When discussing hearing loss, some people remark “Its my problem, I’m the one that has to deal with it.” And its true. Everybody’s hearing loss is individual to them. No two losses are exactly alike, and therefore no two losses can be treated exactly the same. But if we take a deeper look at the long-term effects of hearing loss, its easy to see that it isn’t just a “me” problem. A lot of this information is common sense, but sometimes the common-sense approach to looking at hearing loss is the best one.
Hearing loss puts a barrier between us and those we are trying to communicate with. In the beginning we might miss a word here and there. But as it gets worse, we are missing entire conversations and just nodding along because we are too embarrassed to ask somebody to repeat themselves for the third time. This puts a strain on our personal relationships. Anybody that is married understands the importance of solid communication. Effectively communicating with your husband or wife can be difficult even without a hearing loss. Not being able to understand what they are saying can drive a wedge into that relationship as well.
With untreated hearing loss, phone calls become a burden. Not only for the person with the hearing loss but for the person speaking to them. We might find it frustrating that we can’t hear on the telephone, but imagine the frustration that the person on the other end of the line feels. They have to repeat themselves a half dozen times before they finally give up and say “never mind”. This will likely impact their next phone call. We see people with untreated hearing loss have an ever-shrinking social bubble. This can lead to social isolation, which is leading cause of depression among seniors.
And it’s not just personal relationships that can be damaged by untreated hearing loss. Individuals that have an untreated hearing loss earned approximately 25% less than their normal hearing counterparts. It is easy to see why this could be the case. For those who struggle with hearing loss, they will have a difficulty communicating with their boss and their coworkers. They may miss deadlines or important project details simply due to the fact that they could not hear them. You wouldn’t try to perform your job with one hand tied behind your back? Why try to do your job with a physical limitation that will put you at a disadvantage compared to your coworkers?
People with untreated hearing loss can earn approximately 25% LESS than their coworkers with no hearing loss
Though these points seem like common sense, every week people come in to our office and tell us, “its my problem, I don’t understand why everybody else seems so concerned about my hearing.” Maybe these people are in denial, not realizing how bad their hearing loss has really become. Or the sheer scope of what is being affected in their everyday lives. But as the TV volume continues to be turned up, and conversations have to be repeated multiple times; hearing loss goes from a “me” problem to a “we” problem very quickly.
But there is a silver lining! Hearing loss is not a problem that you have to live with. We specialize in diagnosing different types of hearing loss and making sure that our recommendation for treatment matches the patient’s level of loss and lifestyle. No two hearing losses are identical and no two patient’s lifestyles are exactly alike. That is why sitting down with a knowledgeable hearing professional is so important. People that purchase hearing aids based solely on price are not taking into account all of the important factors that determine which hearing aid is right for their level of loss and lifestyle. When we perform an assessment, we take into account all factors, including your budget, to pick out the hearing aid that will work best for you. That is why carrying a wide variety of hearing instruments is also important. By carrying different makes, models and styles of hearing aids, we can ensure that the product you get will meet your individual needs.
If you are sick of your hearing loss impacting your life, and the lives of everybody around you, contact us today. We will be happy to sit down with you, perform a complete hearing test and answer any questions you might have regarding hearing loss or hearing aids.