Although it’s one of our most important connections to the world around us, most people don’t routinely monitor changes in their hearing, track exposure to excessive noise, or include hearing screenings as part of their regular preventative care.
Two Years of Hears
Most people don’t think about protecting their hearing until it’s too late. Every concert, loud commute, and noisy day adds up—and there’s no undo button.
From Pain to Purpose
When routine checkups missed our daughter’s hearing loss, we realized how families navigating an invisible disability can fall through the cracks. So we started to build the tools to help them.
Shifting Perspectives
Eventually I discovered something different: Living with chronic illness is about adapting to a new rhythm with your body. Here’s what I’ve learned.
A Primer on Buying Hearing Aids
While you can buy OTC hearing aids without a test, or use free online screening tools, I strongly recommend a comprehensive, in-person exam. A professional evaluation includes a physical inspection of your ears to catch hidden medical issues.
A Letter to My Son Turned Into a Children’s Book
One of the biggest sources of encouragement during those intense months after getting Shepherd’s diagnosis was hearing the stories of other families who had walked a similar path.
Hearing Is the Glue That Holds Families Together
I encourage families to pay attention not only to whether a loved one can “hear,” but whether they are fully participating in life.
Scrappy and Determined From the Start
When the doctor confirmed I had a hearing loss, I felt like a failure. Years later, my older sister pointed out our mother felt the same way. “How did I miss that?” my mother had wailed.
Lasting Impacts From Active Duty
Veterans, when compared to the general public, have had more occupational exposure to loud noises, such as gunfire and explosions.
5 Things Hearing Care Providers Wish You Knew
Over the years, I had a lot of conversations with patients sitting across from me—sometimes at a desk, sometimes just chatting while they waited. And no matter who they were, many of them were feeling the same things: frustrated, unsure, and sometimes a little overwhelmed.