Challenging Stereotypes: A Woman's Journey to Embrace Hearing Aids

Where to begin…..Let’s start with the fact that I am a 78-year-old woman taking care of a 98-year-old mother and 79-year-old husband. In a household of seniors, you can imagine how one can go a little crazy repeating yourself often, too often.

My mother has worn hearing aids for the past 10 years. She wears one then switches to the other when they need charging. I have attempted to explain she needs to wear both at the same time to give her brain time to adjust but instead I am stuck repeating things she half hears on TV or a conversation she can’t hear at all. I feel like a 15-year-old rolling my eyes when told something she thinks is dumb. Shame on me, however there are times when it is frustrating.

That being said, Karma has decided to bite me in the behind. I find myself using that awful word “What” or please repeat that. When the family gets together, I find it difficult to hear what is being said if I can’t see your mouth. Background noise drowns out voices for me and to hear television where I can make out what they are saying it must be too loud for others (except Mom) in the room.

I decided to go have my hearing checked. I thought I had mild hearing loss but, no. I have moderate loss. So, guess who is getting hearing aids? Me! After the test she put the aides on me to see the difference in hearing. First, I tend to talk loudly. That won’t do at all. I immediately softened. Second, I heard everything a little clearer but didn’t feel a huge difference. I am interested to see how I adjust when I pick them up in a week.

The thing I find that was most interesting is my emotional response to getting hearing aids. I have no problem with anyone getting them. It’s wonderful that it helps others hear better. But I’m not a happy camper that I need them. I find that I have lost my sense of humor when told I need hearing aids. I don’t like being made fun of. (That’s a leftover from high school trauma). I definitely will adjust and do fine but I think I see my mom and realize that in some ways I am turning into her. That is not a bad thing, it just makes age front and center. My mind says I’m 45 but my body including my ears laughs at that.

I think having a two week wait to get my hearing aids is a good thing. I am mentally adjusting to the fact I will be getting hearing aids and the fact they are  tools to make life easier not make one older. I keep telling myself “Grow up, for heaven’s sake.” That doesn’t mean grow old. 

Give yourself time to adjust to new things in your life. Embrace them knowing they will make your life easier and more enjoyable. “Keep moving forward,” as my husband always says. Your future will be happier and healthier when you do.