How advancements in hearing technology are changing lives

Pastor Collins knew he was at risk for hearing difficulties: During his physical for seminary school, a physician diagnosed a small degree of hearing loss in his left ear.

When he and his wife positioned their chairs next to each other in their living room, he made sure to sit with his right ear facing her so he’d be sure to hear what she was saying. But over time, he began not to notice when she would strike up a conversation. She began to think he was ignoring her. “She told me I was using my selective hearing again, but the truth was, I couldn’t hear her,” he says.

In September 2020, after experiencing an ear infection for about a month and a half, Pastor Collins made an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist at Holston Medical Group in Kingsport, Tenn., to uncover the cause of these infections. HMG tested Pastor Collins’ hearing and discovered significant hearing loss not in his left ear, but his right.

“I could only hear half of the sounds with my right ear,” he says. “I had no idea my hearing was that bad. What really surprised me is that it happened so slowly. I work with churches in Cumberland Gap, Va.; I’m the president of the Appalachian School of Theology; I serve at our Baptist state convention; and I communicate with church members from international partnerships. It seemed unfathomable that I was able to do these things with just 50% of my hearing in one ear.”

In my work as an audiologist, I often see scenarios such as this. The good news: They are often easy to treat. In Pastor Collins’ case, we fit him with hearing aids and let him try it out at home for a couple of weeks to see the difference it could make.

“It was an ‘Aha!’ moment for me,” Pastor Collins recalls. “The second Briana put those hearing aids in, I could hear so clearly! It was such a tremendous difference.

“Before I was fitted with hearing aids, I would receive questions from every angle of the room in the sanctuary during worship and meetings, and I just could not hear them. Over time, I started to read lips to understand what people were saying—and when the pandemic required us to wear masks, I really struggled to communicate. Now, I don’t have to compensate for hearing difficulties anymore. I can hear so clearly now, and the hearing aids are barely noticeable.”

My interest in audiology began at a young age. One of my closest childhood friends was born with hearing loss in both ears. I became curious about the hearing aids she wore and how they created sound. To me, they seemed like tiny miracles—and with modern technology, these devices are even smaller now. In high school and college, I took an American Sign Language class so I could better communicate with those who are Deaf.

By the time I graduated high school, I knew what my college major would be: communication sciences and disorders. I received my bachelor of science from Illinois University and went on to earn a doctor of audiology at East Tennessee State University.

Finding the right solution starts with an audiology screening, which takes about 15 minutes and is simple to complete and—just as important—completely painless.

With May being Better Hearing and Speech Month, now is a great time to make an appointment for a consultation for you or a loved one who may be struggling with hearing loss. Even in instances where hearing aids are not an option, HMG can make recommendations that help improve your communication skills and quality of life. Some of these techniques include:

• Reducing background noise and distractions, where possible
• Making sure you have visual cues during conversations and can face the person you are speaking with
• Being specific when asking for assistance, such as asking a person to slow down, speak up or face you when speaking

We can also offer tips for family or loved ones on ways to better support people living with hearing difficulties. Five tips that can make a difference include:

• Make an effort to enunciate your words
• Consider using simpler words or phrasing when you are asked to repeat what you have said
• Speak loudly, but don’t shout! Shouting can further distort sounds
• Make sure you’re facing the person when speaking to them
• Try to be in the same room with the person when having a conversation

With time and practice, you’ll discover which techniques work best.

The impact of finding the right solution can be instant and dramatic. “It’s a totally different world for me,” Pastor Collins says. “When I gave my first Sunday morning message after being fitted with hearing aids, several people came up to me afterward and said, ‘There’s something that has changed about you. You’re not as loud as you were before.’ I told them, ‘Well, the thing that has changed is that I can hear myself now.’ It’s been such a tremendous help, and I’m so excited about that.”

He advises individuals who believe they might suffer from hearing loss to make an appointment with HMG. “The team at HMG is professional and excellent. They support you 100%, and they are so easy to work with,” he says. “There is no pressure to buy anything. They simply want to help.”

For more information, or to make an appointment, call HMG's Meadowview Ear, Nose & Throat at 423-246-8155.