Hearing the crisp drive of a well-struck golf ball or the sound of freshly cut grass softly crunching beneath your feet, these are just some of the things he香蕉视频直播檇 been missing.

Tony Parsons, the former TV news anchor welcomed into homes around the province for decades, suffers from hearing loss.

香蕉视频直播淭he chirping of the birds in the morning, running water, grass under my feet, all things that were then peripheral and I sort of was in denial as so many people are at my age,香蕉视频直播� Parsons said. 香蕉视频直播淢y excuse was, especially with my wife was that you mumble, and I don香蕉视频直播檛 understand that.香蕉视频直播�

For possibly the past 10 years, Parsons went undiagnosed with his condition and it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until he was approached by NexGen Hearing to be its spokesperson that his life changed.

香蕉视频直播淚 said 香蕉视频直播榶es,香蕉视频直播� but my suggestion to them was that I don香蕉视频直播檛 know anything about hearing loss because I have perfect hearing so how can I help you if I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what I am talking about,香蕉视频直播� he explained.

香蕉视频直播淪o, they suggested I take a hearing test and I did. I went to NexGen in Kelowna and Colin VanBergen, who is an audiologist, gave me a test and we discovered much to my dismay that I did have hearing loss, especially in the right ear.香蕉视频直播�

Audiologist Colin VanBergen said Parsons suffers from significant high-frequency hearing loss in one ear.

香蕉视频直播淗igh-frequency hearing loss means he is still hearing a lot of sounds that we might hear but there is a lot of sounds that he is missing 香蕉视频直播� he might not hear birds chirping or blowing of a whistle.香蕉视频直播�

While low-frequency hearing loss means it is difficult to hear frequencies that are deeper or low-pitched sounds.

香蕉视频直播淲hen we are talking about speech information and people香蕉视频直播檚 ability to understand what others are saying we have some of the speech sounds in the low frequencies, such as the vowel sounds, the 香蕉视频直播楳,香蕉视频直播� the 香蕉视频直播楤,香蕉视频直播� the 香蕉视频直播楻,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� explained VanBergen.

Parsons was tested and fitted for hearing aids, something he had previously thought he did not need.

香蕉视频直播淭he one thing about having the hearing aids is my wife doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mumble anymore, it香蕉视频直播檚 become a bit of a joke,香蕉视频直播� he laughed.

While Parsons wears glasses and regularly gets his eyes checked, he didn香蕉视频直播檛 believe his hearing was something he should also look into.

香蕉视频直播淲ith hearing you become used to the idea that things are getting quieter and not quite as understandable because it香蕉视频直播檚 a gradual process. So I think if you have any hint of a hearing loss you should go get it looked at. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean you are going to end up wearing hearing aids like me,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Besides the obvious dangers around hearing loss, such as not hearing a car honking to let you know its coming, or an ambulance siren so you can get out of the way, VanBergen says there are other factors too.

From depression after withdrawing from social situations as people are unable to participate due to hearing loss, to the emotional toll it can take on someone who is unable to communicate with loved ones.

香蕉视频直播淭he big one, however, is dementia,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淧eople who have mild to severe hearing loss are at an increased risk of dementia anywhere from two to five times. The research right now is a correlational study because we can香蕉视频直播檛 say the hearing loss is causing dementia but we can say they are strongly associated.香蕉视频直播�

Hearing aids have also progressed in recent year; the hearing aids that Parsons wears took 10 years to develop and the company who produces it spent more than $100 million on designing the processes, which VanBergen says makes the technology incredible.

The one downside to hearing aids for Parsons is that his dog Morley enjoys it much more as a chew toy than its actual purpose.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 because of the odour of the wax in your ear that the dog loves, because it香蕉视频直播檚 your odour, and he just thought it was fun to chew it up.香蕉视频直播�

Hearing tests are free at NexGen clinics and take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to perform. For those wanting to test the hearing at home an online test is available at and can determine if a professional consultation might benefit you.

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