Why wear hearing aids?
Hearing aids typically are not a welcome solution to the problem of hearing difficulties, we usually find people would prefer to find a medical solution “can’t I just take a tablet” or even more commonly they would prefer to ignore the problem and just get by, missing out on life.
We found this amusing article written by Gael Hannan from the Canadian Acadamy of Hearing Aid Audiology and felt it could not be improved upon.
Ten reasons to wear a hearing aid
By Gael Hannan, CHHA: Ontario President
“There are thousands of good reasons to wear a hearing aid, and not a single good one not to. Why then do so many of us delay visiting our doctor when we suspect a hearing problem? Why do too many of us stick our aids in a drawer, only pulling them out for an important social occasion, which usually flops thanks to that “thing that doesn’t work right”?
Let’s take a quick look at the Top Ten list of reasons why someone with a hearing problem should:-
- get an aid
- wear it, and
- keep wearing it!
Why should you wear a hearing aid?
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You’ll hear better!
The simplest and the best reason. While it’s true that most hearing loss cannot (yet) be completely corrected by surgery or assistive listening devices, a hearing aid will restore many of nature’s auditory gifts, perhaps even the majority depending on the degree of loss, helping you to enjoy life to the fullest.
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You’ll look better!
Say good-bye to unpleasant frowns and scowls as you try to follow dialogue, and those vacant, blank looks that should (but often don’t) signal to your friends that you are completely lost in the conversation. Improved hearing with an aid will eliminate much of the frustration, irritation and feelings of isolation that keep you from being your most smiling, attractive, and connected self.
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You’ll sound better!
Your own voice will become clearer with an aid, lending to improved diction and tonality. You’ll gain more control over your volume level, too. With less shouting or whispering in inappropriate situations. (And trust me, if you have a significant hearing loss and do not use some sort of assistive listening device, your speech is affected!)
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You’ll feel better!
Wearing a hearing aid is a powerful statement of the value you place on yourself, your relationships and your place in the world. It shows your strength of character in facing a problem and taking steps to improve it. You will feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
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Your posture will improve!
Your neck won’t thrust out at right angles to your body as you try to get your ear closer to the sound source. Your spine won’t hunch as you retreat from difficult social interaction. You will stand straight with confidence.
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You’ll be a trendsetter!
Your hearing aid may make you the first on your block, in your bridge club, or on the first tee to wear one of the many new technologically-improved, sound-enhancing hearing aids that are available today.
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Your family life will improve!
Relatives and friends will tune in and start listening to you again when it’s clear that you’re now hearing them. It’s not a relative’s hearing loss that irritates family members, but the unwillingness to admit their loss and do something about it.
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Love may bloom again!
Whether it’s with your life-long partner or someone new, nothing helps romance like good communication. And for a person with a hearing loss, that’s almost impossible without a well-fitted hearing aid. Whispered sweet nothings may indeed be a thing of the past, but hearing your mate say “I love you makes up for an awful lot.
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Your social life will improve!
Movies, theatre, card nights, cocktail parties, family gatherings – you’ll enjoy them all again You’ll be able to converse in situations that had become torture with your increased inability to hear well. Getting a hearing aid will be the best social foot forward you may ever take.
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You’ll be smarter!
The onset of hearing loss has nothing to do with diminished brain power. Au contraire. By wearing a hearing aid and/or using an assistive listening device, you’ll know more than the next guy about the impact that hearing loss has on our lives and relationships. You’ll discover how critical it is to learn new ways of communication and, more importantly, the right attitude and the help of qualified service providers, you will develop the skills to do just that. Now that’s smart!
