At the start of every show on the Here to Hear Tour, comedian D.J. Demers asks a question.

It’s a simple question, but one that’s met with mixed responses. Some hands slowly rise, others look around to see who will answer. Mostly, the room stays quiet.

Who here wears hearing aids?

Despite recent warnings of headphone use damaging teens’ ears, researchers say the rates of hearing loss among US teens is stable but more prevalent in specific segments.

While researchers say there was a spike in hearing loss among teens in 2007-8, in comparing rates from 2010 with those from 1988, the team at the University of California, San Francisco concluded that there was “no overall change in prevalence of hearing loss” over the decades.

They did find, however, rates of hearing loss higher in specific groups. 

Figuring out what learning method and environment is best as a student with hearing loss can be frustrating.

It was difficult for me to determine the best methods to succeed in school, but after some years of experimenting, it has become almost second nature for me.

While you’re in school, most likely your parents or other adults have a large say in what makes up your accommodation plan. But you can have a say as well, as long as you approach them respectfully.  

Here are my tips for deaf teens to succeed in the classroom:

Memes are a fun way to share an idea, behavior, or style from person to person within a culture. As a teenager, I use memes a lot when connecting with my friends on social media. 

Here are some funny deaf memes that I’ve seen that shows some glimpses of reality for people with hearing loss. 

When I meet a new person, they often have lots of questions about my hearing loss.

Did you go to a deaf school? Wow, you speak so well for someone who cannot hear, why? Do you know sign language?  How did you get to where you are now?  How long have you been hard-of-hearing? Who taught you to lip read so well? When did you start wearing hearing aids? Did you like your hearing aids as a child?

These are all questions I get on a weekly, if not daily basis. They are great questions, and I bet every hard of hearing/deaf person has different answers. To answer, though, I have to go back and reflect on how I was raised and what kind of mindset it gave me.

“What’s that behind your ear?” my customer asked me curiously as I placed her items in a bag.

I immediately stiffened up at the suddenness of the question, then relaxed again just as quickly.

“Oh, it’s a hearing aid,” I replied with a smile.

The customer looked directly at me, frozen on the spot. I knew she hadn’t expected that answer, and her face spelled out shock, confusion, and embarrassment. “Oh I’m sorry…” she began to say, before tailing off into an inaudible whisper. I smiled at her again.

It’s common for teens to engage in risky behaviour, but one common activity may result in the loss of their hearing in the future.

According to new research, an alarming number of young people are experiencing tinnitus from being exposed to loud music.

Tinnitus, the persistent ringing, buzzing, or whistling in ears, is often a sign of early hearing damage. It is not only unpleasant, but can also lead to severe problems like depression or anxiety.

My boyfriend and I both have hearing loss. I’ve talked about dating with hearing loss in the past – the pros, the challenges, how it’s different than maybe being in a “hearing” relationship – but now, after being in the relationship for three years, I’ve found a few things that make it easier. For example: choosing the right date spots for couples with hearing loss. 

If your partner has hearing loss, it’s important that when choosing somewhere to go on a date, each person is comfortable in the location. There’s no point in going somewhere noisy, busy or complicated, as it brings many more challenges to those with a hearing loss. A date is meant to be time spent getting to know the other person, while having fun. With background noise, or too many people or distractions, your partner with hearing loss will have a difficult time enjoying the experience.

My deaf boyfriend and I do, however, have some favorite spots we like to spend time together. 

Here are our top 5 date spots for couples with hearing loss!