As you all know I am getting my Doctorate in Audiology, this means I am a hearing doctor, not an ear doctor. One of my responsibilities is to educate my patients and my community regarding hearing loss, amplification and all that this entails. I kept thinking when I graduate I will start doing this, however, tonight I had a desire to start now by writing this post. I wrote this email to Mike earlier this week and thought I would share it with all of you. In the letter I get a little passionate about what I am saying but I hope it helps you understand more of what I am doing and why.
Mike,
So I have been thinking about your comment of not realizing that sudden hearing loss was/is a medical emergency. If you went blind in one eye for no reason or lost feeling in one of your limbs wouldn't you immediately think to go to see a doctor? Why would you not do the same if you suddenly lost your hearing? Losing your hearing suddenly is NOT normal. Losing your hearing gradually is also not normal and should also sound an alarm, just as losing any of our other senses would.
Why do we as a people push hearing and hearing loss aside and not realize its importance in our everyday lives? If things are blurry we rush to our optometrist to get our eyes checked and will wear glass/contacts with no qualms. But when it comes to our hearing we try and pretend it's not our hearing and that everyone else is just "mumbling" or not talking clearly anymore. Why do we think that wearing hearing aids make us look weak or old or unintelligent, but wearing glasses makes us look smart? They are both worn to help an impairment one might have.
Glasses are just a piece of glass and plastic to help enhance and sharpen our sight and the great thing is glasses actually completely fix the problem. Yet hearing aids which are complex mini computers made up of microphones, speakers, wires, circuits, etc. in most cases can only assist or enhance a signal. It does not "fix" the problem like glasses/contacts can. How we are able to hear and then understand the noises around us is amazing. Our brains are able to filter out unimportant signals and focus on what we deem important. How can (and why do) we expect a little mini-computer to do what our brains can do? Even though hearing aids aren't perfect they do help tremendously. I love seeing the smile on our patient's faces when they can hear again. The sounds may not be perfect but to hear their children's, grandchildren, spouse’s voice is so worth the money for hearing aids.
One of my professors told us that this older gentleman wasn't in good health but he decided to buy hearing aids so he could communicate with his loved ones and so he could watch TV (he couldn't do much else besides lay in bed). While they were fitting the hearing aids on him, his daughter (that was at the appointment with him) made a comment about his desire to talk to his sister on the phone one last time, they hadn't spoken in over 5 years because he couldn't hear on the phone. It happened that the hearing aids he had bought had a phone program on it to allow for him to talk on the phone. They did this and he was able to talk to his sister again. He died 6 months later. I know it is sad that he died so soon but what a happy day when he was able to speak to his sister again.
I just was sitting here thinking and wanted to share my thoughts with someone. I am so happy and excited to be part of a profession that enhances people’s quality of life.
Slow down and listen to the noises around you!
I love you,
Why do we as a people push hearing and hearing loss aside and not realize its importance in our everyday lives? If things are blurry we rush to our optometrist to get our eyes checked and will wear glass/contacts with no qualms. But when it comes to our hearing we try and pretend it's not our hearing and that everyone else is just "mumbling" or not talking clearly anymore. Why do we think that wearing hearing aids make us look weak or old or unintelligent, but wearing glasses makes us look smart? They are both worn to help an impairment one might have.
Glasses are just a piece of glass and plastic to help enhance and sharpen our sight and the great thing is glasses actually completely fix the problem. Yet hearing aids which are complex mini computers made up of microphones, speakers, wires, circuits, etc. in most cases can only assist or enhance a signal. It does not "fix" the problem like glasses/contacts can. How we are able to hear and then understand the noises around us is amazing. Our brains are able to filter out unimportant signals and focus on what we deem important. How can (and why do) we expect a little mini-computer to do what our brains can do? Even though hearing aids aren't perfect they do help tremendously. I love seeing the smile on our patient's faces when they can hear again. The sounds may not be perfect but to hear their children's, grandchildren, spouse’s voice is so worth the money for hearing aids.
One of my professors told us that this older gentleman wasn't in good health but he decided to buy hearing aids so he could communicate with his loved ones and so he could watch TV (he couldn't do much else besides lay in bed). While they were fitting the hearing aids on him, his daughter (that was at the appointment with him) made a comment about his desire to talk to his sister on the phone one last time, they hadn't spoken in over 5 years because he couldn't hear on the phone. It happened that the hearing aids he had bought had a phone program on it to allow for him to talk on the phone. They did this and he was able to talk to his sister again. He died 6 months later. I know it is sad that he died so soon but what a happy day when he was able to speak to his sister again.
I just was sitting here thinking and wanted to share my thoughts with someone. I am so happy and excited to be part of a profession that enhances people’s quality of life.
Slow down and listen to the noises around you!
I love you,
Michelle
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