AS and Hearing Loss

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So I've had some sort of verbal processing disorder all my life, both spoken and written, which was never formally diagnosed because it was fairly mild until about 3 months ago when I went to one too many loud rock concerts. Since then the problem has gotten severe. I had my hearing tested, and I did indeed loose the ability to hear high pitched sounds, which the audiologist said would cause me to misunderstand people due to the inability to distinguish between similar sounds. She advised me to always look at people closely when I talk to them. Ha! If I do manage to somehow point my head in a person's direction, I visually blur things out to avoid discomfort. I can't pick up anything from body language or facial expression other than if someone is smiling or not.

She did not know if this could be contributing to the increased problems I've been having with speaking, reading and writing, but suggested that if a verbal disorder is stressed due to hearing loss, it's possible that the whole thing could get worse. I am on a very long (many months) waiting list to see a neuropsychologist through my medical insurance, so in the mean time I am trying to figure out what I can.

How have any of you with a similar verbal disorder been affected by hearing loss? Has it just affect your ability to understand people, or has it also affected speech and written communication?

Thanks,
Cat

I've always had hearing problems, and with regards to being Asperger's, I can only say it certainly hasn't helped matters.

I've actually got to the point where I'm not as self-concious, and it would be beneficial enough, that I would gladly wear a hearing aid if I could get my hands on one.

I do lip read but I'm (socially) uncomfortable when I do it, so I prefer to focus my eyes on something benign/neutral and concentrate hard, to interoperate what I am hearing. Of course some people assume you're not listening (idiots ).

Ironically, I still find much ambient noise distracting, and sometimes wish for utter silence.

So, yes I think autism and deafness bring together certain issues.

Cat, I'm almost completely deaf in one ear and thought that explained why I had so many problems with oral communications. I am good with written text though, and have used that to get by in life. I realized my problems with oral communications transcended my hearing issues when I received some "Great Courses". No matter how many times I would listen to them, I would walk away retaining almost nothing. What threw me off is that I have no real problems with listening to, and understanding, music.

I think all we can do is to determine which mode of communication works best for us, and try to concentrate on that.

Thanks for your feedback. I think my problem is that I think in pictures, like Temple Grandin in that movie about her. I do take advantage of this ability as much as possible, but lately I have to do so much talking with health care professionals regarding my daughter's many serious health issues, that it's a real strain on my verbal abilities. I also have been having frequent changes to my vision, and I can't afford to get new glasses every few months, so that probably explains the problem with written communication, as I'm a sight reader and don't get phonics at all. I also have the issue of uncontrollably emulating the verbal aspects of what I hear or read. So I pick up dialects and such very quickly. So if I am not hearing and reading things correctly, I am not going to be speaking and writing correctly either. Luckily with writing I can proof read things multiple times, but that's obviously very time consuming.

As an aside, to really listen to someone carefully, I need to close my eyes.

Thanks again,
Cat

Sorry, no.
I have the complete opposite problem: WAY TOO SENSITIVE HEARING.

I can hear a pendant sliding on a necklace.
I can hear a siren before the dogs do.
I can hear fluorescent light bulbs.
Very annoying at times.

Cat,
It sounds to me (no pun intended) like what you have is physical damage to the inner ear due to loud noise. The hearing loss, on top of the communication problems associated with AS, could definitely compound the problem.

My adult daughter has been wearing hearing aids since she was three due to nerve damage. This has caused her so much trouble communicating with others. She taught herself to deal with it. Last year she graduated with a Masters degree in Psychology.
Don't let it get you down.
Where there's a will, there's a way.

Hi all,

I actually started this thread last year, and have resolved the problems since then. I'm not sure how much the hearing loss contributed to things, but it turned out that I had an auditory processing disorder. I undertook an intensive program of audio exercises designed to correct this ("Fast ForWord" followed by BrainHQ), and I now am able to understand speech better than I ever have. Of course just understanding the words someone says only goes so far, but it sure is better than not understanding them! I am even able to understand conversation at a crowded table in a noisy restaurant with no hearing accommodations.

The reading problems were due to my eyes no longer focusing properly. I solved this by purchasing a pair of SuperFocus glasses which I can manually adjust to make the print clear. I am now reading faster than ever.

So, while I'm still not a great communicator, at least I can once again get by.

Thanks for your posts,
Cat

That is fantastic news - good for you!! !
The Superfocus glasses sound interesting, I need to check those out for myself.

I didn't even notice the date on the opening post.

Air tools=tinnitus. There is always ringing. And I'm hard of hearing. I have a difficult time hearing some girls. Voices are too high.