How William Got Back Into the Game of Hearing
By Jo-El M. Grossman, Phonak Communications & Content Manager
William Goode, 45, from Michigan, felt he was sitting on the sidelines when it came to fully participating in his job, social activities and personal life. “It was difficult to hear details, take suggestions and process information quickly,” he said. His life changed when he met his girlfriend, Jill Bollman, an audiologist.
“I noticed a delay in his response, and he turned his head frequently,” said Bollman, Au.D., Phonak Clinical Trainer. “He was clearly struggling with the process of hearing, and it was becoming more and more apparent.” She knew there was a hearing device that could help.
Read more on how Goode got back into the game of reconnecting to the beauty of sound!
William’s Hearing Journey
From an early age, Goode experienced difficulty hearing. “Doctors shared throughout my life that I had unilateral hearing loss (UHL), but I really didn’t think much about it,” he said.
Not letting his hearing loss get him down, Goode continued to maneuver around the game field of life, even when he came upon stumbling blocks. “When I was going for my teaching certificate, I had a hearing screening, which I didn’t pass,” he said. “So, I had to look at my career in education in a new way.”
Missing Key Plays
As the senior advancement officer for athletics at a local university, Goode connects with former athletes to see if they would reengage with the university and athletics department. He is constantly meeting and talking with people either in busy restaurants or at businesses.
“When I would go into busy restaurants, I was missing key aspects of the conversation — parts that could stop someone from moving forward,” he said.
Enter William’s Team Player
Bollman became an audiologist similar to others in the hearing care industry. “I wanted to be a teacher, and I always wanted to help,” she said. “After watching speech therapists work with deaf and hearing-impaired children, I knew being an audiologist would be a great fit — a good mixture of science and helping people.”
Although Bollman recognized Goode had some form of hearing loss, she didn’t realize how severe it was. Like most loved ones, she became more frustrated with Goode’s “Huhs” and “Whats.” Plus, she noticed how much he was missing and misinterpreting in conversations.
“I was training an account on Lyric, and I encouraged William to come out to get his hearing tested,” she said.
When she saw the results of his hearing test, Bollman was blown away. “I felt horrible. I wasn’t expecting this significant of hearing loss, and I felt so insensitive to him. It was no wonder he was struggling so much!” she said.
“When Jill showed me the results … wow,” Goode added. “I’ve never see the results of my hearing loss before.”
Not wanting to focus on the past but what the future could mean, Bollman cheered on Goode to finding the right hearing solution for him.
A Game Changer
Once fit with his Virto™ B-Titanium hearing aid, Goode was amazed. “I immediately experienced sounds I had never heard before,” he said.
Now during business meetings, Goode feels more alert. “At work I’m able to pick up on key conversations/information that allows me to develop, incorporate and execute plans,” he said.
Outside of work, in restaurants, his Virto B-Titanium has helped him focus on the table and not background noise — mainly not getting lost in the conversation or asking the person speaking to repeat themselves or speak up.
“It wasn’t like he avoided noisy conversations before his hearing aid, but I’ve noticed that William is now more engaged,” said Bollman. “He’s participating more and doesn’t miss conversations. Plus, he’s not turning his head.”
Shouting From the Stands
“My Virto B-Titanium hearing aid has changed the way I go about everyday life, giving me confidence at work, outside of work and at home,” said Goode.
“It’s amazing that something so tiny can make a big difference,” he added. “I talk about my Virto B-Titanium hearing aid all the time … even in my business meetings. It’s surprising that you cannot even see it; it’s super small.”
Goode works with a wide base of constituents — some of them are older adults that he’s noticed have trouble hearing. “Some of them bring their spouses because they cannot hear well. I share about my Phonak hearing aid,” he added.
As someone who personally has a loved one effected by hearing loss, Bollman added how important it is for family members to get involved. “People with hearing loss become pretty good at faking it, so others are not always aware of how much they’re struggling,” she added.
Bollman said that family members often notice difficulty before the person with hearing loss. “As a clinical audiologist, I would often tell my patients that untreated hearing loss is way more noticeable than hearing aids” she said. “Don’t wait. Wearing hearing aids, like Virto B-Titanium, helps free up energy for you, so you’re not so tired of trying to hear or understand what someone might me saying.”