5 Steps to Better Hearing

Having a hearing loss is not something that anyone gets excited about. However, with the right attitude and approach, it can actually be a very manageable condition to care for. In my years of caring for those with hearing loss, I have seen time and time again people make remarkable improvements by simply dedicating themselves to getting themselves to getting the most out of wearing a hearing aid. With hope of similar outcomes in the future I am sharing 5 simple steps to better hearing for you or a loved one to use. 

1. Admit that your hearing may not be what it used to be. And get tested. Understanding your hearing has changed is difficult at first, and many people deny that thy may be the one with a problem. But the sooner one begins to seek a solution the more likely they are to maintain critical speech comprehension abilities and avoid unnecessary struggles.
2. Keep an open mind and positive attitude while seeking help. Like we have all been told from a young age, attitude is everything. The same applies to having success in treating your hearing loss. Since everyone's hearing loss is unique, there are a lot of options available to consider. See out a hearing care professional that will strive to present the solutions that are best for you.
3. Learn about your hearing problem. Get educated on the type of and severity of your hearing loss and what the best solutions are for treatment and extend care. The hearing healthcare professional you select should provide you with the necessary education, information and resources needed to be successful in treating your hearing loss and helping you hear the best you can.
4. Set realistic expectations for hearing aids. Because many hearing losses involve permanent nerve damage, it is not realistic to expect that perfect hearing may be restored. However, today's advancements in hearing aid technology have produced tremendous hearing benefits for wearers and eliminated many obstacles and discomforts previously associated with wearing hearing aids. Your focus should be on improving your hearing abilities with hearing aids! Some benefits of wearing hearing aids will be noticed instantaneously, while other benefit will be realized gradually over time, as you and your brain adapt to wearing amplification.
5. Patience, practice and time are critical to success. Improved hearing in various situations is not exception. At first, regaining comprehension abilities for sounds that have not been heard in years may be difficult. However, with the proper instruments, patience and practice, you may be rewarded with the ability to hear simple sounds that may have been lost to you without amplification; such as bird song on a nice day, or the ability to join in on a friendly conversation over lunch in a local restaurant without someone interpreting the conversation for you.

Once you are fit with hearing aids, the daily benefits you will receive from better hearing will easily justify the investment of both your time and money and you will probably wonder why you waited so long in the first place. Some people believe they are too young to wear a hearing aid, and others believe they are too old. The reality is that hearing loss is a medical condition that affects people of ALL AGES. 

You are never too old or young to experience the joy or dimension that SOUND brings to each of our lives!! I encourage you to consider what a positive impact better hearing could have on your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Kathy Zietz, BC-HIS, Western Hearing Aids