By Ellyn Mantell
Needless to say, it has been many years since I was in college, where I studied Speech and Audiology, and even many years since obtaining my Masters’ Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. But some things stick in one’s mind, long after the need to recall the information determines a grade on a transcript. As a young woman, I learned anatomy and the function of the ear, and certain precepts were believed to be written in stone. I am happy to say that some of those precepts are no longer true. For example, it was understood that profoundly deaf individuals would never be able to hear. And then, the cochlear implant was invented. Another example was that the aging ear (suffering from presbycusis or age-related hearing loss) would be able to receive an amplified hearing, but not regain acuity. The industry of enhancing and providing hearing is growing, and our generation is benefiting.
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Recently, I revisited a frustration I have had for many years, and in fact, had checked over a decade ago. At that time, I was told there wasn’t an aide that would benefit me, and I learned to cope the best I could. The problem is I hear sound quite well, in fact, very well, but I lose the ends of words, the ends of sentences, and find myself reading lips whenever possible. I felt it becoming more and more a detriment since I was so busy trying to catch a word that I was either nodding or a little behind in the conversation, neither sitting well with me, a communicator!
Not one to ignore these things, I had an audiological evaluation and it was confirmed…my ability to hear the sounds around me at a “normal level” is fine, but my ability to hear speech sounds is quite impacted by my loss. I was so relieved when the Audiologist told me I would benefit from binaural (both ears) aides. So without looking back, I ordered my aides and couldn’t wait to receive them. I wear my hair short, particularly around my ears, so I was very happy to see that the newest generation of aides sits behind the ear, and only a small filament-type wire rests in front of the ear. Looking at myself from all angles, I only saw the wire, which fit beautifully, and almost transparently, in front of my ear.
As for the appearance of the aide, obviously, no problem! And then the consideration was for the increased acuity I longed to receive. I am so happy to say that I am very much benefiting from my “new best friends!” What a difference better hearing makes…I had no idea that the keys on the keyboard actually make a sound when typing…a clear, strong sound.
No doubt, as I continue to acclimate myself, and find myself in comparable situations that presented problems now corrected, I will appreciate my aides even more. Our generation gets very frustrated with technology we don’t understand and have a difficult time mastering, but BRAVO to the technology that gives us a better hearing. And when there is even more improvement in the future…well, just sign me up!