Self-Assessment:
If you are unsure if you need to take action, ask yourself the following questions:
What are the benefits of not taking action?
What are the potential consequences if I don’t seek help?
What are the possible costs and benefits of addressing my hearing loss?
How important is it for me to improve my hearing and quality of life?
How confident am I in my ability to use hearing aids or other hearing solutions?
If you have determined that your hearing health is important and would like to improve your quality of life, make an appointment with your audiologist to discuss these questions further.
Handy Hearing Aid Hints:
Red is for Right: Hearing aids are colour-coded – red for the right ear, blue for the left.
Battery Basics: Insert the battery with the flat (positive) side facing up. Rechargeable batteries should not be removed from the hearing aids.
No Sound? Check for blockages in the ear mould, tube, or wax guard. If it’s still silent, replace the battery (if you do not have a rechargeable hearing aid). If the issue persists, please visit the practice.
Overnight Care: Store hearing aids in a drying container with the battery door open. For rechargeable aids, place them in the charger overnight, always plugged into a surge protector.
Protect Your Hearing Aid: Keep it dry, avoid dropping it, store it safely away from pets and extreme heat. Don’t wear it during hair treatments or makeup application.
Adjusting Volume: Rocker switches adjust volume louder (top) and softer (bottom). For single-button aids, the right hearing aid button increases the volume, and the left decreases it. Some models can be adjusted via a mobile app.
Communication Strategies
Based on D.S. Wayner, PhD & J.E. Abrahamson, MA (1996) Learning to Hear Again. An Audiologic Rehabilitation Cirriculum Guide.
Listener:
- Get the person’s attention before you speak.
- Avoid noisy background situations. Do not begin a conversation in background noise (e.g. kettle boiling).
- Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, do not shout.
- Rephrase when you are not understood. Do not look away from the listener or put objects in front of your face.
- Do not talk with objects in your mouth (e.g. food, cigarette or gum).
- Do not talk from a different room. The person who begins the conversation must go to the listener.
- In a group conversation take care to take turns while talking. The listener can only face one person at a time. Many people talking becomes background noise.
Speaker:
- Set realistic goals about what you can expect to understand.
- Pick the best spot to communicate by avoiding areas that are poorly lit and very noisy.
- Watch the speaker, even when listening is not difficult. It is good to get into the habit of paying attention.
- Do not be afraid to ask for repetition if you did not hear clearly.
- Learn the topic of discussion. This makes it easier to follow the conversation.
- Do not interrupt the speaker before he/she finishes. You may pick up clues about the beginning toward the end.
- Learn to listen for ‘key words’ or ideas rather than specific words.
- Summarize what you have heard to your communication partner so that they can fill in the gaps.
- LISTENER:
- Get the person’s attention before you speak.
- Avoid noisy background situations. Do not begin a conversation in background noise (e.g. kettle boiling).
- Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, do not shout.
- Rephrase when you are not understood. Do not look away from the listener or put objects in front of your face.
- Do not talk with objects in your mouth (e.g. food, cigarette or gum).
- Do not talk from a different room. The person who begins the conversation must go to the listener.
- In a group conversation take care to take turns while talking. The listener can only face one person at a time. Many people talking becomes background noise.
- SPEAKER:
- Set realistic goals about what you can expect to understand.
- Pick the best spot to communicate by avoiding areas that are poorly lit and very noisy.
- Watch the speaker, even when listening is not difficult. It is good to get into the habit of paying attention.
- Do not be afraid to ask for repetition if you did not hear clearly.
- Learn the topic of discussion. This makes it easier to follow the conversation.
- Do not interrupt the speaker before he/she finishes. You may pick up clues about the beginning toward the end.
- Learn to listen for ‘key words’ or ideas rather than specific words.
- Summarize what you have heard to your communication partner so that they can fill in the gaps.
Fall Risk Management
Environmental Adaptations:
Arrange furniture to create clear, unobstructed walkways.
Secure rugs and carpets with non-slip backing or tape.
Keep floors and stairs free of clutter.
Tidy up cords and wires by coiling or taping them out of the way.
Repair any broken or loose steps immediately.
Install light switches at both the top and bottom of staircases for better visibility.
Ensure handrails on stairs are sturdy and easy to grip.
Store frequently used items at eye or waist level to avoid unnecessary reaching.
Use a stable step-stool for accessing high shelves.
Place non-slip mats in the shower and bathtub.
Install grab bars in the bathroom for added support.
Keep a bedside lamp within easy reach for nighttime visibility.
Always have a portable flashlight available in case of power outages.
Exercise Snacks:
What is Exercise Snacking?
Short exercise sessions done twice a day.
Each exercise lasts 1 minute, followed by 1 minute of rest.
No warm-up or special equipment needed—just a sturdy chair.
How to Do It:
Perform five different exercises, each for 1 minute.
Move at a comfortable pace, aiming for as many repetitions as possible.
Rest for 1 minute between each exercise.
Stop any exercise if you feel significant discomfort.
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