A new parent sleeping too well? Perhaps you’re due for an audiologist check up

Jason Burke found himself sleeping alarmingly well after his second child was born. Unbeknownst to him, a yet undiagnosed sensory neural hearing loss had begun impairing his hearing at the age of 35. The gradual decline in his hearing was preventing him from hearing his infant son’s crying and soothing him back to sleep.

“What prompted me to get my hearing tested was the difference I noticed in only one year,” says Burke, who coaches soccer to kids under 14 years of age in Toronto. “When my daughter was born, I could hear her at night when she was crying so I could get up and help care for her, but when my son was born, when he cried or needed to be cared for, I couldn’t hear him at all.”

Sixty per cent of Canadians aged 19 to 79 have some type of hearing health problem¹: either an audiometrically measured hearing loss like Burke, tinnitus, or both. Yet despite the prevalence of hearing issues among adults, only a small percentage of Canadians seek specialized treatment or wear hearing aids. The reasons can be complex, but often include a misperception of the quality of modern hearing aids compared to their older counterparts, vanity, or concerns about the social stigma often associated with hearing loss.

The perception is that hearing aids lower our social status, that they make us look old, suggest that we are cognitively impaired, or somehow diminished. Social stigma can be enough to cause people to delay getting their hearing tested and receiving a treatment that can improve their quality of life.

Industry data suggests that, on average, it can take as long as seven years for someone experiencing a hearing issue until they seek and get treatment. That length of time can be detrimental to the cognitive, emotional, and physical health of those already struggling with hearing loss.

“When I found out that I needed hearing aids, I had to overcome my own previously conceived notions about them,” says Burke.

Past opinions about hearing aids have centered around their appearance and performance. Misconceptions included that hearing aids are difficult to use, unsightly, uncomfortable or that they just don’t work. But innovations like advanced sound processing, contactless charging, smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity, and 24/7 support have completely changed the landscape.

“The hearing aids industry keeps innovating in all aspects, from design to functionality, breaking all stereotypes and allowing high-performance athletes and active individuals like Jason to do what they want without having to worry about their hearing devices,” says Steven Pugsley, senior audiologist at Widex Canada. “Many people describe the experience as similar to putting on eyeglasses for the first time – suddenly everything is more vivid and clear.”

Following his hearing test and consulting with an audiologist, Burke was fitted with Widex Moment hearing aids, behind-the-ear devices designed for people with mild to severe/profound hearing loss that feature direct streaming to smartphones and a rechargeable option which can run close to 40 hours on a single charge. Burke’s new hearing aids let him communicate clearly when he’s coaching soccer, either outdoors or indoors since they can be set up for different environments.

One feature that really sold Burke on hearing aids is the ability to answer his phone directly from his Widex Moment devices.

 “Technology has changed so much, and hearing aids are now simpler to use. In the past, you needed to take your hearing aids out to answer your phone. Now you can answer the phone directly or put the phone on the hearing aids… that’s a big change.” added Burke.

Burke’s hearing aids have also helped him regain the freedom to perform as a soccer coach and sports lover, and have given him the confidence to push himself to the limit.

“You need to look good to feel good to play good,” he says. “Widex has enhanced my performance in a way that is natural and organic to me. I would recommend them to anyone who is in need.”

For more stories about real people experiencing hearing loss, and to take a free online hearing screening or book a consultation with a hearing care professional, visit Widex.com/stories-we-hear.

¹ Hearing health of Canadian adults (statcan.gc.ca)