Listen Up – It Could Change Your Life 10


*I was financially compensated for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

listenListen Up – It Could Change Your Life

#ListenHear #CoverYourEars #GenerationDeaf

Most of us don’t have to think about hearing, it just happens.  Imagine your world without all of the sound.  How would it be different for you.  I know how I love to sit outside and hear the trees in the wind, or the hum of the birds as they feed…I can’t imagine not being able to hear that.

listen

I never knew that I would have to wonder about that, until I had my son.  Thankfully, he is only almost deaf in one ear, due to birth defects.  Even with just that, there is a difference.  He has to turn his head a certain way to hear you better, and has learned to read lips a bit to make it easier.  We had dealt with many ear infections when he was younger, and didn’t realize that it was something more.  Being a teenager now, he has learned to deal with listenit and make the best of every situation.  For years, doctors had told me that I would never have children, so being able to be blessed by him (even with the hearing problems, and a cleft palate) we were overjoyed to bring a boy into the world.

How many times do we forget how valuable our senses are?  Maybe you suffer from hearing loss, or know someone that does. If not… imagine for a minute that someone close to you starts to experience hearing loss.  How would you feel?  What would you want to do?  I remember meeting with a lot of pediatricians when my son was younger, and pretty much getting the same response…there was nothing we could do.

DJ has a dual form of hearing loss, where having a hearing aid, just amplified the bad sound…didn’t clear it up.  Surgery isn’t an option, since the portion that is defective cannot be repaired.  However, for many, there are options!!  They can meet with a doctor, or a specialist and see what can be done.  But that, again, can bring a trial.  

Did you know the cost of a hearing aid can range from $1,500 to $5,000. How would you cover this cost? Insurance?  We didn’t have insurance when we first tried the hearing aid for our son.  We were blessed with a hearing aid through a grant program that works to allow children to hear better.  It was the only way we would have been able to try this, and see if it was able to help.  Unfortunately it didn’t, but it was a huge weight lifted off of our shoulders that a company cared for our son.

Unfortunately, most health insurance plans DO NOT cover the cost of hearing aids, as we had found out. You might have vision insurance, dental insurance… but what about hearing insurance?  Have you ever heard about that?  I know that our regular medical insurance covers the copay for the doctor, but any added expense is completely ours, and pretty much unaffordable.

If you have medical coverage through your employer, be sure to speak with their HR department to find out if they have insurance (medical or supplemental) that covers:

  • Visits to an audiologist for a complete diagnostic evaluation at least every two years for adults and annually for children
  • Coverage of hearing aid treatment
  • or any other expense

If hearing health is NOT a covered benefit for you… you can take a stand and request a change!! EPIC has created an advocacy flyer that anyone can just share to start a conversation with their HR professional. Download it at: http://www.epichearing.com/listenhear/resources/

Let’s work together to make a difference in the lives of those that need it.  Let them be able to one day, hear us shouting for change!!

Some ways to reduce your risk of noise-induced hearing loss are:

  • Don’t have your television, radio or music on too loud. This is particularly important if you have young children in the house, because their ears are more delicate than an adult’s. If you can’t have a comfortable conversation with someone who is about 6.5 ft away from you, turn the volume down. You shouldn’t have dull hearing or ringing in your ears after listening to music.
  • Use headphones that block out more outside noise, rather than turning up the volume. You can buy add-ons for your existing headphones that block out more outside noise, or noise cancelling headphones.
  • Use ear protection equipment such as ear muffs or ear plugs if you work in a noisy environment, such as a pub, nightclub, a garage workshop or on a building site. It’s important to insert ear plugs correctly to gain the benefit of wearing them.
  • Use ear-protection equipment at loud concerts and at other events where there are high noise levels, such as motor races.
  • Don’t insert objects into your ears or your children’s ears. This includes fingers, cotton buds, cotton wool and tissue.
  • Be aware of the symptoms of common causes of hearing loss, such as ear infections (otitis media) and Ménière’s disease
  • Visit your GP if you or your child are experiencing hearing problems.

listen

Listen Up and Live Life to the Fullest…
Through the Listen Hear! public education initiative, EPIC Hearing Healthcare is educating employers and consumers on the impact of untreated hearing loss, so they “Listen Up” and take steps now to address and treat hearing loss, and to safeguard healthy hearing for the future.

About Listen Hear!:

Through the Listen Hear! public education initiative, EPIC Hearing Healthcare is educating employers and consumers on the impact of untreated hearing loss, so they “Listen Up” and take steps now to address and treat hearing loss, and to safeguard healthy hearing for the future.


 

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Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.
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mburbage
8 years ago

I was just talking to a friend of mine and they were telling me how much their sons hearing aid cost them it was so shocking!! I thought that was a part of health insurance but they still have to pay so much out of pocket it was insane!!

Carlee C
8 years ago

I wish I would have been more proactive about this in my teens. Between loud cars and working for a newspaper in the mail room, I know I have had some hearing loss.

Jamie
8 years ago

Wow, thanks for sharing such a wealth of information. I didn’t think about health insurance not covering visits to an audiologist. I know my husband gets them annual due to work, but I have not looked into to see if myself or daughter are covered to visit an audiologist. I didn’t realize how expensive a hearing aid was. That’s a lot of money, especially if health insurance is not covering all or some of the expenses. Thanks for sharing.

Daisy
Daisy
8 years ago

My husband’s mom is deaf in one ear too. She has lived a long, healthy, and happy life as a mom, wife, and school teacher. I hope that medical research advances to find a cure, but in the meantime, it is disappointing that most health insurances won’t cover much. Let’s hope that health insurance improves quickly to be more inclusive!

tara pittman
8 years ago

That is sad that hearing aids are not covered under insurance. People need these just like glasses, which are covered.