Hearing Loss is MORE than Just Hearing

Hearing Loss is MORE than Just Hearing

Hearing Loss is MORE than Just Hearing

Imagine a grandchild hops up in your lap to tell you an exciting secret about their mommy and daddy having a new baby on the way only for you to miss everything that they said…

Imagine your loved one is in the hospital and the conversation you just had with them was your last yet you couldn’t understand what they said to you…

Imagine being at the grocery store and you’re unable to hear what your total is or if the clerk asks you a question. You ask for repetition but they reply “never mind” and just brush it off…

Imagine living life missing out on all the important moments because you simply couldn’t hear them…

These are stories we hear every day from our patients at West Texas Rehab. Hearing loss is more than just the sounds you hear; it’s your lifestyle. It’s being able to hear your pastor on Sunday mornings, have fun hearing your friends at lunch, be engaged in an important work meeting, or hear wedding bells ringing as a loved one says ‘I do’. But it doesn’t just stop with a pair of hearing aids; it’s a team effort. Whereas hearing aids can help those with hearing loss, it’s not a quick fix. It requires effort to listen and hear with hearing loss and it requires patience from those around us. 

As a nation we have all gotten a taste of what it feels like to be isolated or feel alone due to COVID 19. We are unable to have a social conversation at the local Starbucks or even gather around for a holiday celebration. Those with hearing loss experience these things every day. They rely on seeing faces and lip reading, they struggle in places that have a lot of background noise, and even with hearing aids they miss a word here and there and need you to repeat it. It can be frustrating on both ends, but when those with hearing loss are unable to understand us they become isolated and feel alone. They begin to withdraw from social gatherings and conversations. They no longer feel like a part of the community. 

So, if you are someone with hearing loss or struggle with understanding others, the good news is we can help you. Getting your hearing tested is the first step! If you are a loved one or friend of someone with hearing loss, we can help you too by giving you communication strategies that can be utilized every day to help others understand and hear better, and continue to be a part of the group. 

At our office, it doesn’t matter what your financial status is or where you are from, we are here for you regardless. We are trained to perform diagnostic hearing assessment, fit cutting edge hearing aid technology, and assess and treat patients with Cochlear Implants. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, give our office a call and get your hearing tested! You are never too young or too old to hear. 

Symptoms of hearing loss: 

• Difficulty hearing and understanding what others are saying 

• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves

• Hearing someone speaking but not understanding what is said

• Ringing or buzzing in the ears

• Pressure, fullness, or pain in the ears

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Dr.Shalyn Bond, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA

Doctor of Audiology