A grandparent’s work is never done.
After a summer pitching in to help care for your grandkids, back-to-school brings more free time — unless you’re also helping with school pick-up and drop-off, or even volunteering in the classroom!
“At my daughters’ school I’ve noticed a number of grandparents who help out with class activities — it’s wonderful to have more helping hands, and even better that students get to learn from people of all ages and backgrounds. But I have noticed that some volunteers were very hard of hearing, and have trouble following the teacher’s instructions,” says Kim Galick, owner of Ears Hearing Clinic in Langley.
The classroom can be a noisy place — the chatter of young voices mixed with moving furniture and rustling papers can make it hard to hear a teacher on the other side of the room. If you need to lead a group activity or relay instructions, your hearing also needs to be up to the task.
“If you’ve spent the summer socializing in small groups, you may have been able to follow the conversation using other social cues. You might not even notice gradual hearing loss. But once you move to a more challenging setting like a school classroom, that hearing loss becomes much more obvious,” Kim says.
Hearing loss is common as we age. Don’t be discouraged, and remember your motivation for improved hearing is to stay connected and get more quality time with your grandchildren!
“If you don’t wear hearing aids and are suspicious that you may be experiencing some hearing loss, come in for a complimentary hearing consultation. If you do wear hearing aids and you’re still having trouble, talk to a hearing practitioner to ensure your hearing aids fit properly in your ear and are suited to the environments where you use them,” Kim says.
Hearing aids come in different shapes, and good sound requires a good physical fit in your ear. The hearing aid microphone can be adjusted to adapt to different conditions (a single voice, a music performance or a noisy classroom, for example) and a hearing healthcare professional can also adjust the hearing aid so it’s amplifying sounds that are most important to you.
“It’s not just about sharper hearing. It’s about increasing safety for you and your grandchildren, and improving communication to maintain strong relationships.”
For a free hearing consultation and more care tips, 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.