Some people lose their hearing gradually, so it can be hard to notice that anything’s changed. Lilianne Fuller lost hearing in her left ear abruptly, but it still took her awhile to accept the truth.
“I think I was in denial. After all, I could hear the television and my husband — most of the time,” she says.
Her husband pointed out that her speaking volume had changed — it was quieter, not louder like you might expect. Fuller also noticed that it was harder to understand people with accents — even if they spoke loudly, and background noise from a large crowd or busy restaurant made it harder to hear her friends.
“I was unable to be part of the conversation,” she says. But she still hesitated to visit a hearing specialist.” I was under the impression that hearing aids were expensive, and that they didn’t work in crowds.”
Now I’m part of the conversation
Fuller visited Ears Hearing in Langley, where owner Kim Galick helped diagnose her issue and find a custom solution. Unlike other hearing clinics which are affiliated with a specific brand, Ears Hearing is independent, which means Galick offers a wider selection.
At first, to be honest there were a couple of hiccups with the fit and the function,” Fuller says. Galick explained that hearing takes patience and practice, which is why Ears Hearing offers free ‘test drives.’ You may not find your perfect fit on the first try, but with professional support and a no-pressure, real-life trial period, you’ll soon be hearing clearly.
“In only a couple of appointments, these issues were addressed. I’m still on my hearing journey, but I am so glad that it is one that I need not take alone. Kim and Noella are helping me every step of the way.”
Now Fuller can hear the birds singing in the backyard, and she can hear her grandsons. On Day One, her husband said her speaking volume was back to ‘normal.’
“Now I can be part of any conversation. I used to kind of ‘ad lib’ when speaking to someone and hoped that my smile and laugh would fit into the context of the conversation. I don’t have to do that anymore. I can be fully ‘present.’”
Fuller remembers the moment she realized her hearing aid was really working.
“I was having a conversation with a speaker with a heavy accent. It was fabulous I could understand every word.”
To learn more about a no-obligation free hearing aid trial, contact Ears Hearing at 20568 56 Ave. in Langley. Email info@earslangley.com or call 604-427-2828 to schedule an appointment. Follow Ears Hearing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for hearing tips and more inspiring stories!