Spring is here, and with it comes Better Hearing and Speech month. Every May for over 75 years the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) dedicates an entire month to raising awareness about communication disorders like hearing loss and works to increase treatment, advocating to reduce the stigma surrounding hearing loss.
This year’s theme is Communication: The Key to Connection. Helen Keller saw her inability to communicate to be the hardest of her disabilities to cope with. She said that “the problems of deafness are deeper and more complex than blindness…it means the loss of the most vital stimulus–the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thoughts astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” To learn more about Better Speech and Hearing Month, visit the ASHA website at http://www.asha.org/.
Struggling with Hearing Loss
Most people recognize the signs and symptoms of hearing loss. Asking people to repeat themselves, turning your ear towards a sound to try to hear it better, getting lost in conversations, experiencing pain and ringing in your ears, or watching TV with the volume too loud are all common signs of hearing loss. While feeling this way should be the wakeup call that sends you running for a hearing test, many people choose to ignore the symptoms, and continue struggling to get through each day.
From daily interactions to coffee with friends, trips to the grocery store, or dinner with your family, hearing loss stands between you and everyday connections. Anthony Watts knows what you’re going through. Afraid of the stigma of wearing a hearing aid, he put off getting hearing aids, choosing to live with 85% hearing loss rather than invest in a hearing device. Feelings of social isolation increased as his hearing continued to deteriorate, and this affected not only him, but his entire family as well.
Changing Your Life with a Simple Device
With hearing aids you have the chance to become a new person, to tune in to what’s going on around you, and pick up on every joke and punchline. You’ll never need to ask someone to repeat themselves, or feel embarrassed for responding inappropriately.
For Anthony, getting fitted for hearing aids changed his life. When he finally went for a hearing test, he found out his hearing loss was extremely severe, categorized as profound hearing loss. He chose a powerful completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing device that fit snuggly into his ear and still had enough power to combat his hearing loss. With his hearing aids, he could easily communicate with his family and friends, improving and strengthening relationships with his loved ones.
The Ultimate Test: A Noisy Restaurant
Shortly after getting his new hearing aids, Anthony found himself in a crowded restaurant. The World Series game was playing on TV, and the waitress was a soft-spoken woman. With apprehension, he read the menu and decided what to eat. Ordering was always a huge struggle. When the waitress approached him, he was astounded! For the first time in years he could understand her when she asked for his order, and could hear perfectly when she listed the specials of the day.
The Dangers of Untreated Hearing Loss
For those with hearing loss, simple things other people take for granted like picking up groceries, ordering a coffee, or going through the drive-through can become the stuff of nightmares, making everyone frustrated or upset. People with hearing loss often choose to stay home and avoid social situations rather than face them with hearing loss. With this lack of communication comes a huge disconnect, affecting relationships with family and friends, and ultimately creates feelings of isolation, anxiety, or even depression.
Take Control of Your Hearing
If you’re tired of struggling to hear and want to experience easy communication again then its time you invest in quality hearing devises that will help you reconnect. Anthony credits hearing aids for transforming his life and making him feel years younger. “Don’t let the cost scare you,” he says, “the results will pay you back ten-fold.”
At My Hearing Centers, we have a wide range of hearing technology, including invisible hearing solutions that let you focus on what’s important. Our hearing professionals are with you every step of the way, from providing assessments to recommending the perfect hearing device, and working to get the fit just right. Join us in celebrating Better Speech and Hearing Month by choosing clear communication.