Breaking the Silence on Hearing Loss

Can’t hear the birds chirping anymore? Is it difficult to make out what someone is saying when other conversations are going on around you? These could be signs of hearing loss, says Bill Hodgetts, ’08 PhD, an audiologist and professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. During a webinar, Hodgetts and speech language pathologist Esther Kim, ’98 BSc, spoke about hearing loss and how to overcome communication difficulties with those experiencing it.

Here are some takeaways from the event:

You should hear well at any age

Many factors can contribute to hearing loss, including aging, certain medications and noise exposure. Some can cause changes in the brain, the physical structures of the ear or both, impacting your ability to hear. Hodgetts cautions people against assuming their hearing is healthy just because it seems typical of their age group. “It doesn’t matter how old you are,” he says. “If you don’t hear well, there is help out there.”

Hearing loss has big impacts

One of the early impacts of hearing loss is trouble hearing high-pitched sounds, which can affect your ability to understand speech. People experiencing hearing loss are likely to ask others to repeat themselves and tend to have difficulty understanding conversation in noisy environments. If you struggle to hear what people are saying, Hodgetts suggests visiting an audiologist to have your hearing checked. Untreated hearing loss doubles the risk of developing dementia, causes memory impairment and can lead to anxiety, insecurity and social isolation.

Adjusting to a hearing aid takes time

If your test results fall outside of the normal range, you may be a candidate for a hearing device. It can take four to six months for someone to adjust to a hearing aid, says Hodgetts. Just as he encourages family members to be patient with the person experiencing hearing loss, he also encourages patients to stick with their treatment. Noticing and addressing hearing loss can take up to a decade. In that time, the brain restructures itself to prioritize senses other than hearing. After a patient starts using a hearing aid, the brain needs time to reverse this process. “Perseverance is the most important thing,” says Hodgetts.

Non-verbal cues can help

Speech is just one way that people communicate, says Kim, who is also an associate professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Non-verbal cues can say a lot. To help better communicate with those experiencing hearing loss, she suggests writing out words, showing images or making hand gestures while you speak. Kim also recommends pausing between phrases and speaking in shorter sentences. “Making these small changes can be beneficial not just for people with hearing loss and communication difficulties, but other individuals, such as English-language learners,” she says.

Hodgetts and Kim are two of many speakers to share expertise at alumni events. For more visit uabgrad.ca/OnDemand.