A conversation with Audiologist Lyndsay Bozec
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists around the country dedicate the month of May to raising awareness on the importance of communication health to the public. We invited Lyndsay Bozec, Registered Audiologist and Owner of Clayton Park Audiology, to share some hearing health information and advice.
Bruce: “You’ve been practicing audiology in the HRM for over 10 years now, what would you say has been the biggest change over the years in the hearing industry?”
Lyndsay: “Well, I think the most obvious change and improvement is technology. Today hearing aids can correct 90% of hearing loss cases. Many people remember their parents or grandparents hearing aids. They were big and bulky. They whistled all the time. This is not the case anymore. Also, Bluetooth has been a huge benefit to patients in recent years. For some patients, there is fear as technology can seem overwhelming at first, but I always time-release things with my patients. I go at their speed. It might be a follow-up appointment two or three by the time we connect their smartphone or their tablet to their hearing aids, but when we do, they are ready to take it on and they are quite literally amazed to be hearing their music or a phone call through their hearing aids.”
Bruce: “People are starting to use hearing aids at younger ages and for lesser degrees of hearing loss. Why do you think this is?”
Lyndsay: “I think a huge motivator for this is recent research suggesting that even a mild hearing loss can significantly increase one’s risk of dementia. Also, there seems to be a general awareness of what steps need to be taken to promote healthy aging and treating hearing loss falls within that. Untreated hearing loss has also been linked to an increased risk of falling, social isolation, and poorer mental health. All very serious reasons to take care of your hearing health.”
Bruce: “Many assume hearing loss is a natural part of aging and affects only the elderly. Is this true?”
Lyndsay: “No, this is not true. Hearing loss can occur at any age. 3 in every 1000 babies are born with hearing loss. Hearing loss can also be acquired at any age, including young childhood, adolescence, and so on. As we age the risk of hearing loss does increase due to risk factors such as noise exposure and the development of chronic health conditions related to hearing loss such as heart problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure. “
Bruce: “What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who may be waiting to get hearing aids?”
Lyndsay: “Please, stop waiting. I often see patients in their 70s, 80s, or even 90s for their first ever hearing test. Many have been waiting for years because they either think they are too young for hearing aids, or they think their hearing “is not bad enough yet”. Unfortunately, when someone is trying hearing aids for the first time in their 7th, 8th, or 9th decade of life, there is a significant amount of change that the brain must undergo in order to adapt to the hearing aids. My advice to those who are waiting or are nervous that perhaps they have waited too long is to try hearing aids before deciding you won’t like them or won’t benefit from them. I think you will be surprised. Take advantage of our risk-free 60-day hearing aid trial. And if that is too much commitment, ask to trial hearing aids in-clinic during your appointment rather than take them home. We are flexible.”
“The last thing I will say is that a reoccurring theme we see with our new hearing aid patients is that most wish they had done it sooner and most didn’t realize how beneficial they would be. Often times, becoming a hearing aid user significantly improves not only the user’s quality of life but the quality of life of those around them as well.”
“Many thanks to Lyndsay for this insightful chat!”
Lyndsay Bozec, M.Sc.,
Aud-Reg(NSCASLP), Aud(C)
Owner/Registered Clinical & Dispensing Audiologist
Pronouns: She/Her
