Why Hearing Loss Affects More Than Your Ears with Femi Coo

Hearing loss is about far more than just your ears. In this episode of Hear Me Out with Belinda, Belinda sits down with Femi Coo, Registered Doctor of Audiology, to talk about how hearing connects to brain health, communication, relationships, confidence, and quality of life. They also dive into hearing protection, hearing aid technology, and why personalized care still matters no matter how advanced the tech becomes.
This conversation is both educational and deeply human. Femi shares his journey from Ghana to Canada, how he found audiology, and why helping people hear again can be life-changing. From the sounds people do not realize they are missing to the emotional impact of untreated hearing loss, this episode is full of insight for anyone curious about hearing health or wondering whether it is time to get tested.
Whether you are noticing changes in your own hearing, supporting a loved one, or simply want to better understand the connection between hearing and the brain, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and powerful reminders.
f this episode helped you think differently about hearing health, share it with someone in your life who needs to hear this conversation. And if you have been putting off a hearing test, this might be your sign to book one.

00:00 Welcome and Femi’s Journey 

01:33 What Audiology Really Is 

05:27 Why Hearing Protection Matters 

07:15 The Emotional Impact of Hearing Loss 

13:22 How to Choose the Right Hearing Aid 

18:54 Why Human Care Still Matters 

#HearingLoss #Audiology #HearingHealth #HearingAids #BrainHealth #BelindaWaites #HearMeOutWithBelinda #Okotoks #HearingProtection #FemiCoo

Host: Belinda Waites Watch full episode Youtube: @belindawaites Instagram: @belindawaites Belinda Waites - Hear Right Canada – Okotoks: where better hearing starts with listening. 🌐 hearrightcanada.ca 

Guest: Femi Coo, Registered Doctor of Audiology 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-coo/ 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I think we're in a very exciting time now in the industry with regards to our amplification options and our different hearing aids and what they can actually do to help us. But it's still not superhuman, right? If we have lost some of the ability to interpret some sounds, there isn't, you know, we we can't get that back just yet.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

That is correct. But before we talk about the technology, I do want to talk a little bit about hearing protection because that's pretty important. When I was in grad school, I always used to wonder I'm like, as clinicians, we spend a lot of effort trying to solve the hearing loss problem. There's not as much of a discussion about preventing it. But that is changing over time. When I was young, I used to go to lots of concerts, lots of music festivals. I still do. And you'll see me at Stampede. I love that stuff. And now I'm seeing a lot more people wearing hearing protection than before. Um, there's lots more adverts online for hearing protection. So I think as a society, people are becoming to are beginning to notice that it's good to protect your hearing because you cannot get it back once it's gone.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Welcome back to Hear Me Out with Belinda. Today in studio, I have my friend and audiologist, Femi Ku. Welcome to the studio, Femi. Thank you for having me, Belinda. You are so welcome. I'm looking forward to our conversation today. Me too. Yeah. So, Femi, you're originally from Ghana.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

I am.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

So tell me the story. Tell me the journey. How did you get from Ghana to Canada and how did you get into audiology?

SPEAKER_00 1:36

It's been quite the journey. So I grew up in Ghana. We just celebrated our independence. So yay, Ghana. And um had a great family. My mom was a principal of an international school. So from a young age, we knew that we would be going to school outside of the country. And I chose to go to Northwestern, which is in Illinois, Chicago. And I actually started as a biomedical engineer because as a kid, I was a comic book nerd. And I thought biomedical engineering would be using robots and humans together to create something. And so I did that for about two years at an undergrad at Northwestern. Wasn't really happy. It was more math than biology that I expected. And then one summer I did a summer class or summer study actually at an audiology lab. And the professor there, Dr. Dar, kind of challenged me to see if I would like audiology. I'm like, sure. And I loved it. And then he asked me, was like, oh, how long are you gonna last? And I told him, I'm never leaving. And then I stayed and did my doctorate at Northwestern. And uh now I'm here.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

And now you're here. Yes, yeah. So we talk about audiology. And um, what is audiology?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

