3 minute read
Dr Sally Cockburn
Dr Sa y Cockburn, GP GIVES HER UNIQUE VIEW ON ALL MATTERS MEDICAL
WHAT? SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT COVID RESTRICTIONS? Six years ago this month, I wrote an article in this magazine titled ‘Becoming your parents’.
It described how, when your living-out-of-home adult kids come to visit, they comment on the TV being inordinately loud (as well as give their opinion of the shows you’re watching) and then they keep talking as they leave the room (to load up your washing machine with their dirty laundry). You respond by telling them to come back and speak face to face if they want an answer. They tell you that you should get your hearing checked and you pout. Just like it was with you and your parents way back when.
The article was about recognising that you may have a degree of hearing loss and doing something about it. Well, have you done anything or is the TV just getting louder?
I know what you’re thinking, with the pandemic restrictions, we would have just been happy to be able to have our kids visit us, and getting health checks has slipped off the agenda a bit. However, health issues wait for no person or virus.
OK, I admit, you’re not alone on the hearing issue, but I wonder if, like me, you have been acutely reminded of your deteriorating hearing during the pandemic while wearing masks for Covid protection. Sure, vaccination is our ticket out, but in risky situations masks are still important in reducing transmission of respiratory infections, along with all the other recommended hygiene and distance measures.
Unforeseen consequence alert: While masks will protect us they also may impede communications and we need to be understanding, and creative, when conversing. Some masks may muffl e your voice, but taking it off defeats its purpose.
Speaking up and clearly while wearing a mask is vital and please don’t get upset if someone of my years asks you to repeat yourself. Then again, maybe this should be a prompt for those of us who are asking someone to repeat themselves to get our hearing checked by an audiologist. By the way, the Australian Government does off er a subsidy for eligible people if you do need hearing aids. You can check your eligibility at hearingservices.gov.au.
Oh, and wearing a mask made me realise just how much we rely on facial expressions to communicate.
Some people have smiling eyes, but I think we also need to do some sort of waving hand gesture to let a passing walker know we’re being neighbourly. Indeed, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen for ages while out for a walk. I said ‘hi’, but he looked at me blankly. Then I realised I had a mask and sunglasses on. Do remember to identify yourself when half your face is covered.
On that, have you noticed there could actually be a plus side to pandemic restrictions? Woo, that is a bold statement! Seriously, I met so many neighbours I didn’t know ‘pre-pandemic’ while out on my daily doggie walk, and that has a positive long-term legacy that will extend beyond the pandemic.
I can’t wait for the next neighbourhood street party (yes, I wrote down everyone’s name — including their dog’s)!
Covid-19 will continue to be present in our community for some time to come and we need to listen to expert advice on how to live as normally as possible. The past two years have certainly tested us, both physically and metaphorically, but we’ve come so far. Our community is strong when we work together.
Look after yourself. Oh, and please get your hearing tested if you are struggling.
