Hear me out: Please

I walk into a room. Around a table sit three people engaged in lively conversation. I want to join the chatter so I sit down and pay attention to each speaker in turn, even when one talks over the other, excitedly. It’s hard to keep up as the topic shifts quickly from a family story, to a local news event, to a baseball score. What about that slide into second base? What is the town mayor on about this time? And of course, who’s making dinner tonight?

I leave the table and go downstairs. I turn on the TV hoping to find a M*A*S*H rerun. Americans talk quickly, though clearly. Vietnamese characters are hard to hear but I can follow well enough. I fall asleep — Not a new experience I admit. It’s how I relax. Zzz . . .

An incoming phone call interrupts my armchair slumber. Do I recognize the number? Don’t think so, but I recognize the name, so I answer. Once again, an invitation to help photograph a local arts group. Sure, why not? Well, sometimes there is a reason to say NO. In larger group settings my hearing can become obstructive. As I can’t see human subjects that well — I can’t read lips — difficulty hearing people creates additional barriers. Oh well, ever onward. See what happens.

Now the doorbell rings. Upstairs I go, almost tripping over the dog only to arrive just before my neighbour returns home. Standing in our courtyard we chat about one of our neighbours who it seems needs a little additional support — living with some cognitive challenges and, arghh, hearing loss.

Every one of these life situations requires a particular level of hearing ability for me to participate fully. Each situation has unique circumstances demanding specific solutions. My mother lived with significant hearing loss throughout her adult life. Her hearing loss frustrated and discouraged her most days. I have had, and continue to have similar frustrations with eyesight. In recent years, my own hearing has become my own struggle. For both my mother and me there is no “cure.” Adaptation and mitigation are both required. And let’s not forget that as I am challenged so are those who live with or near me.

For the last eight years I have used cheaper hearing aids from a national retailer. Initially they worked well; recently, however, this has not been the case. I have sent the units back for repair or replacement far too many times. My retailer has been very responsive to my needs; in the end however, after numerous trips to three different locations I gave up. I remembered the agency which served my mother’s needs for decades. I pleaded with them for an appointment — This was complicated by wild fire evacuation — I played the evacuation story card; and I cried; and my strategy worked. I was given an appointment for the next day.

I am now the proud owner of expensive, technically complicated, AI assisted, comfortable, efficient and effective hearing aids. I cannot believe the difference. My daily round is so much easier and more enjoyable now. The lady at the shop agreed to orient me to the controller app on my phone; she advised however that such instruction wasn’t really necessary. I thought she was being lazy and just wanted to go home after a long day. Truthfully, she was right. These hearing aids are so automatic they know what I need before I do. They assess, instantly, the setting, the participants, the digital music or speech, the devise connections, the background noise, and any and every auditory requirement imaginable.

Are they expensive? Yes they are. And we’ll see how they do over the long haul. Fortunately for me, I can afford them now which I couldn’t a few years ago. Cost is a factor for sure. That said, given my recent frustrations I would have paid (almost) anything for the relief I now enjoy. If you or anyone you know is reluctant to test or use hearing aids, please get in touch with me. I will simply encourage you to take the next step. You will not regret your decision. Promise.

REALITY CHECK: I have now discovered two situations where my new aids falter:

1) Large ambient rooms where the presenter is unamplified. Solution: encourage installation of hearing assistance technology.

2) Watching The Derry Girls on TV, who speak fast with strong Northern Ireland accents. Solution: turn on subtitles, and best of luck.

The above challenges noted, some friends always mumble. Solution: find new friends.

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