Soft Landings with Hazel: Troubleshooting

Kia ora koutou, 

Spring is here — a time when nature wakes up and everything that’s been still and quiet begins to burst with colour and life. It’s an exciting season of growth and energy, but it can also feel a little hectic as we head toward Christmas. 

Just as we notice the signs of the seasons changing around us, we also sense changes within ourselves. Some are easy to recognise, a lift in mood, a burst of motivation, while others can be harder to understand or manage. It’s a reminder to pause, take a breath, and notice what’s shifting both in the world around us and in our own lives. 

Some of my conversations with our clients/kiritaki and the wider community around this time of the year lead to discussions/kōrero around troubleshooting.  

Some of the questions I have been asked include: 

• How does someone know if something’s wrong with their device?  

• Is there one big book of all the things that can happen and how to work out what they are?   

  
  

Sometimes the cochlear implant doesn’t work as it should and there are some ways of working out what's causing it. It could be an issue with the coil, the microphone cover or maybe even the processor needs to be checked.  Questions like this are all part in parcel of the CI journey.   

What makes it especially tricky is when something happens right in the middle of something important like when you’re driving, racing to meet a deadline, caring for a sick child, or simply trying to hold things together during a stressful time. It’s in these moments where the troubleshooting can be mixed in with anxiety and big emotions, and then it can become difficult to navigate, and at times overwhelming. This equally applies to our adult clients, and also our younger kiritaki, who often may not have the words or communication methods to convey how they’re feeling.  

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, I’d like to talk about how we can notice and understand what’s going on for ourselves and the people we care about. It would be good to know: 

• Are we giving you enough support when it comes to figuring things out or “troubleshooting” what’s happening?

• Would you be interested in joining a group to talk and learn more about this? 

• Do you have any tips or ways you work through things — for yourself or loved ones — that you’d like to share with our community? 

It's usually a big relief when a problem is solved and everything's working well again. We enjoy being part of that achievement and hope that you feel you can come to us to work through the things that you’re experiencing – whether that’s communicating with us online, coming in for a chat or sharing in a group setting. A problem shared is often a problem solved! 

Just as the bright red flowers coming into bloom on the pōhutukawa tree show us that summer is nearly here, we want to help you identify signs in yourself that things may be changing and evolving. We’re part of your journey every step of the way – and that includes the bumps in the road. 

Aroha,

Hazel 

Whānau Support Counsellor

Email Hazel on familysupport@hearinghouse.co.nz to learn more and start the conversation.