Casey came to the practice with her mother, Susan, initially just to have Susan’s ears cleaned. This visit evolved into a relationship with Darlene and Bill, who checked Susan’s hearing and discovered that she could significantly benefit from hearing aids. Casey has witnessed a transformation in her mother since starting treatment with Bill and the hearing aids.
Casey hadn’t known about the types of hearing aids available and was concerned that Susan’s manual dexterity wouldn’t be suited to small devices. However, Darlene and Bill introduced a different product—hearing aids that are inserted into the ear and don’t require manual handling, as they are replaced every four to six weeks. This solution has been transformative for Susan.
For years, Susan’s hearing loss was apparent, but she didn’t want to address it. Casey’s father would often say, “Her hearing’s fine, she’s just not listening,” leading the family to remain in a state of denial. But after Darlene performed a hearing test, it became clear that Susan was only hearing about 28% of the words in her left ear and wasn’t comprehending them at all.
Casey reflects on how Susan’s difficulty in hearing likely contributed to other cognitive struggles, as it’s hard to cope when you can’t understand what’s being said. The improvement was immediate after Susan began using the new hearing aids. She was able to hear her own voice, which brought tears to her eyes, and on the way home, she could hear the car radio again—something she hadn’t realized she had been missing.
This experience has been a revelation for Casey and her family. It’s shown how addressing hearing loss earlier could have helped slow Susan’s mental decline. Now that Susan can hear more clearly, her cognitive abilities have improved, and the family has noticed a positive change in their interactions. Long phone conversations are now possible, something that was difficult before.
Casey describes her experience at the practice as overwhelmingly positive and encourages anyone who is concerned about a loved one’s hearing, or their own, to simply go in and get tested. She emphasizes that Darlene and Bill will explain everything clearly and that there are many options available. The solution they find could make a huge difference, not just for hearing but for maintaining mental sharpness, as hearing is closely connected to brain health.
Casey urges others to visit Bill and Darlene and take care of their hearing, knowing that it will make a real difference.