It's a good question. Um, audiology is a lot bigger than I thought it was when I started. Uh, but on the surface, it it is the study of hearing and how to prevent it, how to take care of it, and how to treat it when it goes away. And so that's what it is on the surface. But the more I've learned in the industry, the more I've seen how it's connected to the brain, it's connected to communication, it's connected to people's well-being. So it's one of our senses, hearing, and it's really important to have it because people really do take it for granted until they lose it. And so to summarize, I would say audiology is the study of communication through the ears. Um, and that can expand into so many avenues depending on what you focus on.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Yeah. And I agree with you. I mean, I think you know that I'm a clinician myself, right? And so obviously that's our connection. But it still fascinates me. A lot of people come into the clinic and they'll say, it's it's just my ears, right? It's just my hearing. And I'm like, you do know you don't hear with your ears, right? And they'll give me a look and I'm like, you hear with your brain. You know, your ears are essential for collecting sound, you know, and it's um converted into an electrical signal and then presented to the brain for interpretation. I'm like, that's the part a lot of people miss, that it's actually the brain interpretating, interpreting all the sounds coming in.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

That's correct. Yeah. The brain is actually a really remarkable organ. It does interpret all the information we bring it. Like we see with our eyes, it's just light, it's just our eyes, but our brain makes sense out of it. The same with our ears. Sound is just a pressure wave, and our body is able to convert that from a pressure wave to a mechanical wave with the bones in the middle ear to an electrical signal in the inner ear that goes to the brain. And then the brain makes sense out of it. And that does a lot for us for more than just hearing. It's how we communicate, it's how we understand emotions sometimes, it's how we appreciate the world, it's how we listen to music. Hearing is, I would say, one of the most important senses that you can have. And so it's it's more than just your ears, but the ears are the gateway to that. Absolutely, yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

And I think that's part of why I started the podcast originally is to create that education for people because a lot of people still don't know that, right? They think still about the whole the old hearing horns, you know. Um, and that, you know, sort of quite dismissive of the importance of even a mild high-frequency hearing loss when you're missing some key signals can have a huge impact on, you know, um cognitive decline or, you know, awareness of your surroundings, you know, and that type of thing.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Yeah. Well, to play devil's advocate for people that don't necessarily understand the benefit of hearing, because hearing goes so slowly and because the brain does such a good job at in filling in the blanks, a lot of times people feel like it's not a big deal or it's not as important as another sense like vision. If you have vision issues, it's an immediate thing that you notice that you can't see. But with hearing, because of context and because of familiarity and everything else we know, we do fill in the blank a lot. And so as a clinician, it's really important to communicate that with our patients and let them know that, hey, yes, it is your ears, but that has a whole pathway to your brain that is also very important to keep healthy.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Absolutely. So, and we can prevent it, right? So we do promote the whole um, you know, like ear protection if you're gonna be in exposing to noise and that type of thing and limit the ear.

SPEAKER_00 6:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:14

Ear by use if you're playing your music or at least turn the decibels down. But I think we're in a very exciting time now in the industry with regards to our amplification options and our different hearing aids and what they can actually do to help us. But it's still not superhuman, right? If we have lost some of the ability to interpret some sounds, there isn't, you know, we we can't get that back just yet.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

That is correct. But before we talk about the technology, I do want to talk a little bit about hearing protection because that's pretty important. When I was in grad school, I always used to wonder I'm like, as clinicians, we spend a lot of effort trying to solve the hearing loss problem. There's not as much of a discussion about preventing it. But that is changing over time. When I was younger, I used to go to lots of concerts, lots of music festivals. I still do. And I you'll see me at Stampede, I love that stuff. And now I'm seeing a lot more people wearing hearing protection than before. Um, there's lots more adverts online for hearing protection. So I think as a society, people are becoming to are beginning to notice that it's good to protect your hearing because you cannot get it back once it's gone. Even though the technology has gotten so much more advanced in the last couple of years, we're still sending sound into that ear that may be damaged and all the way to the brain. And so the best uh ideal situation is to protect your hearing as much as possible. And then of course, when it starts declining, to treat it as soon as possible. So just so that the brain can still be able to pick up those functions like it used to, because again, if you don't use it, you do lose it.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Absolutely, yeah. And I think that's just to like um reinforce that once again, right? That whole education, you know, is you get people to come on and get tested, at least know where you are, have that bass sign, because like you've mentioned just previously, it's so progressive. Sometimes you stop hearing a sound and you forget that there was even a sound attached to that, you know, action. I mean, I think we've all have spoken about the birds, right? So many people forget that the birds actually do sing and make a noise, or the, you know, ice crunches, you know, under your feet when you walk in it. You know, it's all those different sounds that people stop hearing and forget that they hear.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

