Jun 12, 2024
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Lori Lovato MA, FAAA, Audiologist
Inspiring Stories from Our Patients—Send These to a Loved One Considering Hearing Loss Treatment
We get calls each day from people across the Seattle area who are concerned about their own hearing or that of a loved one—questions, concerns, and a need for clarification are all understandable, and we’re happy to provide answers!
However, we’ve noticed a common theme among many of the calls: people aren’t sure where to start with hearing care because they don’t know anyone else who has hearing loss or wears hearing aids. With nobody to turn to for advice, many people will ignore treating their hearing loss altogether.
If you’re reading this and it sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
We asked some of our patients if they could share their hearing health journeys with us; we love sharing their stories to help inspire more people to seek out hearing care for themselves.
Many of our patients were eager to be involved, ensuring that other people don’t wait as long as they did to get treatment, and to share what they learned in the process of seeking out better hearing.
If you know someone who has been considering hearing care, please share this with them—or, if you’re considering it for yourself, hopefully our patient stories will help inspire you to take that first step.
Our first story comes from Julia.
Julia wasn’t too worried about her first appointment with us; during the height of the pandemic, she realized that she couldn’t hear people properly when they wore face masks.
She told us, “With the pandemic upon us, I couldn’t hear what people were saying clearly with their masks on—I kept asking, ‘Pardon, what did you say?’”
Julia felt very comfortable during her appointment, and once she was fitted with her hearing aids, she was reunited with several sounds she didn’t know she was missing.
“I could hear my phone ‘ping’ when I received a text! I could hear water drip and hear it raining! Haven’t heard those things in years.”
Julia implores those considering hearing care to come visit Highline: “They are very knowledgeable and know what they are talking about—they took the time to answer all of my questions.”
Rick also shared his story with us, and how there’s no shame in getting hearing aids at a young age.
“I knew at 45 years old it was odd for such a young person to need hearing aids, but it is what it is,” he told us. “I needed to hear what my daughters were saying.”
Saying “What?” had become a very regular occurrence for Rick before he sought out hearing care. With conversation between family members breaking down and different answers each time he asked for clarification, he knew it was time to get it sorted out.
Rick scheduled an appointment for a comprehensive hearing test with our team and received recommendations for appropriate hearing aids as well. Now, with his hearing aids, Rick says, “They have made all of the difference in the world. I am not withdrawn at parties. I can hear the conversations and interact with others much easier.”
Rick strongly encourages others to visit Highline.
Our final story comes from Sue, who struggled with tinnitus for many years before recognizing her hearing was getting worse.
“I have seen people with hearing problems stop relating to the world around them and start spending more time isolating themselves,” she told us. “I didn’t want that to happen to me.”
Sue was immediately reassured that she made the right choice when she came in to visit us at Highline; our friendly and welcoming team put her at ease and “helped me understand how they could help.”
Sue loves her hearing aids—and the new and improved technology that comes with them!
“My hearing aids are connected to my phone, so I don’t need headphones to listen to books or talk on the phone. I wish I had gotten them sooner.”
Sue encourages more people to make an appointment with us if they’re struggling. “Don’t hesitate to make an appointment—life is so much better when you can hear well.”
How Highline Hearing Can Help
We have many more patient stories on our website if you’d like to read more, but if you have read the above and feel ready to make a decision that your future self will thank you for, we’re here and ready to help.
From comprehensive hearing assessments to advanced hearing aid technology, Highline Hearing can help you take those first steps on your hearing health journey. Simply request a callback and a member of our team will get in contact to answer any questions or alleviate concerns.
Don’t want to wait? Call our office at (206) 246-8677.
Lori Lovato MA, FAAA, Audiologist
Lori is a lifelong resident of the Tri-Cities. She and her husband Anthony are proud to be raising their family here. She attended Washington State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences and her master’s degree in audiology. Lori began practicing audiology in the Tri-Cities in 1993. During this time, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including private practice and ear, nose, and throat physicians’ offices. She has spent her career focused on assisting those with hearing difficulties through the use of hearing aids, listening strategies, assistive devices, and counseling. She is experienced in working with both adult and pediatric patients. It is important to Lori to develop close relationships with each and every patient, as she helps them develop better communication strategies to live a fuller life.
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