Something that often surprises my patients is the fact that I wear hearing aids—as audiologists, we’re not immune to hearing loss!
I’ve worn hearing aids for almost 30 years now; watching hearing aid technology evolve as I work in the industry that saved my hearing has been an incredible experience.
I wanted to share my story with those of you who might be curious to see how I as a hearing health expert reacted to needing hearing aids, and how my drive to help others communicate has changed as a result.
Discovering My Hearing Loss
I knew I wanted to be an audiologist long before I realized I had hearing loss. My interest in communication and collaboration amongst people helped lead me to the career I love today; I always wanted to do something that would help people feel better.
Interpersonal communication is one of the best ways to do that! I developed an interest in communication disorders and audiology, and the fine part of hearing to communicate well.
During these classes, I discovered I wasn’t hearing some of the equipment we were using. I had a tuning fork that I couldn’t hear at all—and I thought the tuning fork was the problem! I took hearing tests and failed them, but none of the audiologists I saw advocated for me to get treatment.
As audiologists, we need to recommend the best course of action for our patients’ hearing—it still astounds me now that my hearing loss was brushed off as normal back then. My academic journey could’ve been much easier if I weren’t struggling to hear what was being said in my classes.
An Opportunity, Not a Drawback
As someone who knows firsthand how hearing loss can change your life, I believe that my hearing loss challenges have allowed me to be more empathetic toward my patients, and I hope they allow my patients to trust my recommendations as someone who went through what they’re going through.
I saw my hearing loss as a chance for me to take adversity and use it as an opportunity to help my career as an audiologist. I can make recommendations without worry, as my patients know I have their best interests at heart—after all, I have similar challenges to them!
A Positive Shift for Advocacy and Treatment
While I was not advocated for when I noticed my hearing loss, I’m seeing a great wave of patients advocating for themselves and seeking out proactive treatment.
From prescription hearing aids to Apple’s latest hearing aid advancements, I see a huge improvement in advocacy for hearing care and keeping our ears safe.
I’m doing everything I can in my power and providing my patients with some communication strategies and tools to repair communication when technology is not quite enough.
My responsibility, as a hearing care professional who has benefited firsthand from hearing care, is to offer guidance and education to my patients and help them lead the way in their own hearing health journeys.
