Notes from The Farmer’s Daughter – Be honest with yourself when it comes to hearing health

Many people take the ability to hear well for granted. Often, it isn’t until we find ourselves complaining that our significant other is suddenly mumbling or we begin choosing e-mails over phone calls that we start to recognize that there might be a decline in our hearing.

Admittedly, I am one of those people. I grew up on a farm, driving tractors, riding dirt bikes, and helping with chores that included various machinery, all while paying little attention to protecting my ears. Not to mention a favourite pastime of my younger years was attending Rock concerts where the sound was not only heard but felt to the very core with every reverberation of bass and drumbeat.

So, what is one to do when they start saying “pardon me” more often than they’d like? I recently had a chance to ask (yes, by e-mail) Sophie Cushing, Clinic and Hearing Instrument Practitioner and Owner of Thousand Islands Hearing Centre, just that and more.

Sophie, who has many years of education and experience in the industry, suggests addressing hearing decline sooner rather than later. Being of a certain age, I assumed there might be a typical age when hearing loss becomes more common. However, Mrs. Cushing explained that she has noticed “younger adults struggling with mild hearing loss that is affecting their daily lives.”

When asked what percentage of the population experiences hearing loss, impairment, or tinnitus, Sophie provided a startling statistic that 1 in 4 adults (25%) over fifty-five years of age already have hearing loss. Yikes!

It is no wonder then that Mrs. Cushing is quick to pass along the following advice: “if you are going to be in a noisy environment for more than thirty minutes, please think of using Noise Protection.” Noise protection earmolds have come a long way and are available for specific uses. For instance, there are musician plugs (pretty self-explanatory) and high-frequency earplugs best for farmers or those who hunt as they allow a person to hear speech yet protect from the louder blasting sounds.

In addition, she suggests that a person should get their hearing checked every two years. If you are sitting on the fence wondering if you could benefit from a hearing test, perhaps ask yourself these questions (or maybe ask your family):

• Do I find myself getting irritated at my significant other or friends or family because “they are mumbling more”?
• Do I have trouble following conversations, especially in a crowded room?
• Has talking on the phone become more challenging?
• Are family members telling me to turn down the TV volume?

Some other subtle hearing loss signs and symptoms that I was surprised to discover from my correspondence with Sophie are – some sounds might seem louder than normal, or you might be having trouble remembering things people tell you.

Be honest with yourself, and if the statements above have you contemplating your hearing health, it sounds like it might be time to seek the assistance of a Hearing Instrument Specialist like Sophie. She and her staff at Thousand Island Hearing Centre in Brockville and Prescott www.Tihearing.com 613-499-7697 are happy to schedule you for a test. They pride themselves on “helping people connect with the world through hearing” so special moments can be enjoyed more easily.

Hearing instruments now are much different than the ones Sophie remembers playing with as a child exploring the equipment and tools of the trade when spending time with her Grandfather, who was an Audiologist. The equipment is now designed with iPhone or Android capabilities, allowing you to answer your phone with the hearing instruments and adjust them with an App. Clinicians can even adjust the device using the App, “helping you to hear better, improving quality of life” even if you can’t make it to the office,” says Mrs. Cushing.

Why wait to improve your hearing health? Make an appointment to get your hearing tested today. And remember to make it a priority to protect your hearing and your child or grandchild’s hearing by wearing or providing the appropriate earplugs; your future self and the future generation will thank you.