Hearing Health Journeys

Since my first target shooting at age 12 caused tinnitus, I realized I had a hearing challenge.

I first realized I had a hearing challenge when I could no longer hear my co-workers or family.

I wear hearing aids only to please my family, so I worry they’ll slip off since they’re too expensive to disregard if lost.

In 2004, I had surgery for an acoustic neuroma that left me deaf on my left side.

I first had issues with what I found out was Meniere’s, which in turn caused my hearing loss.

Wearing hearing aids has brought back the ability to hear a full conversation again.

I needed a hearing exam and consultation with an audiologist, so I visited Audicles Hearing Services.

Terry was certain that she didn’t have a hearing loss. Her husband, however, was convinced she did. She recalls, “My husband told me I needed hearing aids. I didn’t believe him. I got tested and then I knew.”

Cynthia’s hearing loss was making her workday a frustrating one. She recalls, “I could not communicate with my patients, co-workers, or referring physicians.”

John was unaware of his hearing loss. However, he says, “My wife noticed that I wasn’t hearing the doorbell and my cell phone ringing.”

Ronald first noticed a decline in his hearing while he was in medical school. He recalls he “noticed difficulty with background noise.”

Manuel’s mother has been a patient at Audicles for over 50 years. “My mother Irma has been going to Audicles since she was a teenager,” he says. “She is now 73 years old.”

He says, “I started wearing hearing aids at a very young age, was in 2nd or 3rd grade. So, I grew up with them, and now I am 57 years old and wearing them is like putting on glasses.

“Individuals speaking on the TV were a bit more difficult to understand – women speakers more so than men. The only thing bothering me before my appointment was the expense.

“I became concerned about my hearing while in a business meeting when I couldn’t understand a question. I didn’t have any pre-appointment concerns, as my son was a client.

“Prior to my appointment at Audicles, I was concerned about the cost of hearing aids, but other than that I wasn’t worried, as I knew Jane before.

“My hearing loss was gradual, and a nurse told me to ask my primary doctor to check for built up wax. Upon coming to Audicles, it was a surprise the attention I received.

“I was aware of some hearing loss when I was in my late 50s. I knew the loss would increase because I used to shoot in pistol competitions without good protection.

“I had to keep asking people to repeat everything and still was not sure what they said. I did not have any fears before my first appointment but was concerned about the cost.

My early work life was in a very loud environment, with little discipline for hearing protection. In my early 50’s, hearing tests showed a significant loss of hearing in the higher frequencies.

“I became aware of my hearing loss when I answered a question and it had nothing to do with what they asked. The smirk on their faces told me I had not heard correctly – I was so embarrassed.

My husband had serious difficulty hearing (even with hearing aids) and I needed to be his ears at times. I had never had a hearing test; learned of my own hearing difficulty; went to Audicles for quality and service.

While one’s awareness that they need hearing assistance is a gradual process, it reaches a point when you realize it is necessary to say, ‘Could you say that again, please?’ far too often.

I realized I was constantly asking family and friends to repeat themselves. I was in denial that I had a hearing loss, due to my younger age, so I felt it was due to allergies.

I first realized I had a hearing loss in my ENT’s office following ear surgery. The follow-up audiogram indicated a hearing loss as compared to the pre-op audiogram, so I had lost some of my hearing during surgery.

A doctor I was working with asked to test my hearing because she thought I was lip reading a lot…discovered I had a moderate hearing loss which I never suspected! I work in an ER and there’s lots of noise and commotion and hearing is critical.

Ten or more years ago, I could not hear those I worked with or doctors on the phone. I was upset to think I needed ugly hearing aids. My biggest concern was the cost.

I first realized I might have a hearing issue when my husband kept telling me that I couldn’t hear well. I didn’t have any concerns before contacting Audicles, as they came highly recommended by my best friend.