I had been aware of my hearing loss for many years but after having difficulty hearing phone calls and receiving complaints from family members, I consulted my primary care doctor who administered a preliminary hearing test and irrigated my ear canals, then referred me to Kenwood Hearing Center in Petaluma.
There, Lee Diles explained some of the benefits of modern hearing aids and how they work before conducting extensive tests in a soundproof room. He showed me the results of the tests on a large computer screen and explained how hearing aids could be adjusted to remedy my specific areas of loss. I had not realized that one ear was hearing less than the other, but perhaps a hearing aid could restore the balance.
With some trepidation, I tried a pair of hearing aids after Lee made ear pieces to fit my narrow ear canals. The first thing I noticed was my loud voice, so my next sentence was spoken more quietly. Lee's voice came in clearly; however, I had not experienced difficulty in one-on-one situations where I could read lips and interpret facial clues. How would that change in a crowded restaurant or at the check-out counter at the supermarket?
At home my family noticed my quiet voice before they realized I was hearing more of what they were saying without needing to repeat words. Lee had explained that to get the most benefit, hearing aids should be worn throughout the day so that the brain can adjust to the changed input; at night the hearing aids are stowed into a convenient little box. Although I had to remember to remove them before going swimming and then replace them after I was dry, they stayed in place all day and every day for a week. Sometimes I had to press the earpiece back in place, but the little hearing aid fit snugly behind my ear; the whole thing never did fall out which reassured me, since I was afraid of losing one.
At the end of the week's trial, Lee showed me on the computer screen a summary of the sounds I had been subjected for seven days; that I prefer a quiet life was obvious because the bar code for that was much taller than any other -- including conversations, music, television/radio, crowds, and outdoor background noise. After making some adjustments, Lee encouraged me to continue using the hearing aids and to try different situations like listening to music or going to a crowded place with friends and maintaining a conversation.
The following week I asked if I could be tested in the soundproof room wearing the hearing aids to see if the results differed from the initial tests without them. That test showed my spoken-word comprehension was almost the same with hearing aids as without them! Now what?
I wore a third set of hearing aids the following week and found that listening to music was greatly enhanced, a characteristic I hadn't noticed with the others; the whole range of frequency and timbre seemed to be restored and listening became a pleasure instead of disappointing. A picnic held out of doors on a windy day and a visit to a noisy restaurant provided other tests; again, I did better hearing remarks from far across a table whereas one-on-one was about the same as without hearing aids.
Lee explained that people often became aware of some deafness before the need for hearing aids had become acute; there was no need to rush into immediate purchase: Kenwood Hearing Centers were used to putting clients on a year's call-back, sometimes for several years. I had been concerned that I was wasting Lee's time and generous patience, so he explained that although I wasn't ready yet, I possibly would be in the future. No fees were charged for any of this comprehensive service.
So although I went away without hearing aids, I was reassured by Lee that I could return for further evaluation whenever I wished. I was impressed by the professional manner in which my problem was addressed, and will not hesitate to return to Kenwood Hearing Center when the time is right. Meanwhile, for useful tips about hearing and deafness, I can read the Kenwood Hearing Center column in the Sunday Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Lee's parents, siblings, and several generations of his forebears were/are hearing professionals; they know the problem and the business! The location of the Petaluma office is convenient with adequate parking near the entrance. If you arrive early for an appointment, there's a huge screen in the waiting area which shows (in silence) some amazing urban and countryside scenery filmed from above, or other unusual and fascinating scenes programmed from an Internet screensaver; although I usually brought a book to read, that screen was hard to ignore! Lee always saw me at the appointed time; he never kept me waiting. I do not hesitate to recommend Kenwood Hearing Center for anyone who is hard of hearing and needs advice and perhaps a remedy. read more
