Edgecliff Hearing : COVID 19: A TIME TO LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS -

This is a time for us to have a keen ear and listen to the experts for advice and guidance.

We follow Live News broadcasts to listen and make sense of the directions given by our health experts. It’s a time to discuss the changes to our lives with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues - as this helps to process the messages and relieve the stress of change. Like the old adage “a problem shared is a problem halved”.

But what if you have a hearing problem? Spare a thought to those among us who have difficulty hearing spoken messages and may find the television hard to hear and the telephone a source of great frustration due to lack of clarity.

Social isolation is a well-documented unwelcomed feature of hearing loss, as it makes conversing with others difficult. People with hearing loss can socially withdraw and not initiate conversation, as they have been embarrassed or frustrated by previous efforts.

What can you do? If you know someone has a hearing loss, then be patient when talking to them. The best tactic is to slow your rate of speech down and still speak naturally. This gives you time to better articulate, and the listener time to follow the conversation even though some parts of your words are not 100% clear. This is especially important if you’re using a mask that muffles speech and does not allow lip-reading. Don’t shout as this distorts speech. And never say “oh, never mind” if they ask for you to repeat something, as this is very disheartening and dismissive. Instead try repeating or paraphrasing your message.

This is a time for greater patience and tolerance for our family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. And this will always be appreciated when conversing with someone with a significant hearing loss.

If you, or someone you know, has a hearing loss and needs assistance, then contact EDGECLIFF HEARING. We understand hearing problems and give expert advice.

We want to reassure you that we are taking COVID-19 very seriously.
• Appointments are spaced to allow extra hygiene measures.
• We can arrange MAILOUT of batteries and other hearing device consumables.
• We regularly disinfect door handles, chairs and shared surfaces at the start of the day, throughout the day and at the close of clinic.
• The waiting room is arranged to create a greater distance between patients.
• Use of face masks.
• A drop-off box for hearing aids that
need repair.
• Hand sanitizers are available in the Edgecliff Centre Lobby and at Edgecliff Hearing
waiting room.