Thank you for reading and subscribing to What We’re Hearing newsletter at hearUcan. What We’re Hearing shares best practices, commentary, product reviews, events, and community with those dealing with hearing loss.

My name is Mark Parkinson and I am Co-founder of hearUcan. My partner (fully hearing) and I (severe hearing loss) founded hearUcan to help those with hearing loss navigate what can be a very confusing and frustrating journey. Family members, friends, work colleagues, and the stranger at the cash register, are all on this journey with you.

Perhaps you are a just starting to notice your hearing loss, already wear hearing aids, wear cochlear implants, are an audiologist, or are a loved one or friend of someone going through this - all good there should be something for everyone. Hearing loss can be a lonely place. It doesn’t have to be. We got you and understand you. You are not alone! #YANA

I first started to notice my hearing loss about 12 years ago. I had a business in Japan and started to notice that I wasn’t keeping up with Japanese conversations, especially in noisy places: restaurants, train stations, crowded meeting rooms. These were Japanese conversations. I am a long time speaker of Japanese, although not a native speaker. I wasn’t noticing this deficit in an English environment…..yet!

Over the next 18 months my wife and children started to tell me I need to get my hearing checked. Like many in the early stages, I was in denial mode. If only people would speak up. If only restaurants would turn down the music. If only work colleagues would look at me when they speak. “If only” was becoming my go to explanation for loosing my ability to communicate with those most important to me. I soon realized it wasn’t sustainable. I booked my first appointment at a hearing center. Once I had a hearing test and saw the evidence on paper that I indeed had medium level hearing loss, I knew it was time to consider hearing aids.

I have gained much insight from my journey thus far. I hope to share some of that via What We’re Hearing newsletter. Please join us and subscribe!

We wanted to give a special shout out to actor/comedian, Steve Martin. On his recent visit to the Golden Globes, he pondered whether he should use his “casual” hearing aids or his “dress” hearing aids. Thanks for normalizing hearing loss, Steve! #YANA

Exhaustion is a part of hearing loss. Do you ever feel like you need a break from the work it takes to carry out simple and basic communication? Gael Hannen lays it out for us in this article from Hearing Health & Technology Matters.

Toby Wong is a success executive who built her career whilst going through severe hearing loss. Read more about her journey in the Chicago Tribune.

Do you work in a loud environment such as a production plant or airport? Perhaps you want to measure the sound levels at a jazz concert or a large sporting event. This is a great tool to make sure you are not exposing yourself, friends, or family, to harmful sound levels.

I was thrilled to find a FREE app like this. I’ve tried others, but most of them were not as user friendly and required a fee.

Currently only available on the iPhone as Android phones are as all iOS devices share common hardware.

This year’s theme of Changing Mindsets: Empower Yourself. World Hearing Day is a global hearing advocacy event for promoting ear and hearing health and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues.

Why does this matter to us as every day people? By 2030, over 500 million people are expected to have disabling hearing loss requiring rehabilitation.