50+ Lifestyles

My Hearing Journey: Diary of a (New) Hearing Aid User

By Dr. Molly Parker
Audiologist and Owner
Parker Audiology, P.C.

Dr. Alison Soto
Audiologist
Parker Audiology, P.C.

My Hearing Journey: Diary of a (New) Hearing Aid User

Day 1: I know! I know! I need these D*@#N things! Stop pestering me! I said that to my 10 year old granddaughter who keeps mumbling to me – I can’t understand her fast talking anyway. But after visiting my audiologist, I found out that maybe my hearing is not selective. To me, hearing is like Wheel Of Fortune – I just can’t hear all the blanks to fill them in very well.

Day 3: I was able to check out some new hearing aid

technology to take it for a test drive. Wow! I had no idea!! I am hearing myself in the bathroom. Plus I can hear the turn signal in the car. But the best was when I could hear the cashier ask me for her pen back; I hadn’t realized I put it in my purse! I’m not sure I would have heard that before!

Day 5: I saw my granddaughter. She told me she missed me…. I can’t remember the last time I heard that! That was pretty incredible. I wonder what else I’ve been missing?

Day 7:  Oh, that baby crying at church was so loud!!! (Was it really THAT loud?) I asked my husband who said, “Yes, all that crying bothered me too.”  I could not believe it!  He heard it too!  But the funny thing is, I could hear our minister for the first time since I can remember. She always drops the punch line to the jokes! I guess I am really missing out sometimes, even though the loud sounds were loud.

Day 10:  My friends asked when I was going to get my hearing aids. I took them out to show them. They are so small that no one saw them at all.  It is funny – I thought I would get the small ones so no one would see them, but here I am showing them off to everyone. I could have gotten hot pink, and no one would ever know!

Day 14:  Well, my test drive is nearly over! I guess I have been missing more than I thought!  Looking back the past two weeks, I guess some sounds were louder than I thought they would be. … but I am missing out on more than I thought I would as well. My daughter told me that I never heard my granddaughter as well as I had. My friends noted that I was really on top of my card game this week. I guess I’m realizing that my hearing loss affected me more than I thought…and that hearing technology really can be invisible and effective.  I am going to make this investment for me and my family.

Parker Audiology enjoys helping people through their listening experiences and better communication strategies. Call to schedule your visit today! (563) 326-5441.