Sara Mearns, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, faced challenges during performances due to her undiagnosed hearing loss. She struggled to hear cues from her dance partner and was often late for her entrances because the music sounded too soft, reports BritPanorama.
Without informing anyone, Mearns sought a hearing evaluation and ultimately discovered she had hearing loss. After years of feeling isolated, she acquired hearing aids, enabling her to reconnect with the world.
Now, she is among the first dancers in her company to perform with hearing aids. “I feel like it’s a whole new chapter of my life,” Mearns, 40, shared in an interview, highlighting the transformative impact of this decision.
While hearing loss is frequently associated with aging, it can affect individuals of any age, resulting from factors such as nerve damage, medical conditions, or exposure to loud noises. Mearns speculated that her hearing loss may be attributed to a combination of these factors.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss
According to the National Institutes of Health, less than 20% of American adults aged 20 to 69, who could benefit from hearing aids, have ever used them. This could be attributed to barriers such as lack of access, stigma, and unawareness of symptoms.
Dr. Anil Lalwani, a hearing expert at Columbia University, noted that “hearing loss is often not detected by the person because what they can’t hear, they don’t know.”
Dr. Maura Cosetti from Mount Sinai pointed out that symptoms of hearing loss extend beyond diminished hearing. Individuals might notice they frequently say “what”, find it difficult to hear in noisy places, or experience ringing in the ears and a sensation of fullness.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mearns found it hard to hear conversations as people wore masks, leading her to rely heavily on lip-reading to understand others.
If experiencing hearing loss, you have options
Experts recommend consulting a healthcare professional if experiencing symptoms of hearing loss. They can facilitate connections with audiologists or ENT specialists for comprehensive testing.
Cosetti advised that the Mimi Hearing Test app could serve as a helpful resource for assessing hearing. However, professional assessment is vital to determine if the issue is something as simple as earwax blockage.
Hearing aids enhance sounds directed to the brain, improving clarity of speech while diminishing background noise. Although they can be costly, many options are now available over the counter, and devices like Apple AirPods can also serve as hearing aids.
For more severe hearing loss, doctors may suggest cochlear implants, which translate sounds into electrical signals for the brain. These devices require surgery for implantation and may take time for recipients to adjust to.
Hearing aids are an adjustment, but can be worth it
Mearns initially felt self-conscious about her hearing test, but her audiologist, Marta Gielarowiec, guided her in selecting the right hearing aids. “It’s definitely not one size fits all. There is a lot of adjustment, tuning and calibration involved,” Gielarowiec explained, emphasizing the goal of maximizing residual hearing.
Addressing hearing issues can significantly improve one’s mental health, enhance communication, and slow cognitive decline in individuals predisposed to dementia.
When Mearns first put on her hearing aids, she felt inundated by sounds she had long overlooked. She heard the rustling of shoes, the chirping of birds, and even the flutter of a nearby flag, leading her to tears in her dressing room.
Now, she enjoys the full sound of the orchestra during performances and can take phone calls directly through her hearing aids.
Mearns reflected on the exhausting nature of her previous life, filled with the strain of constantly asking others to repeat themselves. “I don’t want people to feel what I felt, where I was embarrassed and quiet about it. Because now that I’m on the other side, I’m so happy,” she stated.
