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My name is Linda Fall and I've worked for Avalon for 11 years. I was in the bank, in
banking for 30 years. I love that work for a long time and then I didn't.
This is the perfect place for me. I always love working with our older population. I
find them down to earth, honest, they've seen a lot of changes and sometimes they're not
listened to, and I'm a listener.
I love Avalon because we take time with patient. A test takes 90 minutes and not only do we
need to know the level that like to hear speech. We need to know levels where loud sounds bother
you and I think a lot of people don't come for a hearing test because loud sounds do
bother them, and that's part of hearing loss. We test for that, we test for speech in noise,
now that's your noisy restaurant where you struggle to hear and that's not about hearing
loss. That's about, about the brain how it processes this noise.
I have a pretty good hearing and I don't do well in a noisy restaurant so we test for
that too. We give you realistic expectations. The best part of the test that I like is I
get to know you, those questions I need to know about your lifestyle. I need to know
whether you're still working, whether you're attending meetings or church where you need
to hear a speaker, are you around with your grandchildren, those sweet little soft voices.
I have a 3 and half year old granddaughter that I wouldn't want to miss a word she says,
she's just the sweetest, cutest thing and smart.
Also, there are a lot of folks that test and they're not ready for hearing aids and that's
fine too. We would let you know that. If you're not ready, we have a wonderful class about
hearing loss. It's informational, there’s a pointer on how to deal with family members
that maybe don't look at you or speak to you. A lot of pointers to get by until you are
ready to get some help. Most people wait 5 to 10 years before they get help and I have
to tell you the longer you do wait, I think it's in our mind, well I'll wait until I'm
really deaf before I get help. Well, that's not a good thing to do. At least come in to
be tested so we can see where you are. There's this we call it a benchmark and then we'll
know.
I think one of the reasons that I got into this work it's because of my mom. My mom had
hearing loss and was not ready to admit to it, in denial and I really saw her in the
later years of her life pulled away from people, not willing to go out to the family get together,
reunions. And I thought that, and I have to say honestly I pulled away a little from her.
It was so hard to talk to her. She was always leaning in, what was that honey, what was
that, could you repeat that again. And it was just after years it became really hard
to talk to her and what it was, was mostly surface things. Nothing of any depth anymore
and I was really sad about that. I lost a lot of good years with her because she can't
get help.
So I am here to support you. If you're ready to hear better, I am here to help you hear
better and it is a process. Don't think that you put it in your ear and out the door you
go and everything is perfect. That's not how it is. It takes some time for the brain to
get used to hearing this new way. And we see our patients once we get it settled where
you like it, you like the sound of everyday you take the traffic rushing by then you're
part of our family. We see you every 4 months, every 4 to 6 months for the rest of your life,
you're part of the family and that's what I love about this work. I invite you, I invite
you to come in for a test and I invite you also to attend our class and you won't be
sorry did. Thank you.