Hearing Health: Dear Non-Working Ears

Each of us are endowed with the senses of hearing, vision, taste, touch, and smell to interact with our world and the people around us. Of all these sensory inputs, hearing impacts our relationships and interactions more than any other sense. Hearing is vital to human activities, learning, information exchange, and communication with people. When the ears are no longer able to detect sound signals, the brain doesn’t receive the complete, detailed, and accurate information it needs to make sense of what you hear. When Hearing Loss (HL) goes untreated, it impacts the structure and function of your brain.

When a problem occurs, the natural tendency is to reach out to someone else to advise us how to address or manage the situation. “Dear Abby” and “Ann Landers” come to mind when we consider seeking advice. Their advice columns originated in the 1950s and remain in syndication today. Interestingly these two columnists were identical twin sisters, Pauline Esther (Popo) and Esther Pauline (Eppie) Friedman. As adults, they became Pauline Phillips (aka Abigail Van Buren-Dear Abby) and Esther Lederer (aka Ann Landers).

On December 19, 2023, there was a Dear Abby column about life titled “Friends’ Hearing Issues Lead to Awkward Outings”. “Working Ears” was seeking advice on how to handle the situation of friends with hearing loss “who have the money to travel the globe but don’t invest in hearing aids.” Social activities with “Non-working Ears” created embarrassment when their loud conversations in restaurants caused other diners to quieten and turn to look at them. To avoid these uncomfortable situations, they now decline social invitations with “Non-working Ears” and choose electronic communication. “Abby” suggested that WE talk with NWE privately about the need to consult with an audiologist and have their hearing checked.

Hearing loss is the third most reported health concern in the U.S. Once a problem is noted, people wait an average of five to seven years before getting their hearing tested. Trouble following conversation in noise, misunderstanding words, feeling like others are mumbling, needing to increase the TV volume, and avoiding or losing interest in social gatherings are symptoms of hearing loss. The impact of hearing loss can be reduced with appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Hearing loss is a chronic treatable health condition, which requires a multifaceted approach to care with professional support. The journey begins with professional evaluation and expertise due to the fact that degrees and types of hearing loss are individual and varied. Audiologists evaluate your hearing and appropriately fit hearing devices to address your individual communication needs. Hearing technologies include hearing aids, bone anchored hearing systems, cochlear implants, or Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). The goal of hearing instruments is to enhance what hearing you have. Hearing devices do not provide natural “normal” hearing and don’t “fix” the hearing loss. Adjusting to hearing devices requires time for your brain to train itself how to “hear” again. Withdrawal and isolation are frustrating for all involved but with the right professional support, expertise and guidance, these hearing devices are a bridge to better communication and inclusion for a rich fulfilling life.

It’s time to leave your “I” land, reconnect with your people by addressing your loss of hearing and become part of your community again.

“No man is an island, Entire of Itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main.”
–John Donne

March 3 is World Hearing Day – 2024 Theme is “Changing Mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”

Resources:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2024
https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/john-donne/no-man-is-an-island
jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/van-buren-abigail
American Academy of Audiology
www.asha.org/public/hearing
www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2732519