love your ears campaign encourages canadians to savour the gift of sound
the next time you visit the beach, watch a sunset, sit ...
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experiences are made richer and more complete by the sounds that accompany them. supplied
this story is sponsored by
hearinglife canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
the next time you visit the beach, watch a sunset, sit at a campfire or enjoy your morning coffee at sunrise, take a moment to savour it with all five senses — including your ability to hear. yes, we might think of these as primarily visual experiences.
but they’re made richer and more complete by the sounds that accompany them — waves crashing, birds singing, firewood crackling and wildlife rustling as it emerges from sleep.
“it’s a completely different visceral response when i can’t hear it,” says jillian price, chief audiologist at hearinglife canada, a national network of hearing clinics.
“hearing those sounds adds meaning,” she says. “it connects me. i feel truly present in whatever environment i’m in when i have sound.”
it’s also been said that while vision puts life in front of us, hearing puts us in its centre.
this is one of the central ideas behind love your ears, a national campaign from hearinglife that encourages canadians to pause and appreciate the gift of sound.
“to love your ears is to truly appreciate and marvel in what your ears do for you every day,” says price.
a hearing test is a painless and non-invasive procedure that takes about one hour. supplied
“especially for those who have normal hearing, we take it for granted. if you took two minutes to reflect on everything you’ve done since the moment you woke up — think about how you could have done those things if you didn’t have your hearing. how would it have changed your day?”
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a simple, but effective, exercise is to watch television or a movie with the sound off.
you’ll be able to read the captions or subtitles, and you’ll see the actor’s facial expressions and other bodily contortions.
but you won’t be able to hear the inflection of their voice, the emphasis they place on certain words or moments where they’re conveying sarcasm. all these subtleties add layers of meaning to speech, and we miss them entirely if we can’t hear them.
“i think that’s what sound brings,” says price. “it’s that human connection. and that’s what hearing loss can take away — that human connection to everything around you.”
throughout the year, and particularly during hearing awareness month in may, the staff at hearinglife are encouraging canadians to love their ears.
this means more than simply pausing to appreciate how sound enriches our lives; it means taking care of our ears by protecting them from loud noise — a leading cause of hearing loss.
it also means getting our hearing checked frequently, with a free consultation at a hearing clinic — especially if you’re 60 years or older, the age when hearing loss typically begins to set in.
“when you love something, you take care of it,” says price. “and your ears can only sustain so much. so if there’s ever a chance for you to protect your ears, then do it by wearing earplugs or removing yourself from a situation that is too noisy.
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“and then just getting your ears checked — make sure they’re working. and if they’re not, what is it that you need to do to help them?”
hearing tests are entirely free at hearinglife clinics, with no pressure or obligation to buy assistive devices. a licensed hearing health professional will guide you through this painless, non-invasive procedure in about one hour. no referral from a physician is required.
then, if you choose to get assistive devices like hearing aids, staff can match you with the best options, adjust the audio to meet your specific needs and provide financing options and access to government funding that defrays the cost of hearing aids.
hearinglife encourages canadians to pause and appreciate the gift of sound. supplied
“hearing really does affect your overall quality of life,” says price. “and we’re not just talking about that you miss a few words here or there.
“there’s so much research that indicates that untreated hearing loss increases your chances of anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, dementia, even your physical health.
“hearing aid wearers are three times more likely to be happier than those with untreated hearing loss. they report better conversations and better relationships with their loved ones, and feel more connected to their family.”
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this evening, take two minutes to reflect on your day.
think about what your ears did for you, and note the richness, beauty and depth that hearing adds to so many life experiences we tend to take for granted.
“that’s what loving your ears is to me,” says price. “it’s giving them the appreciation and the credit that they deserve.”
for more information, and to book a free hearing test at a hearinglife clinic, visit hearinglife.ca.
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of hearinglife canada.
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