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Does This Scenario Sound Familiar?
By Dr. Deborah Dempesy
My wife mumbles. Why doesn’t she speak up?
I couldn’t hear what my boss said in the meeting!
I wish I could understand my grandchildren – they just speak too fast. In family gatherings this summer I had so much trouble understanding people, I just gave up. And the holidays are coming! More family gatherings!
I wonder if I have a hearing loss – no I’m not old enough!
But everyone seems irritated with me. They say I say “what” all the time.
My wife is on my case to see a Doctor of Audiology. Okay, Okay, I’ll go, I’ll go. I’ll prove to them my hearing is fine!
NOW, ASSUME THIS PERSON CAME TO ALL EARS HEARING CENTER
When I arrived at the Doctor’s office, I was nervous and uneasy. As Dr. Dempesy asked me some questions about why I decided to see her, about my hearing difficulties, ears and general health, I began to feel more at ease and even began to relax.
Dr. Dempesy set me up for testing my hearing. I didn’t know it would be this easy. And I had no idea that she would think this is so important. All this testing to see what my hearing is like. This is really impressive.
After the testing, the Doctor took me into a counseling room. She described the results of the hearing evaluation. The good news (!) was that some of my hearing was near normal in the low pitches. The bad news was that my middle and high pitch hearing was something she calls a severe loss.
Dr. Dempesy said, I would do well with hearing devices. “They are small, very intelligent, and will bring your hearing back to near normal levels in a very natural, easy way.”
Surprisingly, she demonstrated the new technology hearing aids in the office right then and there. She worked at the computer while talking to me. I felt much better – she seemed to think this was a normal thing to be talking about – my hearing loss.
I tried on the hearing devices… tiny little things! I forgot they were on after a few minutes. The doctor and I spoke for a while. She wanted me to get used to hearing her voice at more normal levels. (She actually said that she had been speaking at louder levels when I first came in!)
And then she put on different background noises through the speaker system in the room. I couldn’t believe that I could hear her talking to me when we were in the “loud restaurant” noise. And then she played some nature sounds, like crickets and birds singing – I hadn’t heard them in a long time! And because I like music, she added a “program” to the hearing aids for music listening – I had completely forgotten how enjoyable the symphony (and my favorite country music) sounded!
So I left the office with new hearing devices – barely visible. And I decided not to tell my wife that I had these on and see if she noticed the difference.
I went home and turned on the TV – WOW! – I had left it on so loud! No wonder my wife and family complain. Now to see what it’s like when she comes home with our grandchildren ….. Maybe I’ll listen to a little music until then!
This story illustrates the care, attention and expertise you receive at All Ears Hearing Center. We promise empathic caring and concern for you and your hearing problems.
Look to a future issue on the perspectives of hearing loss from a woman’s point of view!
FACTS:
The highest incidence of hearing loss is between the ages of 55-70 in the United States.
Only Doctors of Audiology can provide the detailed diagnostic and aural rehabilitative skills at a high level of competence.
Noise exposure of any type, is the leading cause of hearing loss.
Dr. Deborah Dempesy
Dr. Dempesy obtained her Masters in Audiology at Northwestern University in Evanston IL in 1982. She received her Doctorate in Audiology at the Salus University (previously known as The Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Audiology) in Pennsylvania in 2007. Dr. Dempesy worked with developmentally delayed hearing-impaired children in the Chicago area for two years from 1980-1982, moved back to her home state of Massachusetts and was Clinical Director of Audiology at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital for 14 years. She consulted, performing research with manufacturers of hearing devices and volunteered on the Massachusetts Infant Hearing Screening Task Force until a law was passed that required all infants to have their hearing screened before discharge from the hospital or birthing clinic.
Dr. Dempesy has been a board member of the Massachusetts Academy of Audiology, volunteering her time to continue quality education of audiologists in the Massachusetts area.
Recently Dr. Dempesy worked for a major hearing device manufacturer, providing training and education on new technology to audiologists in the New England area. The combination of these experiences gives her an exceptionally well-rounded perspective that she passes on to her patients.
In addition, Dr. Dempesy is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Tinnitus Association, Educational Audiology Association and the Aural Rehabilitation Association. She is licensed to practice as an audiologist in the state of Massachusetts.
Personally, Dr. Dempesy’s immediate family consists of her partner and 23 year old daughter. In her free time, Dr. Dempesy loves to ocean kayak, run, rock climb, hike, read, watch movies and spend time with her sisters, brother and parents in western Massachusetts.
All Ears Hearing Center, Inc.
59 Industrial Park
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.allearshearing.net
(508) 747-4055 (800) 649-4054 (617) 510-5254
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