Did you know Rob Lowe struggles with hearing loss? No? How about Whoopi Goldberg and Halle Berry?Hidden disabilities affect everyone from the person in the street to the highest A-lister and we’re raising awareness on what you can do if you think you might be affected.
In this blog we take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss and how, like Jodie Foster, you can embrace wearing a hearing aid if that’s what it takes to reconnect with friends and family:
First Signs
When you’re in a bar with friends are you caught off-guard when the conversation is flowing and changes quickly from person to person? Perhaps you miss a joke that someone throws in and find yourself laughing along with everyone else, just in case.
As hearing loss gets worse, even a conversation with just one person can be a challenge, leaving you feeling drained and emotional as you struggle to keep up with the conversation, worried that you may have missed something.
Finally, the way you listen to entertainment is a sure sign that something has changed. Perhaps your earbuds no longer give you the sound quality you’re used to and the television is pumped way up higher than it has been previously.
If any of these sound familiar then it’s time to get down to your nearest hearing center and see how they go about giving the gift of sound to those in need.
What to Expect
First of all, be reassured that it won’t hurt. You’ll have a physical ear exam to make sure there’s nothing blocking your ear canal then a sound test to determine what frequencies are out of your hearing range. With that all done you’ll then have some options.
The great thing is that with modern hearing aids you can find something totally unobtrusive that will slide into your ear undetected by everyone around you. Think of today’s digital hearing aids as a communication assistant. It helps you to hear better and doesn’t interfere with your sense of style. If you do prefer to wear something outside of the ear, then the modern hearing aid can be matched to different skin tones for better and more discreet help.
Although experiencing hearing loss can be worrying, it’s even more so when you are younger and otherwise fit and healthy. Rather than avoid the problem, the very best thing you can do is to take action and get yourself checked out before the issue becomes a bigger problem. If you’re nervous about visiting a center, take a friend with you to hold your hand and help you choose a solution that suits you best.
Get the problem fixed and you’ll be back in the bar enjoying the cut and thrust of conversation with friends, without the worry of being left behind and out of the loop. Trust your body when it’s telling you there’s an issue and make an appointment to see a hearing specialist today who can find out what’s going on and provide you with practical, effective solutions. Then relax, knowing your hearing is back on track.
