Hearing health shouldn’t be put on back burner during COVID-19
As people across Canada quarantined in their homes for long stretches of 2020, their main goal was often to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to avoid getting sick themselves.
But in the process, they may have put other health concerns on the back burner.
A cancelled eye appointment, missed dental checkup or rescheduled hearing test was attributed to the unfortunate “new normal” of life in a pandemic.
“As humans, we tend to get by,” says Jillian Price, chief audiologist with Hearinglife Canada, a coast-to-coast network of hearing health clinics. “We don’t really react to something until we absolutely have to.”
In 2021, however, many Canadians are trying to reprioritize their health and get back on track.
“Along with many other things on their list, hearing is going to be in there,” says Price. “Hearing is so important for so many aspects of your life.”
Price notes the pandemic has highlighted our need to connect. And as inherently social beings, the impact of social isolation can be profound.
“Hearing really ties into that, because of the five senses, hearing is the one that actually connects you to other people, socially.”
The pandemic has also been an eye opener for people who use coping strategies to get by with untreated hearing loss.
A key example is lip reading, a common strategy rendered impossible in a world where most people are required to wear face coverings in public. People with hearing loss may also struggle with poor audio quality in online voice and video chats.
As a result, the brain has to work extra hard to make sense of speech. This can contribute to mental fatigue, frustration and embarrassment, to the point that some people may choose to withdraw from social settings altogether.
Studies have shown isolation places people at a higher risk of other serious health conditions including depression, anxiety, diabetes, and dementia.
With this in mind, Price recommends everyone get their hearing checked at age 60 to identify a baseline and determine if hearing loss has taken place.
Tests at Hearinglife clinics are free for those over the age of 18, with no pressure or obligation to buy hearing aids or any other assistive device.
Hearinglife clinics are also designated an essential service, and are open by appointment only during the pandemic. All staff adhere to strict COVID-19 safety protocols, and virtual consultations, curbside services and other forms of remote care are also available.
After the initial baseline test, a hearing health professional can recommend a treatment schedule tailored to each individual. As with any health condition, it’s best to treat hearing loss early.
“We know that even a mild loss puts you at a higher risk for cognitive decline and dementia,” says Price. “The longer you go, the more taxing it is on the brain.”
Hearing is so important for so many aspects of your life.”
– JILLIAN PRICE, chief audiologist, Hearinglife Canada
For more information, and to book a free hearing test, visit hearinglife.ca