That's correct. I would say that's also one of my favorite things about being a clinician is when someone comes in, and for them, they may come in with things like, I can't hear the TV, or I missed some conversations when I was out in a restaurant. And then they get their hearing aids, and then they come back like, oh my goodness, I heard the grass when I was walking on the grass, or I heard a plane go above me. I had a patient cry once because she had had a hearing loss for most of her life and really hadn't treated it. And then she finally did, and then she heard a plane, and she was like, I just used to see them and never thought that you could hear them. And she actually heard the plane for the first time and she was in her thirties and she cried over it. And I was like, I didn't even think that was something that would make me happy. But just to know that something that I took for granted I thought was noise would change someone's life. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:12

Oh, absolutely. Like the things we take for granted every day of hearing, right? It can be life-changing for others. And then I mean, getting into it, I guess before we get into the technology, like you mentioned, the whole, you know, relationships, anxiety, depression. Um, and it is one of the most common things, you know, people that don't hear or don't treat the hearing loss, they're having those family gatherings and they're sitting in the corner. You know, they're not participating or they don't want to go out to the restaurant, you know, with the girls for dinner because they can't participate in the conversation or they feel like they're gonna answer the question incorrectly, right? So that is that other part of it, right? The emotions that's attached to it.

SPEAKER_00 9:49

It is a huge part. And also that kind of compounds over time where at the beginning of a hearing loss, a lot of people may still try to be engaged and still try to be social, but then they may mishear something and get laughed at, or they may uh miss something and it starts an argument. So they stop engaging because they don't want the trouble that comes with it, or people get irritated with them and don't want to repeat anymore. And so I'm sure lots of people have grandparents or parents where they say something and then you're like, oh, can you repeat that? Like, oh, don't worry about it, mom. We'll we'll talk about it later. And that goes on long enough, people just kind of stay back and isolate themselves, and that can lead to a whole different ball game of issues, being isolated, uh, depression, it can affect your cognition. So, yes, it is, it can snowball into a big issue. But again, back to the technology, one of the, and I think every clinician appreciates that is when someone comes in with these problems, and then you go through the whole trial period, and then they come back, and now they're telling you about all the things that they don't want to hear, all the things they hear that they didn't know were there. But it's it's almost uh uh it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling because I've had patients come in where they're quiet, like their family members are talking for them the whole time they're there. They don't want to say anything, and I'm like, oh, maybe this is just a quiet person. And then they get their hearing aids and they will not stop talking. They want to tell you everything they've heard, everything they've misheard, everything that was too loud or too soft. They just, it's a whole new lease of life because now that sense is back, and so they can appreciate the world fully again, which is nice.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Absolutely. Right. And um, I'm just thinking about my husband, because you've been my husband, and we we know that we've worked together with him as clinicians trying to because he doesn't always listen to me, let's be honest. But I think even that I know on the days when he hasn't put his hearing aids in, because he's not responding to me correctly, or he's asking me to repeat, and it is very frustrating. And even though I know better, I know that I've treated him, right? So the I know that he has a solution to the problem, I guess. But um, I never asked you, do any of your parents have hearing aids? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

My mom actually wears hearing aids. Um, she doesn't wear them as much as we would like her to wear them, uh, but she wears them. And every time she does, she's very happy to let me know. Every time I call her, she's like, I'm wearing the hearing aids. I'm like, yeah, you should be wearing them. But but she loves them. I remember the first time I I fit them with the hearing aids. She had had hearing loss for a while. She still lives in Ghana, so there's not as much audiological care as I would have loved. Um, so I went to visit and I fit her with hearing aids at one point. And just how she changed in that short time was quite amazing. She would keep telling me about things that she used to hear. Oh, like, oh, this is what it's supposed to sound like. Oh, I can hear this. I'm like, yeah, you should have been hearing this this whole time. And so it's very, it's very nice to see that. Of course, she doesn't wear it as much. I can't follow up with her as much, but it does, it does give her the opportunity to at least talk on the phone without asking me to repeat myself as much. So I like that.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

