It’s Not All About Stopping to Smell the Roses

It’s Not All About Stopping to Smell the Roses. It’s a caring reminder and an old saying. “You need to slow down, stop and smell the roses sometimes.” And it’s a good one too. Rushing though your life is no way to have a good life.

Being in a rut and not seeing (or smelling, as in this example) the beauty that is in front you leads to missing out on some of the most important aspects of life; the joys that simple things can bring and the beauty around you. Your soul isn’t being fed and your body isn’t relaxed if you don’t dedicate some time and attention to them.

And, there’s so much that is right in front of you, why not just take notice, right?

In the case of hearing, that question becomes complicated. Sounds can be soothing and an important part of life as well as the wellness of an individual. The sounds of childhood such as the leaves rustling in the trees, the frogs (we called them “peepers”) at night, or the voice of a loved one or good friend—they all put us in a better place and set a lot of anxiety to rest.

Where hearing is more complex is that the roses are there for you to see, and you choose to not stop and enjoy what they have to offer. When a person has hearing loss, they don’t know what they’re missing out on. There is no choice to ignore or embrace it. In that person’s world the breeze no longer dances through the branches, the birds don’t sing, and the conversation of friends and family is lost.

Hearing loss is not to be taken lightly. The longer people go without addressing their loss the more likely they are to slip into depression and a variety of other serious health concerns associated with hearing loss. If you take notice, you’ll see a lot of people wearing hearing aids in Portland Oregon. That’s because we have a lot of beautiful things to hear and appreciate here. Also, new technology and the convenience of being able to see a hearing loss specialist makes it easier than ever to help correct a hearing loss.

There are solutions. But first they need to know what they’re missing. We all need to be hearing ambassadors. Here are some signs of hearing loss that you can look out for:

·         They have trouble hearing people talking on the telephone. 

·         The family complains that the TV is too loud.

·         They strain to hear conversations, which can cause headaches. 

·         They have trouble hearing in noisy environments. 

·         They say ‘What?’ a lot.

·         They tell people to stop mumbling.

·         They oftentimes misunderstand what people say.  

·         They have trouble hearing children and women.

·         They become annoyed at others because they can’t understand what is being said.

All ages can be affected by hearing loss. It’s not just people over 60. Hearing loss is caused by a variety of factors. Consistent loud noises such as music, industrial equipment, and sporting events can contribute, as well as health issues or certain medications.

Keep an eye out for any of the signs in people around you. A hearing evaluation provided by a well educated and trained hearing loss specialist or audiologist is simple, painless and often covered by insurance. It’s the best way to detect any issues early and proceed with the correct hearing care.

I like roses—well, I could do without the thorns—but I love the connection to the world my hearing offers me. Let’s make sure the people we care about get the chance to choose the sounds around them, or enjoy them as they should.