For you and the people in your life, living with hearing loss can be difficult to adjust to. It can also come with some perils.
What’s going to happen if you can’t hear a fire alarm or someone yelling your name? If you have neglected hearing loss, you won’t hear those car sounds that could be signaling an approaching hazard.
Don’t stress yourself out over the “what ifs”. If you have untreated hearing loss, getting a hearing assessment is the first thing you need to do. Here are some tips to help keep individuals with hearing aids and their loved ones safer whether or not they’re using their hearing aid.
1. Bring a friend with you when you go out
Bring somebody with good hearing out with you if possible. If you need to go out by yourself, ask people to come closer and look at you when they talk.
2. Stay focused when you drive
Because you can depend less on your hearing, it’s important to minimize other distractions behind the wheel. Pull over if you need to plot a route and stay away from your GPS and phone. If you think you have a problem with your hearing aid, come see us before driving.
Don’t feel ashamed if you have to turn off the radio or ask passengers to stop talking during more decisive moments of your drive. Safety first!
3. Think about getting a service dog
For individuals who have loss of vision, epilepsy, or other issues, a service animal seems obvious. But they can also be extremely helpful to those with auditory challenges. You can be alerted to danger by a service dog. They can inform you when someone is at your door.
Not only can they assist you with these problems, but they also make a terrific companion.
4. Make a plan
Before an emergency occurs, prepare a plan. Talk it over it with other people. If you plan to move into the basement during a tornado, be certain your family knows where they’ll find you. Plan a specific location outside your house in the case of a fire.
This way, emergency personnel, and your family will know where to find if something were to go wrong.
5. Pay extra attention to visual clues while driving
Over time, it’s likely that your hearing loss has worsened. You might need to rely on your eyes more if you don’t regularly get your hearing aids tuned. You might not hear sirens so watch out for flashing lights. When kids or pedestrians are nearby, stay extra attentive.
6. Let family and friends know about your hearing trouble
It may be difficult to admit, but it’s important that people in your life are aware of your hearing issues. They can warn you about something you may not hear so that you can go to safety. If they’re not aware that you can’t hear, they will assume that you hear it too.
7. Be vigilant about the maintenance of your vehicle
Your car may begin making strange sounds that your hearing loss stops you from detecting. These sounds may point to a mechanical problem with your vehicle. Your car could take serious damage and your safety could be in danger if these noises aren’t addressed. It’s a smart idea to ask a trustworthy mechanic for their opinion on the condition of your vehicle when you bring it in for an oil change or inspection.
8. Get your hearing loss treated
If you want to stay safe, getting your hearing loss treated is vital. Get your hearing assessed annually to determine when your hearing loss is severe enough to require an assistive device. Don’t allow pride, money, or time constraints stop you. Modern hearing aids are discreet, functional, and very affordable. A hearing aid can help you stay safer in many situations at home, work, park, shopping, and driving.