Help Others to Hear Better

By Karen J. Bauman
    

People often ask us,"How can I convince my (husband,wife,friend) to get help for his or her hearing difficulties?" Why do so many people put up with hearing less than they could and why does the typical person wait more than seven years before getting help?   Actually, there are good reasons why hearing loss is one of the most common undetected and untreated problems in adults.

Hearing loss usually develops very, very gradually so the person doesn’t notice any difference. 

It’s painless and invisible,so there are no obvious signs.

Only certain sounds are affected, so noises and speech may be loud enough, but many words are not clear enough.

Since the problems seen so inconsistent, depending on the place, the speaker, the background noise, it’s easy to blame something else for the hearing problems (I would hear fine if people didn’t mumble, if the TV were turned up, if the phone connection were better).

Unfortunately, this also means that family and friends have to put up with the annoyances and aggravations caused by untreated hearing  loss, while the person with the hearing loss is convinced there’s really no problem, or at least that it’s no big deal.

About that friend

Nobody wants to be told,"you should get hearing aids."  Instead, try some of these ideas.

Suggest a hearing test.  Get specific information and professional advice.  An audiologic evaluation doesn’t hurt, and no one complains if the results indicate normal hearing.  
 
Don’t criticize. Instead, stress that you simply want the person to be able to stay in touch with people as easily and as well as possible.  

Don’t compensate.  By talking louder, you’re helping to pretend there isn’t a problem.  When you have to speak louder, let the person know that you’re speaking louder than normal.  

Share this information.  Information and knowledge are important tools in the effort to hear as well as possible. 
(The article above is from Hearing HealthCare News)  

For the past 22 years Karen Bauman has worked as a certified Audiologist in Cumberland County, spending the last 15 of these years in private practice.  Her practice, Sound Advice Audiology and Hearing Aid Center, LLC is located on Karin Street in Vineland, New Jersey.   Since graduating from Temple University with her Master’s Degree she has enjoyed the rewards and challenges of the hearing health care field.  She is excited about the current and forthcoming technology available to treat those with hearing loss.Karen is a member of the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association, the American Academy of Audiology and the New Jersey Hearing Health Professionals.  She is also a member of the Vineland Rotary Club which enables her to participate in community and humanitarian service at local and international levels. Karen was born and raised in Vineland, although she now resides in Pittsgrove with her husband, Michael, and son Alec.  When not at Sound Advice Karen likes to read, exercise, spend time with family and friends and focus on health as a part time representative for the most thoroughly researched name brand nutritional product on the market today.