Don't let your digital hearing aid be a spoilsport

Jan 28, 2013 in Hearing Aids

Don't let your digital hearing aid be a spoilsport

Suffering from hearing loss is no reason for you to have to curb any physical activities you may enjoy or hobbies you like.

Not only do digital hearing aids mostly now slip conveniently behind the ear but facilities have a legal obligation to make sure there are systems in place to help you go about your business.

This can be done in terms of loops or providing a dedicated employee to monitor that equal rights laws are being put in place. However, the bottom line is that you shouldn't be impeded in any way by your condition.

Obviously the gradual adjustment to life with your hearing aid will help things along too but it's important not to get into a mindset where you think that you can't do things you normally would.

For an example of how hearing loss doesn't have to get the better of you, one needs to simply take a look at 14-year-old Korean tennis player, Lee Duck-hee.

According to Reuters, Lee told reporters at the recent Australian Open that, despite being deaf from birth, he doesn't see why it should get in the way of his career.

Using both lip-reading and the help of an interpreter, he explained that he doesn't want it to stop him.

"I don't hear the calls, especially the out calls, so sometimes ... just continue. That's kind of difficult but it's nothing special," he said.

In fact, he says it can sometimes be an advantage.

"Actually I don't care about my disability at any time, and on the court it's easy to focus on my match because I can't hear anything.

"It's more convenient to play."

Even if your sporting prowess doesn't quite match the likes of Lee, you can still fully enjoy sports and hobbies the same as you did before being diagnosed with hearing loss.

For any further tips on playing sport with an aid, feel free to ask our audiologists during your free hearing test.