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How good hearing can lead to better fitness

It can take time to adjust to new hearing aids, but once you do, your world gets a lot bigger!
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“Hearing loss affects almost all of our daily activities, so it can have a significant impact on a person’s health,” says Kim Galick, owner of Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley.

When it comes to muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness or even mental health, most people probably don’t consider their ears part of the solution. But hearing loss can have a significant impact on your ability to stay active, so ear health is vital to our overall well-being.

“Hearing loss affects almost all of our daily activities, so it can have a significant impact on a person’s health,” says Kim Galick, owner of Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley.

  • Mental health and cognitive function: If it’s hard to hear and challenging to communicate, you’ll likely get frustrated and choose to communicate less. That means shorter conversations with your spouse, less coffee chats with friends, and fewer evening outings to community events. “Hearing loss can contribute to social isolation, and has also been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. Your mood may suffer because you’re disengaged, and your brain may become less active because it’s not being challenged. Thankfully, hearing aids can remedy for many of those negative effects,” Kim says.
  • Confidence and safety: Our ears give us lots of information about the world around us. On a simple walk through the park you might hear a bike bell, a child’s running feet and a dog barking — each sound informing you of potential obstacles ahead. As hearing loss becomes more pronounced you may have less confidence going outside alone, which in turn can mean less exercise, less muscle strength and less balance practice.

Getting used to hearing aids

Now that you understand the value of hearing, you may be more willing to give hearing aids a try. But just like training for a marathon or going to the gym, improving your hearing doesn’t happen right away.

“Our ears collect sounds, but it’s our brain that makes sense of them. So when you first start wearing hearing aids, it may take your brain a little while to adjust,” Kim says.

Wear your hearing aids often so your brain gets lots of practice, but remember to take breaks if you’re feeling frustrated. Make note of any sounds that are too loud or irritating so that you can tell your hearing practitioner on your next visit.

“Getting used to wearing hearing aids takes time, and may require multiple return visits to your hearing practitioner for adjustments. The more I understand about your hearing needs, the better I can customize your hearing aids to help.”

For a free hearing consultation and more hearing advice, call Kim Galick at Ears Hearing Clinic, 604-427-2828 or email info@earslangley.com. Find Ears Hearing at Unit C 20568 56 Ave. in Langley, online at earslangley.com and on Facebook.