, we explored Hearing Loss Journeys — the personal stories that remind us we are not alone.
Today, we move forward to Hearing Loss 101. These are the books that explain what the tests mean, what the devices do, and how to move forward with confidence instead of confusion.

Each part of the series builds on the last. Stories first. Then strategy. Then the specialized topics that shape real life with hearing loss.

If you missed Part 1, you could find it on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/richardpockerauthor

I often joke that I have read thousands of books on deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus and believe me, it feels like that massive number some days.

Some were inspiring, some were confusing, a few probably should have been fitted with earplugs and quietly led away. Over the years I have met hundreds of people who felt isolated, frightened and overwhelmed when their hearing began to fade. The right book at the right time, can change that-it can replace fear with understanding and isolation with hope. Here are some of the books that do just that.

One truth I have learned after mentoring or assisting more than a thousand cochlear implant candidates is this: no two hearing losses are exactly alike. Each experience is as unique as a fingerprint. There are common threads, of course, and one of the most encouraging is the strong desire many authors have to help others by sharing what they have learned.

This selection of those who have experienced a hearing loss journey is the first list of topics regarding hearing loss. Other lists will focus on the fundamentals of hearing loss, tinnitus, cochlear implants, pediatric hearing loss issues, music and more.

These are some of the best books I have read (or written) about the hearing-loss journey. They were all written by remarkable women— Gerald Shea and present company excepted, although I should note that most of the interviews in my own book are with women. Men, it seems, are sometimes less inclined to write candidly about personal struggles. (Draw your own conclusions.)

This list is not in any particular order. I liked them all. It is difficult to choose from the hundreds of memoir-style hearing-loss books available today. People approach hearing loss in different ways. Some are looking for straightforward, practical solutions—something close to a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach. Others want to understand every detail and explore every option. The books in this list reflect that range, and there is something here for nearly everyone.

A few of these titles could easily fit into more than one category, and I’ve noted that in the comments.

HEAR ME – Kerry O’Malley CerraAn emotionally engaging and serious book. Although written for middle-school to young-adult readers, I thought it covered progressive hearing loss, emotional isolation, misunderstandings, and difficult decisions in a way that even adults can learn from. If you are a candidate, parent, or partner of someone qualified for a cochlear implant, this book gives an excellent sense of the emotional trauma of severe hearing loss.

THE DEAF GIRL – Abigail HeringerShe wrote, “I don’t think anyone is ever capable of imagining their life turned upside down.” I certainly agree, as I lost all my residual hearing in one month when I was thirty and spent the next thirty-five years in total silence.

Abigail and her sister were both born deaf and were pediatric cochlear implant recipients with very different perspectives and personalities, which makes the book especially engaging. It reiterates that cochlear implants are not magic bullets and that recipients can have very different experiences.

Heringer was the first cochlear implant recipient to appear on the television show The Bachelor. “You don’t look deaf.” A common refrain.

THE WAY I HEAR IT: A Life with Hearing Loss – Gael HannanThis book garnered a 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon, and this customer review expresses my sentiments: “I am gradually losing my hearing, and it is hard to get people to understand ‘The Way I Hear It.’ Gael has hit the nail on the head in helping hearing people understand what we are going through.”

I received my cochlear implants just after this book was published, and it would have given me greater confidence in my decision had it been available earlier.

SHOUTING WON’T HELP: Why I—and 50 Million Other Americans—Can’t Hear You – Katherine BoutonThe cover image of a woman about to drown expresses progressive hearing loss in a way words cannot convey. Bouton, a former editor at The New York Times, writes from personal experience with adult-onset hearing loss.

This book focuses on everyday work life, social situations, and practical strategies for coping.

SMART HEARING: Strategies, Skills, and Resources for Living Better with Hearing Loss – Katherine BoutonShe hits it out of the ballpark once again. Published in 2018, five years after Shouting Won’t Help, Bouton covers technological advancements and practical strategies.

The first chapter, “How’s Your Hearing? Maybe Not as Good as You Think,” is a perfect lead-in. The book blends personal experience, emotional insight, and practical guidance.

NOT FADE AWAY: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found – Rebecca Alexander (with Sasha Alper)This book was given to me as a gift. I was absolutely smitten by her incredible story and resilience. Stricken with Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that affects both sight and hearing, her journey was unlike any I had known.

I later had her join me for a podcast on my website, cochlearimplantbasics.com (full disclosure), and I have followed her blog ever since. Simply stated, Rebecca Alexander is unstoppable, and her story continues beyond these remarkable pages.

HEAR AND BEYOND: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss – Shari Eberts and Gael HannanThe review blurb on the front cover was written by Rebecca Alexander (see previous review), who called it “the ultimate survival guide to living well with hearing loss.” I could not agree more.

Eberts and Hannan also produced the film We Hear You. Now Hear Us. A remarkable duo worth listening to. The book holds a 4.6 rating on Amazon with nearly 200 reviews—enough said.

LISTENING CLOSELY: A Journey to Bilateral Hearing – Arlene RomoffThis was one of the books I read before getting cochlear implants. It is a frightening process to contemplate, especially after thirty-five years of deafness. Her book calmed me enough to investigate further.

An Amazon reviewer wrote: “Arlene really brings to life what it is like to be hearing impaired… she helped me understand what someone with hearing loss goes through on a day-to-day basis.” Thank you, Arlene, for writing this book. I believe it changed my life.

SONG WITHOUT WORDS: Discovering My Deafness Halfway Through Life – Gerald SheaShea had a hearing loss since childhood but did not realize it until age thirty-four, when a required hearing test revealed it. He had gone through school, college, and Yale Law School assuming the muffled sounds he heard were normal. This was one of the most remarkable books I read before getting a cochlear implant. Shea was not an advocate for cochlear implants and nearly discouraged me from getting one. Fortunately, I read his powerful story—but followed my own path.

COCHLEAR IMPLANT BASICS: What a Candidate for a Cochlear Implant Needs to Know – Richard PockerModesty dictates that I place this book at the bottom, although it probably deserves top billing. This book belongs in more than one category. Its placement here reflects the fact that it is built around 32 podcast transcripts, along with resources and rehabilitation guidance. The interviews include recipients, surgeons, audiologists, speech therapists, and others—from parents of pediatric implant recipients to people who pushed the boundaries of their new hearing. It also includes an interview with a candidate who chose not to proceed. I set out to write a book unlike any in this field. These books differ in style and perspective, but they share one purpose: helping others find their way out of the isolation that hearing loss can bring. In the next article, I’ll look at books that explain the fundamentals of hearing loss-what it is, what the tests mean, and what to do next.