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What’s it like to suffer from hearing loss?
‘I’m always trying to figure out what’s really going on. Always having to fill in the gaps, but never getting all the details. It’s like trying to do a jigsaw when I don’t even know what the picture is, and I’m missing one of the vital middle pieces.’
The above quote is from Melbourne author Chrissie Perry’s award-winning book Whisper. While not written about hearing loss, I think it captures so vividly the distress we find many of our patients feel when they come to us with hearing loss.
We usually get checked and prodded for visible disorders quickly. Your sight’s not a good as it used to be, we go to the optometrist. That blemish looking slightly different, off to the skin clinic. That pain in your lower back, off to the physio. But hearing we tend to ignore for as long as we can-usually until our family intervenes and insists we get our hearing checked.
But what have we missed in the meantime and what could we have done to prevent the disorder getting worse?
More and more research supports early intervention for adults and children as well.
In adults, hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression and there’s potentially a link to dementia as well. As hearing diminishes people tend to start to withdraw from conversations and social activity as it becomes too difficult to keep pace with conversations. This affects not only the sufferer of hearing loss but their friends and family who become frustrated with the inability of the person to hear, participate and respond appropriately.
It’s not just the health effects we need to be concerned about. The financial costs affect individuals and communities as well. The World Health Organisation has found that people with untreated hearing loss earn, on average, less than people with normal hearing.
Undiagnosed and untreated hearing loss in children can lead to delays in speech development and ongoing learning disorders potentially affecting them for the rest of their lives.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have a hearing loss, and a hearing evaluation with a registered and fully qualified audiologist is recommended:
Turning the TV or radio louder than othersIf you are diagnosed with hearing loss, it’s great to know that there are now many options in treatment and in hearing devices to assist. We carry a full range of devices from all manufacturers including invisible, extended wear Lyric hearing aids right through to cochlear implants for those who are profoundly deaf.
Missing a piece in a jigsaw puzzle is frustrating. Missing pieces of life and activities around you is devastating. If you suspect hearing loss, don’t delay talking to someone about your options. you can book an appointment with Clarity today.
Not only does technology move quickly in the hearing technology world, but your hearing changes too. Regular annual reviews are recommended to ensure your hearing aids are fitted and tuned properly and that they are still addressing your hearing loss. If your loss has changed your hearing aids can be adjusted to suit.
The latest technology include rechargeable hearing aids that recharge via induction. There are also hearing aids now that connect to the Internet that will turn on the lights for you when you get home and custom hearing aids moulded specifically for you from titanium.
Our hearing treatment is based on our five ethical practice principles: accurate, expert diagnosis; evidence-based treatment; transparent, competitive pricing; free from commissions and sales targets; independence. This means you get the right solution for you, your lifestyle, and your budget. Compare prices on all hearing aids on our products page.
Clarity is proudly independently Queensland-owned and provide advanced hearing aids and audiological expertise in hearings aids, accessories, balance/vestibular and CAP testing, cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids. We have clinics throughout metro, regional and remote Queensland and provide remote telehealth services where required.
We are government registered for the Office of Hearing Services Program and the NDIS and provide advanced free hearing aids to eligible pensioners, DVA card holders and NDIS participants.
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