Hearing Health and Communication Practices   

Living your best life includes many aspects of healthy lifestyles choices and maintaining good hearing health is an area that is often overlooked, but of critical importance to our overall mental health and physical and social well-being.

What we know about hearing loss:

     The Canadian Health Measures Survey (2019) revealed 78% of adults aged 60-79 experience hearing loss and 40% of adults aged 40-59 had hearing loss in one or both ears.

     Hearing loss consistently ranks among the top five causes of years lived with a disability.

Unperceived hearing loss among Canadians aged 40 to 79  www.statcan.gc.ca

And the consequences of untreated hearing loss:

     The diminished ability to process acoustic information can impede communication.

     The social and health consequences related to diminished hearing, include embarrassment, fatigue, anxiety, depression and distress; social isolation and participation restrictions; mobility issues, falls and other injuries; lower quality of life; cognitive decline and dementia; mortality.                     Unperceived hearing loss among Canadians aged 40 to 79 – www.statcan.gc.ca

Given the consequences of hearing loss, early recognition, detection and intervention are important. This should include regular hearing assessments and remedial support as early as possible. Because hearing loss can be gradual and happen over time, we may not even recognize that our hearing is diminishing. Like having your vision tested every few years, making hearing tests a regular part of your health practice is recommended.

When living with hearing loss it is important to maintain good communication practices to reduce isolation. Staying connected with family and friends, maintaining activities and social circles can be challenging for individuals with hearing loss, so developing strategies and techniques to help in active listening can be critical. Along with hearing aids there are many assistive technologies (phones, TV listening and alerting systems and more) that can assist in daily life and provide the technology and support so individuals can stay connected and safe.

Living your best life with hearing loss can be challenging. Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre is a non-profit organization committed to assisting individuals and families to access the services and technology they need to support communication and improve quality of life. We offer full service hearing clinics with registered Audiologist and our Sound of Change Initiative provides free refurbished hearing aids to low income seniors and adults. Our tech teams have assistive listening devices and even have a lending library to trial some products. We offer the National Let’s Talk speechreading class as provide workshops on subjects like tinnitus, Bluetooth technology, cerumen management, cochlear implants, etc. IDHHC also hosts support groups and information sessions designed to help you develop skills and strategies for improved communication.

Visit us today for more information and to see how we can assist in your hearing health journey. www.idhhc.ca

Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
301 – 3960 Quadra Street,
Victoria BC,
250.592.8144

Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
102 – 6588 Applecross Road,
Nanaimo BC.
250.753.0999

Edward Storzer, Audiologist, Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre