There鈥檚 often a long gap between the moment someone first notices they have hearing loss, and the moment they finally make an appointment with a hearing specialist. Sometimes the delay can even be years!

鈥淚t鈥檚 something I actually hear from new clients fairly often. They say it took them a long time to come in, but once they do, they鈥檙e amazed at how comfortable they feel,鈥� says Kim Galick, owner of in 91原创.

Because hearing loss is often gradual, you may not notice the extra efforts you鈥檙e making to communicate: lip reading, guessing words or relying on a companion to repeat phrases you couldn鈥檛 hear. Then when you step into Ears Hearing Clinic, you may feel you can hear Kim just fine 鈥� even without hearing aids. But that鈥檚 by design.

鈥淭here are many things people can do to aid hearing that are totally free. We do a lot of them here, in the hopes that our clients will feel more comfortable and well cared for,鈥� Kim says.

How to improve hearing, without hearing aids

• Find a quiet place to talk: Kim鈥檚 office is quiet 鈥� no background music, no noisy conversations from other customers, no traffic. If you or someone you love has hearing loss, prioritize finding a quiet place to talk. A high-backed booth is better than a table in the middle of a restaurant. The hallway might be better than the crowded dining table at a party.
• Get face-to-face: Communication doesn鈥檛 only happen with words, so Kim makes sure clients can see her facial expressions as well as visual aids like ear diagrams and sample hearing aids. 鈥淥ne really simple thing people can do is get the attention of someone before launching into a story. If someone has hearing loss, use their name or tap their shoulder so you can get face-to-face,鈥� Kim says. Kim鈥檚 office is also well-lit, to further improve visual communication.
• Speak slowly and clearly, but don鈥檛 shout: Speak normally to someone with hearing loss 鈥� changing your volume doesn鈥檛 usually help. If you get stuck on a phrase, try using different words to describe the same concept instead of repeating yourself.

鈥淗earing loss can cause a lot of stress, both emotionally and cognitively, as our brain works extra hard to adapt. Be patient and forgiving, whether you鈥檙e the person with hearing loss or a loved one looking for ways to be supportive,鈥� Kim says.

For a free hearing consultation and more hearing advice, call Kim Galick at , 604-427-2828 or email info@earslangley.com. Find Ears Hearing at in 91原创, online at and on .