Lee Dingee
Braintree, MA
“It just improves quality of life so much. It’s life-changing, it really is.”
How and when did you first realize you were experiencing hearing loss?
When I was in my 20s serving in the army, an overhead explosion caused bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
That affected me throughout my career and time in public office. I had to learn to read lips early. At times, it was hard to pay attention to clients, especially in a meeting room with multiple people talking. I had similar issues in noisy environments, such as restaurants. It was hard to focus in when so many people were talking at once.
I was missing out on a lot. I even started speaking in a very low range, where I could hear it better. I thought I was projecting, but it was actually hard for others to hear me.
Where did you go for help? What did they recommend?
Rhonda Natanblut Ruby, M.S. of the West Newton Hearing Center has tested my hearing for years.
Thank God for the personal attention she gave me. She constantly was looking for hearing aids over the years that would help my hearing loss, because nothing would have helped before. After trying my ReSound hearing aids, it was a done deal.
How have hearing aids changed your life?
Since then, it’s been a whole new experience. I heard noises I’ve never heard before; subtle sounds like birds chirping, paper clenching and floorboards creaking.
And when I went out to dinner, I was able to easily participate in conversation despite the noisy environment by adjusting his programming using the app on my phone. These hearing aids have exceeded my expectations. It gives you a great deal of confidence
Were there any unexpected or surprising benefits?
Besides being able to hear better, my favorite feature is listening to music through my hearing aids while I’m at the gym. I can take phone calls right in my hearing aids, too.
What would you tell someone who is considering hearing aids?
It’s such a big plus to be able to better hear. How often do people get in trouble by misunderstanding what someone has said? I don’t have that anymore.
People put them off because of price, or look or don’t want to admit they need one. I’m bald, but people still don’t notice that I have them in. It just improves quality of life so much. It’s life-changing, it really is.