I noticed about five years ago that I didn’t always hear my daughter when she was facing away from me, particularly when I was in the kitchen by the fan. That’s a tricky listening environment for people generally so I didn’t think too much of it. I certainly wasn’t considering hearing aids. Fast forward to 2020 when Covid hit and suddenly we’re all wearing masks out and about! I found communicating, the listening part, quite a bit harder. I realized that I had been relying on watching peoples’ mouths to fully decipher their message. Again, that was an experience mirrored by many people I talked to so I didn’t think too much of it.
Two years on, I was feeling like masks really had impeded my communication at times and I felt frustrated often enough to take action. I decided to get a baseline hearing test to see where my hearing was actually at. I thought it would be ok, I just wanted to be sure given that communication is my work! The Audiologist found a slight-mild hearing loss of high frequencies in both ears. Aha!
Many people with that type and degree of hearing loss would not likely choose to get hearing aids, but I want to hear every speech sound that every client says whether they whisper, wear a mask, or both! I shopped around and visited four Audiologists to learn about hearing aids and the costs involved. I eventually chose Triton Hearing’s pay as you hear subscription option so there was no upfront cost.
On my first days with hearing aids (I’m writing this on day three), I knew my brain would need time to re-learn to process sound.
Things I have learned so far:
- Patience – I decided to be patient with myself knowing that I would be a little clumsy with hearing aids at first. I’ve already pulled down the right hearing aid three times while removing my mask, and almost had someone hang up on me on a phone call who I could hear but they couldn’t hear me.
- Observe – I choose to be curious about sound and make observations about what I hear with my hearing aids rather than automatically thinking ‘that’s annoying/loud’. Environmental noises seem so much louder – my hair moving, clothes, keyboard, birds, opening a packet – is that how everyone hears those sounds? I got a fright thinking there was a cockroach scrabbling somewhere nearby but it was my bag slowly starting to fall over!
- Celebrate – I haven’t noticed hearing conversation better but I definitely haven’t had any trouble hearing or had to ask for a repeat of something so that is a win! I don’t notice tinnitus anywhere as much when I have my hearing aids in! I haven’t had to turn the volume up on the tv! The hearing aid technology is amazing and I can answer a phone call with a hearing aid and hear the call in both ears via Bluetooth! Amazing!
- Empathize – I have a new found respect and understanding for the clients I see who have hearing aids and don’t want to wear them. It is a big sensory change for both hearing and touch sensations…hearing because things sound different and touch because you’ve got something in your ear that makes your ear canal feel full, if not a bit itchy/irritated at times.
I encourage you to have a hearing test with an Audiologist if you have any concerns that you might not be hearing as well as you could be.
For communication strategies when you are using hearing aids or are speaking to someone with hearing aids, take a look at Triton Hearing’s excellent communication tip sheet. Used with permission.