Jeff Shupe
Nashville, TN
“People shouldn’t put it off. The technology is better and the size is so much more discreet.”
How and when did you first realize you were experiencing hearing loss?
I’m a retired fire fighter. I first became aware of my hearing loss 15 to 20 years ago during a union-scheduled hearing test. I was one of 50 men selected for a local study on the effects of occupational noise on fire fighters.
How long did it take to first seek care from a professional? Did you have hesitation? Why or why not?
I wasn’t keen on the idea of getting a hearing aid. There was vanity involved. I didn’t want a big, clunky hearing aid. That deterred me for a while.
Where did you first go for information or help? Why?
My daughter kept pushing me to get hearing aids. She’s an audiologist with Audiology Associates of Nashville. She would tell me constantly ‘you’ve got to do something.’ I expected them to be uncomfortable, but my daughter helped me through that phase.
What was your biggest concern about hearing aids? Did that turn out to be true?
I was fit with ReSound LiNX². They are fantastic. I love that they are barely noticeable. The tubing is so small that it looks like a hair and it isn’t noticeable at all.
Are there any sounds that you now hear that you could not hear before hearing aids?
There’s a big difference between when I have them in and when I have don’t. You miss a lot. If you go out with friends, you miss conversations. Now that I hear better, I can focus and have better quality conversations.
What would you tell someone who is considering hearing aids?
It’s easier to get help now than it was in the past. People shouldn’t put it off. The technology is better and the size is so much more discreet.