Most of us have memories or even anticipations of Father’s Day: the sweet aromas of freshly cut grass, burgers sizzling on the grill, and the sound of laughter and chatter as the day unfolds. Often times these anticipations, or even memories, are pleasant and joyful in the recognition of your father or a father figure in your life. Or, maybe you are a father and you have memories or anticipations of this sort.
However, there is another side to all of this. You might remember your dad enjoying the company and the events of the day from a distance. Or you might feel somewhat secluded or seated off to the side during these types of occasions. It’s very difficult to socialize and follow a conversation when you or a loved one is combatting a hearing loss. Often hearing loss goes undiagnosed for a number of years before someone effected with deteriorating hearing will do something about it.
Take Action On Hearing Loss This Father’s Day
In the United States, individuals with hearing loss wait an average of seven years to actually do something about their hearing loss. Most people do not wait seven years, or even one year, to treat an ailment of any kind. So, why is hearing loss so different? Hearing loss, for many, is something that they feel may be looked down upon from their friends, family, or co-workers. They often feel that admitting to a hearing loss is in some way connected to a weakness or deficit.
Loved ones of individuals with hearing loss may feel stressed or frustrated when trying to communicate because they are continuously needing to repeat themselves. They may also need to speak louder, and slower, for their loved one to hear and comprehend what is being said. Not all hearing loss is specific to volume. Sometimes, because of the type of hearing loss one may have, their speech understanding or comprehension may be deteriorated as well, which could harm relationships.
As a result, hearing loss may affect the whole family -- and not just the person who experiences it. Father's Day is a great opportunity to address untreated hearing loss.
Paying Attention To The Signs Of Hearing Loss
If you or a loved one has a hearing loss, you may feel it’s difficult to hear people when attempting to communicate in a crowd. Noisy situations can be anything from a small gathering to a busy and crowded restaurant. You or a family member may say that they feel others are “mumbling.” This is a clear sign of hearing loss. You may have to ask your friends or family to repeat themselves. Or you may catch yourself saying “huh?” on a regular basis.
Other signs or symptoms of hearing loss can be: feeling like you cannot engage and follow a conversation, distancing yourself from social gatherings because you know you will not be able to hear in a crowd, hearing ringing or buzzing in your ears, and difficulty understanding what people say when they are not facing you. All of these situations are normal for people with hearing loss to experience. It’s important to be honest with yourself regarding these symptoms so you can start on your path to better hearing health.
Addressing Hearing Loss
At Hearing Spa of Florida, our staff is well equipped and prepared to help you or your loved one in determining their need for high-quality hearing care. It is important for you or your loved one to seek a professional Audiologist to best treat their hearing loss.
We want to make you aware of the prevalence of hearing loss, but also comfortable with the process of treating your own. We will be happy to discuss your hearing results along with many options for treatment even if it’s simply wearing ear plugs in noisy situations in the future. Noise management is key in hearing preservation. We may also suggest to turn down the volume of your ear-buds or listening devices to less than 60% volume. And one simple remedy, just walk away from loud noise!
Besides noise induced hearing loss, there are many other reasons you or your loved one experiences hearing loss. We will educate on the different options of amplification, or hearing aids, that you may be interested. It’s important to consider all factors when making a selection, and we are trained to do that with you and your best quality of life in mind!
Make this Father’s Day one to remember in ways more consistent with the delicious food, the wonderful company, and the great conversations. We are happy to help you in your quest for better hearing health.
