You heard right. One in five adults in New Zealand experience hearing loss – however, very few do something about it. At Specsavers, we understand how important your hearing is to connecting with friends, family and the things you enjoy. Which is why getting your ears checked at the first sign of hearing loss is key to getting the best possible outcome. Now doesn’t that sound good?
Benefits of good hearing
From social gatherings with the ones you love, to the joy of listening to your favourite music, hearing loss means missing the moments that matter. But for many people, it’s not until their hearing begins to deteriorate that they realise how important it is.
Untreated hearing loss can impact your relationships with others, your participation in the community and even your independence. But today’s digital hearing aids are discreet and high tech, and can vastly improve your quality of life.
At Specsavers, your ears are in good hands. Our hearing aids are tailored to you, so you can choose your preferred style at no extra cost to the technology level you decide on.
Some tips worth hearing
If you, or someone you care about has hearing loss, communicating can feel challenging and at times frustrating for you both. It can be hard to accept that your hearing has changed and can even be isolating at times.
You are not alone and we’re here for you when you’re ready.
Things to listen out for
Have you (or a loved one) noticed some of these telltale signs of hearing loss? Often, it’s others that will notice it first.
- Turning up the TV volume higher than you used to
- Struggling to keep up with conversation
- Regularly asking people to repeat what they’ve said
- Talking on the telephone seems like hard work
- You prefer to avoid social events because its harder to hear in situations with lots of background noise
- Family or close friends notice you are not hearing as well as you used to
Need some sound advice?
If you’re having trouble hearing and want to improve your communication with others, here are some tips that might make it a little easier:
- Whenever possible, minimise background noise to make it easier to hear the conversation.
- If in a noisy cafe or restaurant, try to avoid sitting in the middle of the room.
- Hard floors and high ceilings can sometimes cause sound to echo or bounce so try to move to a carpeted area. Adding soft furnishings like rugs may help at home.
- Make sure the person you’re speaking with gets your attention before starting a conversation.
- Encourage the person to face you directly and ensure there’s good lighting. This helps you better read their expressions and lips.
- If you have trouble understanding, kindly ask them to rephrase their statement instead of repeating it. Remember, effective communication is a two-way street, and a little patience and kindness go a long way.
What causes hearing loss?
You may have heard it before, but it’s true – hearing loss is a natural part of the ageing process. And because it can be gradual, you may not even realise it’s happening.
For most people, hearing begins to deteriorate from the mid-thirties, and slowly declines over time. The sensitive hair-like cells in the inner ear simply wear out over the years. When this happens, it becomes harder to understand sounds clearly, particularly speech. And hearing in social environments like restaurants can be even more challenging.
For others, illness, injury or exposure to noisy work environments – like construction, hospitality, transport, factories or live entertainment – can contribute to earlier hearing loss.
When do I need to see an Audiology Professional?
Once you reach the age of 40, it’s important to get your ears checked as often as you check your eyes, usually every two years. But if you’re experiencing any of the tell-tale signs of hearing loss, don’t wait for the big 4-0. Because, the longer you leave it, the worse your hearing can get.
The earlier you address your hearing needs, the better the long-term outcome. And that’ll be music to your ears.
Listen to our senior audiologist Kathryn Launchbury tell you more.
