Your Hearing

With age, our bodies can start to show signs of wear and tear – and that can include our hearing.

This can especially be true for high-pitched sounds such as whistles, most bird song and some speech sounds.

In fact, by the time we reach 70, most people have some degree of hearing loss, even they have experienced perfectly good hearing up until then.

Have you found ways to cope with hearing loss? Please encourage others in our Facebook community. And don’t forget to Sign Up to our blog.

  • How you know you need help

    A typical response to the symptoms of hearing loss is denial. But there are signs to take note of:

    • Do you need the television volume louder level than other people?
    • Do you miss that the sound of your car indicator is still on?
    • Are you saying ‘what?’ or guessing what people say more often?
    • Have you missed callers at the front door?
    • Are other people mumbling?
    • Do you have a problem hearing when there’s a high amount of background noise or when with a group of people?

    If any of these apply to you or to someone you know, it’s very likely that they do need some help with their hearing.

  • The help you can get

    Devices to help you hear better, or to alert you to sounds you might otherwise miss include:

    • Hearing aids, TV listeners, phone amplifiers,
    • Alerting devices for the doorbell, alarm clock, smoke alarm, phone

    Hearing aids are provided free on the NHS and can also be bought privately. Try the NHS hearing aids first, as privately bought ones are expensive and NHS aids are suitable for most types of hearing loss.

    It’s much easier to get used to a hearing aid when you first discover that you have a hearing loss, so don’t wait until you’re struggling. Hearing aids don’t give you perfect hearing but you will almost certainly benefit from them.

    Other devices such as TV listeners and alerting equipment may be supplied by your local Social Services. In addition, all these devices can be purchased from suppliers of equipment for people with hearing needs.

    If things are serious, consider a lip reading class You will meet others who also have a hearing loss, as well as learning strategies to help you in social situations.

  • Special opportunities for service

    If your hearing loss is significant, you are ideally placed to serve others in the same situation. Deafness, being invisible, is a largely misunderstood disability. Many deaf people feel isolated and upset that nobody seems to understand why they are retreating from social situations.

    You can offer:

    • Advice on how to get the most from their hearing aid and other devices
    • Encouragement to return to social situations and relieve isolation
    • Prayer and understanding of the challenges of hearing loss

  • Where to find fellowship

    A great resource for Christians with hearing loss is Open Ears – an organisation specifically for those who have hearing loss.

    Open Ears runs a weekend or short holiday event every year which has full communication support. They also produce Hearing Eye, a quarterly magazine written by and for people with hearing loss. And membership is free.

Marylin Kilsby – Open Ears

The word retirement is not even in the Bible. What is taught in scripture is transition. There is nothing that says you work most of your life and then get to be selfish for the next 20 years"

Rick Warren, PurposeDrivenLife

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