In 2017, Vila decided to see an audiologist. She knew she was having trouble hearing her friends during conversations, but she was unaware of how significant her hearing loss truly was until after she got her hearing aids.
“I could hear the cardinals again,” she said. “I had a pair of cardinals that were always singing to me and I hadn’t heard them for a while and I never thought about it until I heard them again.”
An avid traveler, Vila had always been mesmerized by the sounds of water as she enjoyed the outdoors. Now, it was all coming back to her.
“The first time I heard water trickling when we went through the Smoky Mountains I thought, ‘Oh, there it is,’” she said.
Vila credits SSM Health audiologist Sarah Childress for helping her make the decision to get the hearing aids that have changed her life. Unfortunately, Childress says, many people don’t seek help for hearing loss the way Vila did.
“They always just think it’s going to get better,” said Childress. “But even if it doesn’t, the follow up is also really lacking. Lots of people just kind of put it on the back burner, but it’s a really important part of communication if you’re talking and speaking with people on a regular basis.”
But when hearing loss goes untreated, she says it can negatively impact people in many ways. A new study shows people who need hearing aids and use them regularly may live longer.
“Brain stimulation through hearing normal everyday sounds as well as having positive social connections with people are very important to keep the brain sharp and functioning as we age,” says Childress. “When we don’t have sound, our brain begins to sort of atrophy and people tend to stop interacting with us if they have to continually repeat themselves. Hearing aids are powerful tools to keep us healthy.”
Devices that were once quite large are now a lot more convenient and subtle. Plus, with new technology, people with hearing loss can receive phone calls in their hearing aids as well as play music in them.
“I was reading about the blues and jazz scene of the of the 1930s and I thought well, I could listen to that music,” Vila said. “I brought up my Pandora while I was reading about it and that just added another whole dimension.”
Signs of hearing loss
Common hearing loss symptoms include:
- Difficulty understanding speech with background noise or with a group of people
- Increased volume on TV and/or radio
- Ringing or noises in the ears
- Asking for frequent repetitions in conversation
- Answering or responding inappropriately in conversation
- Muffled sounds or unclear speech
- Avoiding activities or social gatherings you once enjoyed because you find it difficult to hear
If you’re experiencing hearing loss symptoms and are concerned about your overall hearing health, consult with an SSM Health audiologist today.
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