Hear Today, Thrive Tomorrow: Why Hearing Aids Make Us Sparkle

My gorgeous grandmother’s hearing changed in her eighties. It was minor at first but progressed. We could tell by her frustrations with us.

“I don’t know why you all mumble.”

“Can you please speak up?”

“Ashley, you need to teach the children to speak clearly and use eye contact with their elders.”

That last one was true. But more and more, we worried. She had always been a talented conversationalist who sparkled in social settings. She also possessed excellent cognitive health. But her growing communication frustrations and the loss of key details were concerning and to be honest, we were as frustrated as she was. She reluctantly agreed to have her hearing checked. The doctor discovered some loss, and to her horror, he recommended hearing aids.

Now my grandmother, like other women of her generation, was extraordinarily strong and resilient. She was a widow, fiercely independent, and prided herself on self-sufficiency and freedom. She took great joy in her appearance, maintained a fit body, and kept up with fashion. Hearing aids were not in her plan. We gently prodded, but the answer was no. She agreed to move into a senior living community, but hearing aids were a bridge too far.

Out of respect, we accepted her decision and adjusted as best we could. We spoke louder and more slowly. We clarified. We provided written back up for important conversations about her health and finances. But things got worse. She stopped participating in group conversations. She even started dozing off at the table when we all went out to dinner. Her senior community asked when her cognitive health was last checked. It was time for a tough talk.

She and I were at Luby’s cafeteria, a comforting favorite that the rest of the family found pretty bland. (Side point, I loved it and I miss it! Luann Platter all the way!) It was an easy place for a serious chat. “Mimo, we have to talk about your hearing.” I made certain I said it clearly but kindly. “I’m doing fine baby. I don’t want hearing aids. I’m just slowing down. I don’t want the expense or the hassle.” “Hear me out, Meems, and I mean that literally. I can tell you are feeling isolated, that’s not like you, and it’s only because you can’t hear well. I know hearing aids take some getting used to and I don’t know if you think accepting this kind of help shows weakness or if it’s just embarrassing, or what, but we are at the point where people are assuming you either have hearing loss or you have cognitive loss. Which do you prefer?”

I could tell I struck a nerve. My grandfather had passed away after a battle with Alzheimer’s. While my grandmother took great pride in her youthful appearance, being seen as cognitively astute was even more important to her. “Ok. Maybe you’re right. What is our next step?”

We found a new doctor that she liked and started the hearing aid process. She was right. They weren’t cheap at that time and they took some effort to adjust to. But once we got that part squared away, it was amazing. Her former social sparkle returned, we were able to have so many more years of clarity, her closeness to her great grand children expanded, and she even became an advocate for her neighbors in the senior community who could not communicate as well. Talk about purpose! Her hearing aids definitely gave her a longer, more quality life.

This was about 15 years ago and things have improved dramatically when it comes to hearing testing and technology. I’m not here to sell you anything other than to encourage you and your loved ones to jump in to the many hearing assistance options if hearing loss becomes an issue. I want to add, protecting our hearing may also protect our cognition. I’m ready to chose wisdom over vanity when it comes to my hearing. Are you?

P.S. Here’s one easy and fun way to check and increase our auditory function thanks to Apple.

#hearinghealth #hearingaids #brainhealth #wellness #healthyaging #endingisolation