Like so many Ontarians, Patricia Hilborn began to experience hearing loss as she got older. And as someone who was very engaged in the Cambridge community, with many friends and functions, she was not ready to let hearing loss affect her vibrant life.
“I was not aware that I had a hearing issue until one evening, when I was watching television with my son, I couldn’t hear specific parts of the show, I knew something was up and I thought I better speak to an expert,” says Patricia. “It was easy as calling to book an appointment and I was able to get a proper assessment and understand why I was having these challenges.”
The concept of hearing loss can take an emotional toll on an individual, and Patricia was no exception. As an independent woman, she saw the decline in her hearing as a loss in vitality and it wasn’t until she sought help from the experts back in 2004 when she realized how well she could hear again and that this was an easily resolved issue.
Isolation and anxiety are extremely common for seniors with hearing issues, they often become withdrawn due to a lack in their ability to have any type of meaningful discussion and this can lead to depression as well as increase risks for a number of physical health conditions.
“There is no reason to wait, hearing experts are available and all you have to do is call and book an appointment, it made a huge difference in my life and that is why I felt it was important to share my story,” remarks Patricia. “Hearing loss is part of getting older, but the sooner you address the problems, the sooner you can get back to your life.”
“Having a peer or someone you can relate to is so important and the fact that Patricia has been so vocal about her struggles and acts as a motivator for others in the community, makes her an ideal candidate to receive new hearing devices as part of the National Campaign for Better Hearing,” says Deborah Davis, audiology expert in Cambridge, Ontario.
Are you ready to start your journey to better hearing? If you are a Canadian over the age of 18 who may have hearing loss, book a free hearing test with us today!