Yeah. Oh, that's good. Yeah, that's something.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Yeah, it is something. I mean, with uh international calls, again, it's already difficult. So international call plus hearing loss, our conversations were mostly, wait, can you say that again? Hello, hello, hello. And now we can actually have conversations, which is pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Yeah. Yeah. I'm actually curious. I'm just thinking, do you guys speak English in Ghana? Does your mom speak English? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yes. So both my parents, so my dad and my mom are from different parts of Africa. So their native tongues are different. And so growing up, they just spoke English at home. And then they took us to my sister and I, they took us to a British school. So I'm actually better at English than I am at my mom's language. I can understand it. But if I try to speak it, I'll get laughed at. So yeah. They they trained us to be able to live internationally more than anything else, which I do appreciate. But yeah, my uh my language, I can get by. Like if people are talking it, I can understand it. But if I had to speak it, it would be, it'll be a disaster. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:47

Honestly. And your sister, because your sister's also international. Yes. The same thing. So you would speak English to your sister as well.

SPEAKER_00 13:54

My sister was better than me. So my sister is actually really good at languages. So she speaks French, she speaks English, and she speaks my mom's language fluently, all three of them. I just English was hard enough. I held on to it and just left it alone.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

Good. All right. So let's dive into a little bit of the technology. Because for me, I think it's quite exciting of uh what's coming, you know, especially with the introduction of AI in hearing aids and how they can do this additional noise reduction and speech enhancement. And so going back to our listeners for those that are, you know, tuning in for the first time, maybe just hearing about the importance of treating their hearing loss, um, what would you tell them about investing in a hearing aid, right? Because I think, well, you know what, before I tell you what I think, let me go back to you. What would you want to tell them when looking at investing in a technology level? What do you think is important for them to know?

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Oh, that's a good question. I would start first with their lifestyle. So whenever I'm talking about technology with my patients, I really spend more time talking about what their lifestyle is and what they want to hear more than just the technology. We we're, we can dive into the technology, and I I love the technology and and how advanced it is, but the average patient really doesn't understand all of that stuff. So what I really try to focus on is their lifestyle. So I'll I'll talk to a patient and say, okay, what do you typically do in a week? Oh, I go to a coffee restaurant, I have dinner with my family, I go to watch a movie. And then when they tell me about their lifestyle, what typically comes out of it is where they have difficulty. Oh, I don't hear my wife when she's in another room, or I don't hear my granddaughter when she says goodnight, or I have phone calls with people and I'm missing what they're saying. And then I try and find the technology that would match up to that lifestyle. What I have noticed though is the higher technology, the more automatic and the more bells and whistles you get. So it becomes a little bit easier to get what you want from the hearing aid when you have higher technology. Higher technology also comes with a cost. So you also have to find where they fall between their lifestyle, the cost, and then the technology they want. But the technology has become so good right now that you really can't go wrong for the most part. If you have a good clinician, you will hear better. It just depends on how automatic or how easy or seamless it is, but you will hear better. So yeah, so I do try to focus more on the lifestyle more than anything else to make it real for the patient. So I could tell a patient, hey, this hearing aid has AI that can help you hear in a noisy environment. Or I could tell the patient that the next time you go to a restaurant, you're gonna be able to hear your family. That typically sits better with them than if you just give them the raw technology.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

I I agree with you. Like it's about the person, right? The person-centered care and what they need. I also go to the um they're investing, especially here in Alberta, you know, in Canada, they're investing for five years, right? So especially if it's a if it's a senior from 65 older, we know that they get um, you know,$900 from the Alberta funding. And if they're under that, sometimes they're using, you know, third-party insurance thing. And sometimes they're just paying out of pocket. So it is a large upfront investment. Um, but you're investing for five years. So if you break it down, the higher you can invest, the better. Because once again, your hearing loss can change. We don't know what physiology is gonna happen. And so if you invest in a better product, it sort of covers you for that five years. So that's normally what also, once again, trying to match lifestyle to product, but also encouraging the best that you can, because you're not gonna regret it later. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 17:36

And another thing to consider is sometimes lifestyle changes when people can hear better. So I've had patients that are like, oh, I'm always quiet. I never go out, like I'm always at home. And then they get more basic hearing aids based on that, but now they can hear. So they're like, oh, I was in this restaurant, I was in that restaurant. I'm like, wait, you said you never go into these places, but now that they can hear, they have that confidence to go back. So sometimes when having those discussions about where their lifestyle is now, I kind of paint a picture of like, okay, what if you didn't have these hearing problems? Would you stick with this lifestyle or would you now go out more or visit people more or call people more? And usually they will. So it's yes, it's better to look at better technology so that if their lifestyle changes, now they're not at a disadvantage until they finish that five years. Because it's it is an investment of time, it is an investment of finances. So you want to make sure you have something that can grow with you during that time.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, and technology is always changing. So, you know, I mean, even if you just look at something like the iPhone, right? Like they are releasing new products all the time. There's always changes. Um, and I'll say to people, you don't necessarily always need, you know, the new iPhone or the new hearing aid. You don't need to replace it every two years, but you want to invest in something that can last you, right? So you want to make sure you're getting the, you know, what's the latest available at the time of purchase and that it can last, you know, works for you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:58

That that is absolutely right. So, yes, we do because we are into technology. So if we go back to my story, I I joined audiology because I got to use technology to help people. And it it almost feels like sci-fi sometimes, the things we can do. And so the technology moves so fast. It used to be a time where a new hearing aid will come out every five years. Now we they're coming out twice a year sometimes. So it moves really fast. I don't recommend people chase the technology. Um, but there have been some instances where someone just gets a hearing aid and then another one comes out that solves a specific problem. And so they may be tempted to get there. But that's why you have to have a really good relationship with your clinician who would know what may be in the works, would know what may be good for you and can kind of guide you in the way you need to go.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Yeah. And I think going back to the, you know, clinician and AI, I think it's something we've spoken about off-camera as well. The, you know, are we at risk of being replaced? And I truly don't believe we are. I think it's very person-centric. People want to talk to someone and we, yes, we're optimizing the product, but the product is only as good as the person optimizing it, right? And the advice that they're given and how you, you know, how they're teaching you how to handle it and help. Um, would you agree with that?

SPEAKER_00 20:12

Absolutely. Our our profession, as much as it's tech-based, it's also communication and people-based. Most of the work that we do comes in understanding the situation that your patients are in and then finding a solution for it. At this time, AI can't do that. I don't know what the future is going to look like. So, right now, AI and all the technological advancements we have have made it so that we can create better patient outcomes, but the human factor is still irreplaceable. You need to have someone to explain what it's like to be at a wedding and not be able to understand certain sounds and what we could do to make it so that you can understand those sounds. You can't tell a computer that at this point. And so you do need that interpersonal relationship. Plus, it's also nicer just to have someone to talk you through and talk your family through what you're going to go through because hearing aids are not a one-and-done. They're very different from glasses. When you get hearing aids, you are committing to the hearing aid, but also to the clinician for an extended period of time. As things change, as technology changes, to maintain the hearing aids, to maintain your hearing, all of that, you do need a person for that. So I think human beings are always going to be a big part of our industry. We have seen advancements where there are some over-the-counter hearing aids in parts of the world. And I remember when that was about to happen, a lot of clinicians thought that, oh my goodness, like now we we're not going to be needed. And what we found out is a bigger appreciation for clinicians, because some people would buy hearing aid online and then realize that they don't know how to put it on. Or they'll get a hearing aid and then they realize that it doesn't fit their hearing. And so at this point in time, human beings are still. Absolutely needed to provide the type of care that people deserve to hear better.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

Yeah. And I think that goes into the cost of the product, right? So when people buy the product, um, they think it's just the product. They don't realize the commitment to the hearing care professional that they're buying it with, and that it's their part of the payment is part of their expertise, right? And how they're going to help you in the clinic visits and the cleaning checks and the, you know, the advice given in the counseling. Um, because I'll still have people come in that have maybe moved um or um bought it, say, from the city, you know, and then come down and they're like, but I spent, you know, X amount of thousand dollars on it. I'm like, yeah, but you didn't spend it with me. And so I still have to charge you for my services, right? So going back to it's yes, the product is important, but it's not the only thing that matters. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

Absolutely. In fact, I would say the product is important, but it's the smallest part of the hearing healthcare journey. And because technology is getting really good, regardless of what type of hearing aid you get, if you have a good clinician, you will be successful. So one of the things I used to tell my patients when they came in and like, oh, what hearing aid should I go for? I'll tell them, I'm like, whatever works for your budget, whatever works for your lifestyle, that's good. But a hearing aid is like a plane that's going to take you to a destination. If there's no pilot in the plane, it doesn't matter if you're in business class or economy, you're not going anywhere. And so you do need to have good support in order to get the benefits that you expect from the hearing aid. And it's again, it's not a one and done. There is follow-ups. So you need to be comfortable with this person. Um, you need to make sure that the clinician that you're working with is able to understand you, understand your lifestyle, and make adjustments to fit that lifestyle because they're not going to be at the restaurant with you. You're going to have to come back and tell them what the restaurant was like, and they're going to have to know what to do about that situation. And so, yes, the technology has made that process so much easier and so much more precise, where we're getting people a lot more happier with the hearing aids than they used to be five, 10 years ago. But at the same time, without the clinicians, we won't be making this progress.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Yeah. I actually like the analogy of the pilot, right? Because you're right, without that pilot, it doesn't matter which class you're in. You ain't going nowhere. You can sit on that airplane and just and sit on the runway.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

Absolutely. And there are lots of people that get hearing aids and they leave them in the in the closet and they never go for their follow-ups. And if you ask them, they don't experience any benefit from it. And then you see the other patient that comes for their follow-ups and does what they're supposed to do, and it changes their life completely. And so it really depends on that support. So no matter how good the technology gets, I think there'll always be space for a person to guide the patient through that situation.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

I agree with you 100%. Like I said, I'm not concerned at all because I know the best patient or, you know, satisfaction comes like when we've worked hard, when the person's coming into the clinic, right? And we've really, it doesn't matter which technology level they got, but when we've really personalized it to what they need, that's when we see their success. That's when they're wearing it consistently, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

And just being able to call somebody when you have a problem and know that they have a solution for you. So in other industries, we've seen things go a little bit more automatic where you can call and talk to a chat bot and all of that and solve your problems. I haven't met a single person that has been satisfied with that. If you have to call a company and you're with a chat bot, most of the time I'm like, speak to a representative, speak to a representative, because it's just so difficult to get your point across for something as simple as your phone plan or your electricity. But when it's more complicated, like your hearing, your communication, whether you're going to be in a social environment or not, whether you're going to be isolated or not, you need someone to understand that to help you guide that situation. And also to even talk to your family and your support system. Because there's several times where a family comes in, the kids, the partner, they're like, he's not hearing anything, or she's not hearing anything. And then we talk to them, like, oh my goodness, they've been struggling this whole time. And this is how we're going to make it work. You can't do that with just a computer. You need someone to be able to do stuff like that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:25

And I think that's what makes industry beautiful, right? It is a people looking after people industry, right? And we get to see, we get to be, it's very rewarding, right? When you see people having success and coming back and telling the stories of the different sounds, you know, that they heard or or they re-engaged, you know, and they going out, you know, into the world again, you know, and participating in these different social events that they never thought was going to be possible. And now they're doing it. So that is the real that's the beauty of being a hearing healthcare professional, I think.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

It really is. I remember when I first got into audiology, I had friends outside of the industry who was like, oh, you're just testing hearing. Aren't you going to get bored? I'm like, if you know the different types of people that come in, that alone is just entertainment for the rest of my career. Because you get to see so many different walks of life. Of course, because we're communicating about what's going on in their lives, they share stories that I take in and enjoy and I share stories with them as well. And then, of course, just seeing the benefits of the work that we do. And then the the most fun part is when you have a patient that comes in and they don't even think they have a hearing loss. Then they find out they have a hearing loss. They have to accept that they have a hearing loss. And then down the road, they're like, oh, I'm going to this. I need this. I'm doing all this stuff. I'm like, oh, so now you really appreciate these hearing aids that you didn't want. And but it's it's a really nice journey to see that.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

It is a nice journey. And like you said, they become they're part of you because you are sharing things. I mean, I have pictures of my whole family up in my office because I'm like, this is an intimate. And I'm asking people to share some really personal information. Um, because in order to help them, I need to know where is the difficulty? Who is it that they can't hear? Is it, you know, um a young child that's with a high pitch? Is it their spouse that has a low voice, right? Because that's where where we really get into programming those hearing aids to help them hear better, right? So I have my fan up, I talk about them. I mean, and it is, it's that relationship. But I do, I just think it's beautiful. It's a whole community, that connected feel there.

SPEAKER_00 28:25

It really is. I think most clinicians will agree that we get really close with our patients because our patients, number one, are working with us at least for five years once they have a hearing aid. They usually get a new one after five years. So it's a lifelong commitment when someone decides to pick a clinic and to pick a hearing aid with a clinician, and you get to see them grow actually. So there are times where I see patients go through different life events, and we have to change our approach depending on those life events. Sometimes it's a sad life event, sometimes it's a happy life event. But a lot of really personal stories come up when you're doing the consultation to find out what people need to hear, where they need to go, what they do with their lives. So you really get to know them on a personal level, and they get to know you too, because it's a give and take. And once you've built that friendship with your patient, then you can really understand what they need. And they'll be popping up at the clinic several times for little tweaks here and there just to get them what they need. And so you have great stories where someone will come and be like, Oh, my my granddaughter's getting married. I really want to hear this wedding. We talk all about it. We set the hearing aids up, and they come back, it's like, oh, I loved it. I heard everything. I gave a speech, and we you feel like you're part of that situation. Oh, absolutely. So it's awesome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:38

Yeah. And then sometimes you like I said, you bump into them within the community, right? Like especially in a smaller community like Okotokes, where um, you know, it's not like the big cities where there's a bit more. But yeah, I do like that community feel where you're bumping into them and you're saying hi. And I mean, I'm not running up to them, but uh You'll run up to you. Yeah, exactly. It's the other way you kind of wait for for the invite, you know, from them to come in to let you know that it's okay. But it's yeah, it's beautiful. I love being part and helping them get connected again to the people that matter to them, right? It is, it's it's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 30:10

It is, it is. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. That's one of the things I love about audiology is you are really helping people. So when you go through a day, you may be tired because you've had to exchange with so many people, but you can go home thinking, I helped, like I've made someone's day better today. They're gonna hear things they haven't heard before. They're gonna enjoy a show that they'd missed before, or have a conversation with a loved one that they were not able to have before. Sometimes it's is really wholesome and happy. I had a situation where I had a patient whose grandchildren did not live in the same city. And so they had to communicate over the phone, but she had a hearing loss. And so when I first met her, she was like, I had this new granddaughter, and they always put like the camera in her face. I can't hear anything. She's babbling. And then we go through the whole process, and now she's coming back with pictures and look what she said, and she did this and she did that. And it's like you just made a whole life happen for them. So that's that's nice.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

And I think that's a great way just to end off the show today, right? It's just like the how rewarding it is and what an impact we can have by helping people treat the hearing loss and encouraging anybody out there who's maybe thinking that they're not as engaged or, you know, that this may be applicable to them to, you know, contact your local hearing clinic, get tested, and see what help is available to you.

SPEAKER_00 31:24

Absolutely. And there's nothing to lose. Most hearing aids, well, I'll say all hearing aids come with a trial period. So try them and see how your life changes, and then you can decide if it is worth your time. I would say most people that go through the process believe it's worth their time, and they will tell you, of course, they're they're bumps in the roads, and it's not a you do it one time and everything is perfect. There is a commitment and time and effort, but it is worth it because you get to appreciate the world fully.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Absolutely. Well, thank you so much for coming in and sharing your story with me today. Having a having a chat.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

Absolutely. Thank you. That was wonderful. Nice. I loved it.