Shouting Won't Help: Why I—and 50 Million Other Americans—Can't Hear You

Why do we lose our hearing? Although this is a simple question, Bouton (former senior editor, New York Times) discovered that the answer is complicated. This book is borne out of Bouton's desire to find out why she started losing her hearing in her thirties; the progressive loss eventually forced her into retirement from a successful job with the Times. The book is well researched, with chapters focusing solely on hearing aids, cochlear implants, and the science of hearing. She explores new treatments and research and even analyzes the effects of noise on society. The most fascinating sections are the "Voices" at the end of each chapter, where Bouton details the experiences of fellow deaf people. Many of them are involved in the theater, as conductors or opera singers, and their careers were affected drastically by their loss. Bouton also relates how she slowly lost her hearing and came to terms with her disability, a process that took her years.