Part 1 – My Confession

During the 2-year period before I got my hearing aids, I never for a moment thought I was in the same category as those people I’d tested over the prior 35 years, people whose hearing loss required the use of hearing aids. There I was, an audiologist of all things, displaying the same stubbornness as did so many of my patients, despite my having been told repeatedly by family and friends that I was not getting what they'd said. I admit it. I’d gotten pretty good at smiling and nodding as though I knew what was going on. In fact my hearing loss had gotten to be a big burden... and not only to me.

Sadly, too many people with hearing loss – including me – who never tried hearing aids have been known to say, “I can do just fine without them.” It’s more than stubbornness that makes one take that position. It’s an all-too-human tendency to be in denial when “bad” news must be faced; It’s a fear of change, of the unknown. It’s a reluctance to admit to needing help and risk disappointment. Once we break down and break out of this self-imposed isolation life goes on just as before but with one big difference. We’re no longer outsiders.

During my many years in this profession I’ve had the pleasure (really, thrill) of witnessing people of all ages light up when experiencing the amazing gift of renewed hearing provided by their new hearing aids. But when it was my turn to get that gift I was more humbled than thrilled. No longer on a professional pedestal, I’d joined the ranks of the hearing handicapped. I felt fortunate that I understood, because of my training, what had made the difference. I want to share that understanding with you now.

Part 2 – How Hearing Aids Improve Comprehension

Yes, hearing aids make sounds louder, but more important, they make words clearer. After all, the number one complaint of we who are hearing impaired is “I can hear you but I can’t understand what you’re saying!” Let me explain.

Spoken words are made up of different sounds and these sounds vary in pitch. Some speech sounds are low pitched – like all the spoken vowel sounds (“ah,” “oo,” “ee,” “ay,” etc.); and other sounds are high pitched, like many consonants sounds (s, t, k, p, h, f, etc.).

Question: which do you think are more important for clarity of hearing, the high pitches or the low pitches?

If you answered high pitches you’re right. Low pitches are fine for enjoying music but high pitches make all the difference when you’re trying to understand what somebody is saying.

When you’re listening to a talk show on your car radio you would do much better increasing your treble (high pitch) tone setting to enhance the crispness of the consonant sounds; and reducing the bass (low pitch) tone setting to suppress the loudness of the relatively unimportant vowels.

Modern digital hearing aids automatically adjust, in precisely the right amounts, the high and low pitches needed to provide word clarity. What a pleasure it is to “be with it” once again, to be enjoying conversation rather than suffering it.

Part 3 – When You Or a Loved One Hears Poorly

If you or someone close to you has hearing difficulties, you know what I’m talking about. You know that hearing loss reduces involvement in activities that are enriching socially, mentally and emotionally, activities such as visiting and being visited by friends and family, attending events, movies, plays, and religious services. Perhaps you’ve read the recent research findings pointing out that mental skills deteriorate more rapidly when the mind is not exercised. Our mission for those with hearing impairment is to restore the ability to enjoy the sorts of social, cultural and religious events that had once made one’s life filled with a sense of belonging, depth, connectedness, vibrancy and excitement.

Of course there are those among us who don’t seek help for a good reason – they can’t afford hearing aids. Although some insurance policies cover a portion of the cost of hearing aids most, unfortunately, do not. And so creative and generous family members may share the costs to ease their loved one's concerns.

If you are counseling and encouraging a hearing impaired loved one, I suggest that you let them know it is because of your love that you can't be silent while they ignore their hearing problem, that you will do anything possible to help them enjoy life to the fullest, that you will provide, or find others who will provide, financial assistance. And let me suggest that you refrain from arguing or debating. Persistent gentle persuasion is most effective when offered in a loving, supportive and sympathetic way.

Every day brings new opportunities to begin enjoying the simple and profound words of those you care about, the moving and inspiring sounds of music, the subtle sounds made by trees in the breeze, by birds chattering or singing, and even the mundane crinkling sound made when turning the pages of a newspaper -- all of these sounds connect us more firmly to our beautiful world. We look forward to being more firmly connected to you and those you love.

“ Toward Better Understanding”