Being able to hear and see are the most important things in the world! Nearly two-thirds of Americans over 70 suffer with mild to severe hearing loss. Cathie Gandel wrote a comprehensive article about hearing loss for the AARP Newsletter (May 2011). It seems that only one-fifth of those people are using hearing aids.
Can you even imagine waking up to silence? I think I would miss the early morning sounds of chirping birds more than anything in the world. Hearing loss should not be written-off as an inevitable sign of aging. Not hearing well contributes to a life of loneliness and isolation. It isn’t surprising that studies show that this isolation often leads to depression.
You cannot afford to compromise when it comes to your ears and eyes. If you experience visual disturbances or feel that you aren’t hearing as well as you used to, see a specialist right away. The value that you get is based on your doctor’s skill and abilities so get opinions and second opinions if necessary.
It is important that you act as soon as you suspect a problem. Many people wait for five to seven years before admitting that they might need a hearing aid. The longer you wait the worse your hearing loss will get, and the longer it will take your brain to adjust to a hearing aid.
Have your hearing tested by a professional. Shop carefully and try before you buy. Ask about add-ons but don’t be pressured into buying extra features that you won’t use. Be fitted and ask about a training program. Select your hearing aid carefully. Yes, hearings aids are expensive but they can help you get your life back. Buy them and then use them! Most hearing aids are lost when you take them out or leave them somewhere. Keep them in your ears. When you do take them out be sure to put them somewhere safe and guard them with your life.
K. Aileen Allen wrote in her book “I Like Being Old,” about what a hard time she had adapting to her hearings aids. She was on her 6th pair before it dawned on her that maybe she wasn’t adjusting to them was because she wasn’t doing her part. She decided right then and there that it was her responsibility to learn how to use them, and she did. She realized that her main problem was that she ignored her clinician’s advice. She didn’t wear them because they bothered her. They bothered her because she only used them sporadically. She never gave herself a chance to adapt to them. The hit and miss approach does not work. It doesn’t give the brain a chance to adapt to the amplification. She finally decided to put them in right after her shower in the morning and leave them in until bedtime. She can hear now.
Men and women who need hearing aids often feel they can’t afford them. You don’t think twice about paying an arm and a leg for a new car, but you complain about the cost of a hearing aid. Check the AARP website for information on groups offering financial for hearing aids, and recapture this vital part of the world.
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