About ten years ago, I started to notice a change in my hearing. I didn’t do anything about it until two years ago. I did have a test about five years ago and there was a hearing loss, but I didn’t act on it. I have other siblings with hearing loss so I suspect my hearing loss is familial and I have also worked in a loud industrial environment for quite some years so perhaps that has contributed to it as well.

I currently work in a non-industrial workplace in human services where I need to communicate well and that is where I have noticed having a hearing loss is a disadvantage because it is much harder to understand people. I was not worried about what others would think of my hearing aids. I work among people who use all sorts of therapies and aids to communicate so when I first got my hearing aids it was an easy transition. I found the aids made a huge difference to my life for the better. I was able to hear, to communicate better and I didn’t have to look at people to hear them. I could hear what was going on. I could hear my family, my kids and my wife. The assistive technology that goes with it has also helped with my telephone communication, recreational activities and hearing the TV. Most importantly, it has been good for my work. The Bluetooth “streamer” allows me to operate hands-free and I can hear people speaking nice and clearly on the phone and listen to music. If I have a phone up to my ear, I don’t hear as well. When streaming, I can hear with both ears and can really understand what is going on. The streamer takes away all the extra noise and I can really concentrate on what is going on with the conversation.

If you are in your forties, get your hearing tested, use the trial hearing aids and give it a go. They are discreet. Most people don’t even notice that I am wearing them until I point it out. It makes a huge difference in my professional, social and family life.  Definitely, go to an audiologist that is not affiliated with a particular hearing aid brand. There was no pressure to
buy and there was no cold calling. It was a really easy, friendly place to go and get my hearing checked and felt no obligation to buy anything. I’ve had experience with other providers who put on a bit of sales pressure, which I didn’t find appropriate. It actually made me not want to get a hearing device.