May is Hearing Awareness Month Series: Blog One: Introduction- Hearing is Central to Total Wellness

Many of us take our ability to hear and speak for granted. Activities like laughing with your grandchildren, attending social gatherings, and giving your input in meetings are often second nature to many people. However, it is when these activities start becoming challenging that one realizes how vital communication is in daily life. During the month of May, hearing health and speech professionals all over Canada come together to raise awareness of the challenges faced by 1 in 10 Canadians currently experiencing communication disorders. The goal of this awareness campaign is to promote early detection and future prevention of these communication problems. It is also meant to increase the public’s sensitivity to people currently experiencing speech and hearing difficulties. The health professionals in this field strive to improve the health and quality of life of their patients.

Over the next couple of blog entries we will be discussing how your hearing is central to total wellness. What many people don’t realize is that your hearing affects so many different aspects of your life. These aspects can be referred to as your health related quality of life. In our blog series we will be covering the benefits of being able to hear the sounds and voices around us, whether that is with some sort of amplification or not. Since health related quality of life is a multidimensional concept, we will be discussing how your hearing plays a role on your functional, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social ability. Stay tuned!