Angela Weaver
Audiologist & Training and Compliance Manager, Costco
Matt Friesen
Clinical Audiologist & Manager, Hearing Aid Centre, Costco
Changes in hearing can affect your everyday life. Be proactive about your hearing health through regular checks.
As they go about their busy lives, many adults may be unaware of changes in their hearing. “Because hearing loss is often very gradual, people may not notice it or unknowingly compensate through things like focusing harder on conversations,” says Angela Weaver, an audiologist and training and compliance manager at Costco.
However, the extra effort of trying to understand other people can add to a person’s cognitive load and affect other areas of their lives. “They may feel more mentally tired or withdraw from social situations,” she says.
The broad impacts of hearing loss
Hearing problems can affect more than the ability to hear sounds. “There’s a lot of research showing that unaided hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, and anxiety,” says Matt Friesen, a clinical audiologist and manager of the Costco Hearing Aid Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont. Additionally, a 2024 report published in The Lancet notes an association between hearing loss and dementia.
“People with hearing loss are also at higher risk of accidents because they aren’t hearing certain environmental sounds like sirens or alarms that can cue them to some kind of danger,” adds Friesen.
The impacts of hearing loss vary from person to person and can depend on lifestyle. “For a 60-year-old who is still in the workforce, leading an active life, and needs to hear on the job, the impacts are significant,” says Friesen.
Hearing aids — stigma and misconceptions
Why are some adults hesitant to acknowledge hearing changes, have their hearing checked, or consider hearing aids? Common misperceptions are that hearing aids will stand out or make them look older or less cognitively sharp. But as Friesen notes, “Modern hearing aids are essentially hidden, and unaided hearing loss is far more noticeable than a hearing aid.”
Another misperception is that hearing aids are hard to adjust to. “They do require some care, maintenance, and adaptation time, but they offer huge upside potential,” says Friesen. Weaver adds, “When clients finally act on it and realize the positive impact, they often wish they had done it sooner.”
Because hearing is important to overall health, it pays to be proactive through regular hearing checks. Costco Wholesale operates Hearing Aid Centres in most locations across Canada (except Quebec). These centres offer free initial screenings to Costco members, as well as comprehensive hearing assessments and access to hearing care and hearing aids.
Signs Your Hearing May Be Changing
1.
Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
2.
Increasing the volume on the TV, phone, or other devices
3.
Trouble following conversations, especially in groups or noisy environments
4.
A sense that others are not speaking clearly
Find a participating Costco Hearing Aid Centre near you and book your hearing check.