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Dr. Emily E McMahan
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October is National Audiology Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of hearing health and the impact it can have on everyday life.
For many people, hearing challenges aren't simple, straightforward issues. Instead, they can be complex and change over time, which was exactly the case for Larry.
Larry’s hearing journey started when he was just 12 years old. As he explained, "My hearing loss came in two stages. I lost the hearing in one ear due to the mumps at age 12. So I have had single-sided deafness since then.” For decades, he adapted to a world with hearing in only one ear.
The second stage of his hearing loss came more recently: “As I got older, I began to lose the hearing in my ‘good’ ear. I have lost some of the higher frequencies. It became difficult to hear certain people speaking and I could see everyone else could hear them fine.”
Gradual changes in hearing, like what Larry experienced in recent years, are common. But they can still be isolating, especially when it feels like everyone else can follow the conversation with ease.
Addressing Hesitations Around Hearing Aids
Even when you recognize that you need help, taking the next step can feel intimidating. Although Larry had visited other hearing centers and had some idea of what to expect, he still found himself wondering what the experience would be like and whether hearing aids would truly meet his needs.
“My biggest concerns before my appointment were the perceptions people would have of me because of wearing hearing aids, and how well they would work,” he said.
For Larry, finding the right solution meant looking beyond hearing performance alone. He wanted hearing aids that could improve his everyday communication while fitting comfortably and naturally into his lifestyle.
Restoring Balance at Work and Home
The goal of a hearing solution isn’t simply to make sounds louder; it’s to make everyday communication and the activities you enjoy more accessible.
“Wearing hearing aids has made it possible for me to continue to work in an office setting. With the aid of my ComPilot, I can watch TV at home and hear everything fine without turning the volume up too loud for everyone else,” he said.
The right technology allows Larry to continue working his office job without feeling left behind. At home, an assistive device called a ComPilot streams TV audio directly to his hearing aids, allowing him to hear clearly while the volume remains at a comfortable level for others in the room.
These everyday improvements show how the right hearing technology supports communication, independence, and the moments that matter most.
Delivering Exceptional Audiological Care for All Alaskans
Larry’s journey from single-sided deafness to experiencing greater clarity highlights the value of specialized audiological care. At Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus Center, our expert team works with patients who have complex hearing needs, using detailed evaluations and advanced technology to develop an approach that fits each individual.
A hearing device can provide amplification, but getting the most from that technology depends on how it’s fitted and adjusted to your specific hearing profile. Expert fitting helps ensure that sounds are clear and appropriately balanced, while ongoing support allows those settings to be refined as your needs or preferences change over time.
Together, these steps can make the difference between simply hearing more and experiencing greater clarity in everyday life. In Larry’s words: “I’m very satisfied with the care and service Alaska Hearing provides.”
Take Charge of Your Hearing Health This October
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, National Audiology Awareness Month is the perfect time to take the next step. Whether you’ve been living with hearing challenges for years or have only recently noticed a change, an evaluation can help you better understand your hearing and your options.
Contact our team at Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus Center to schedule an appointment or request a callback. We’re here to help you find a solution tailored to your needs!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is tinnitus treatment available in Alaska?
A: Yes, advanced tinnitus treatment is available right here in Anchorage! We offer a range of personalized tinnitus management options, including the innovative Lenire tinnitus treatment, designed to help reduce the impact of tinnitus and make it less intrusive in your daily life.
As tinnitus can affect people differently, treatment starts with understanding your symptoms, hearing, and individual needs. From there, our team can help you explore appropriate options and develop a plan focused on helping you manage tinnitus with greater confidence.
Q: What is single-sided deafness?
A: Single-sided deafness means that one ear has little or no usable hearing, while the other ear hears normally or has some degree of hearing loss. It can make it difficult to determine where sounds come from or understand speech when noise is present, but an audiologist can assess both ears and explain which hearing technologies may be appropriate.
Q: Why do hearing challenges make some voices harder to understand?
A: Many of the consonants and subtle speech sounds that help us distinguish words occur at higher frequencies. When these sounds become harder to hear, speech can sound muffled or unclear, even when it seems loud enough.
Higher-pitched voices may be especially difficult to follow, and similar-sounding words can be easier to confuse when important clarity cues are missing.
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