JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The gift of our fathers and memories shared with them highlight the importance of being there for those who cared for us.
One crucial way to show this same support is by protecting their hearing.
Recommended Videos
RELATED: Millennial dads are redefining fatherhood
Mansfield Smith, a licensed hearing aid dispenser at HearUSA on Hodges Boulevard, emphasizes the impact of hearing loss on daily life.
“As those senses start to dull, it really affects a lot of things in our lives,” Smith said.
Research indicates that age is the strongest predictor of hearing loss, and, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, men are almost twice as likely as women to suffer from hearing loss between the ages of 20 and 69.
Smith says we are “the sum of our lives,” especially when it comes to hearing.
The Hearing Loss Association of America reports that more than 50 million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss, which averages out to nearly one in seven people.
Smith notes that certain jobs and household roles often contribute to this issue.
“Taking care of the yard, making sure that the mowing’s done, the trimming, blowing the leaves. That’s loud,” Smith said.
HearUSA encourages people to be cautious daily when performing everyday chores, listening to music, and being in loud environments.
“When I’m doing my woodworking, I wear earplugs,” Smith said. “I’m very religious about that.”
Here’s a simple test: reach out your arm and touch someone’s shoulder sitting next to you. If you can hear the music coming from their headphones, it’s too loud.
Smith emphasized the importance of turning down the volume now in order to avoid long-term effects later.
“Imagine if you’re playing guitar and you can only hear the bottom three strings,” Smith said. “It starts to creep into our lives in different ways.”
He added that hearing loss can strain relationships with family members. To help dads receive the care they need, Smith suggests completing a free hearing test, using ear cleaning kits instead of cotton swabs and exploring hearing aid options.
Smith understands that people may find a stigma around getting a hearing aid but says that his personal one is nearly invisible when wearing it.
HearUSA, located on Hodges Boulevard, offers free hearing tests that typically take about 15 to 20 minutes.
For more information, call 904-516-4149.
