“I Became Very Aware That I Might Not Wake Up One Day” – Andrew’s Journey to Professional Hearing Care
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Marcie Jacobs, M.A., F-AAA
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Sometimes, changes in hearing become part of everyday life so gradually that you may not realize how much you have adapted to them. Maybe you ask people to repeat themselves, adjust the volume, or find ways to manage conversations rather than making an appointment.
National Protect Your Hearing Month, observed each October, offers a timely opportunity to pause and pay closer attention to your hearing health. For Andrew, the decision to seek help came after a realization that made the impact of his hearing challenges impossible to ignore.
Andrew spent 26 years working in naval aviation, where he was regularly exposed to the roar of jet engines. Over time, that noise exposure took a significant toll on his hearing and eventually contributed to his retirement.
Even then, he didn’t immediately seek specialist care. Like many people who experience gradual hearing difficulties, Andrew spent years adapting to the changes rather than addressing them.
In 2019, everything changed when he realized his hearing challenges were affecting more than his ability to follow conversations; they were preventing him from hearing alarms that were essential to his safety.
Dangerous Silence: How Unaddressed Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Threatened Andrew’s Life
Andrew developed type 2 diabetes in the early 2000s, bringing another concern into focus: what would happen if his blood sugar changed to dangerous levels while he was asleep? His medical alarms were designed to alert him when his blood sugar needed attention, but his hearing difficulties meant he couldn’t reliably hear them.
“When I go to sleep, I don’t hear the alarms. I can go very low or very high without even knowing... At that point, I became very aware of the possibility that I might not wake up,” said Andrew.
Severe low blood sugar can cause serious complications, including seizures and loss of consciousness, while nighttime episodes may go unnoticed during sleep. If an alarm can’t be heard, recognizing a potentially dangerous change and responding to it can become even more difficult.
Andrew’s experience highlights an important aspect of hearing health: the ability to hear these alarms and other warning sounds can also contribute to personal safety, particularly when managing other health conditions.
Champ to the Rescue: How a Hearing Dog and NEADS Stepped In
Determined to find a solution, Andrew began researching his options online, which led him to NEADS, an organization that provides service dogs to support people with hearing challenges and veterans with disabilities. Through NEADS, Andrew was paired with Champ, a hearing service dog who quickly became both a trusted helper and a close companion.
Reflecting on their time together, Andrew shared: “I’ve had Champ for about 4 months, and he’s saved my life about 30 times. It takes less than one second for him to hear the alarm and wake me up.”
Having Champ by his side gives Andrew greater peace of mind, knowing he has another way to respond to important alerts while he sleeps; that added sense of security has made Champ an important part of Andrew’s day-to-day life as he navigates living with hearing challenges.
Finding Personal, Methodical Care at Jacobs Audiology
Recognizing that he needed additional support also prompted Andrew to seek professional hearing care. At Jacobs Audiology, he worked with the team to find hearing aids suited to his needs.
“I really appreciated the fact that [the expert team] listens to what I have to say,” he said. “[They] take what [they] hear and apply it methodically and thoroughly to either identifying the right hearing aid or repairing the hearing aids I have.”
Being able to explain his concerns and knowing that they helped craft his hearing care journey made a meaningful difference to Andrew. As he put it: “There’s only one thing [they’re] focused on, my hearing.”
A hearing appointment does not have to feel rushed or impersonal. Taking the time to understand your daily routines, communication challenges, and listening priorities can help your hearing care professional make recommendations that are better suited to your needs.
Reconnecting to the World and Why You Shouldn’t Delay Your Hearing Care
With his hearing aids fitted, Andrew found it easier to communicate and appreciate the sounds around him. Looking back, he wished he had sought help sooner: “I delayed getting help for a long, long time. It didn’t do me any good at all.”
“If you’re going to get hearing aids, get them now. You’re going to enjoy your world better and hear an array of sounds. It’s so much easier to communicate with others,” he enthused.
You don’t have to wait for a frightening experience before giving your hearing attention. National Protect Your Hearing Month offers a timely opportunity to consider your hearing health, learn more about your options, and decide whether an evaluation may be right for you.
If you have questions about your hearing, contact Jacobs Audiology to schedule an appointment or request a callback. Sharing what you’ve been experiencing and bringing your questions can help your hearing care professional better understand your needs and guide you through your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does an audiologist need to know about my work and noise history?
A: Details about military service, machinery, power tools, music, or other sources of loud noise can provide valuable context when your audiologist interprets your hearing results. They’ll also want to understand the sounds and situations that are most important to you.
This helps ensure that any recommendations take into account both your hearing profile and the ways you use your hearing in everyday life.
Q: What should I do if my hearing aids stop working well?
A: If your hearing aids don’t seem to be working as well as they once did, schedule a follow-up appointment rather than assuming they’re no longer effective.
Changes in performance can have several causes, including earwax buildup, a change in fit, programming needs, or changes in your hearing. Jacobs Audiology can evaluate the devices and determine whether cleaning, adjustments, repairs, or additional testing may be appropriate.
Q: Is it still worth protecting my ears after noise-related hearing damage has occurred?
A: Absolutely. Having existing hearing difficulties doesn’t mean your remaining hearing is protected from further damage. Using appropriate hearing protection around loud equipment or at noisy events, keeping personal listening volumes at reasonable levels, and taking breaks from loud environments, when possible, can all help protect your hearing.
Your audiologist can also recommend hearing protection suited to your work, hobbies, and everyday activities.
Sources
· NIDCD: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Is Preventable
