My experience with the Earlens doctors and staff at the Menlo Park hearing center was exceptional. The doctors were attentive and sociable as well as experts in their advice and guidance. I am 76 and just one month ago got my first hearing test since being a Navy recruit in bootcamp in 1966. The results of my latest test were not good. I needed hearing aids to not only stave off dementia but to play music without losing the beat, pitch and chord changes. I wrote the following the morning after getting my hearing aids: ==================================================== Yesterday I had my first experience with hearing aids. My world abruptly changed from a soft gentle world of sound to an overwhelming intrusion of noises. Clicks, beeps, chings and scratches at a volume that wasn’t what I had become to accept as normal. I am 76 and a month ago I had my hearing tested. The results were not good. The doctor stated I was an ideal candidate for hearing aids. I felt saddened by the news and skeptical of the doctor and his motives. Were they aimed at my well being or his business profit? I immersed myself in music since retiring over 10 years ago. I learned to sing and play the guitar. I was happy. Until I watched recordings of myself and noticed that I would sometimes sing off pitch. I was off on rhythm when singing with a band. Something was amiss. I wasn’t able to recognize the chord changes in a jam session. By the time I was able to discern the chord, the song had moved on. The drive home from the clinic was daunting. I left feeling a sense of acceptance of my plight. But also a determination that I was going to follow the advice of the doctors. Wear the hearing aids everyday, all day and you will become comfortable with them. Last night I felt a sense of relief as I removed the hearing aids and put them in their charger for the night. I dosed off in a welcome quiet with a bit of dread knowing that in the morning I would again have my sound world bombarded with noises that I couldn’t identify the source. This morning I dutifully put in the aids and started my day. Yes, the world was again at a volume I was not accustomed. But I noticed that the dread I felt the night before was not present. I was almost eager to form a relationship with my hearing aids. I concentrated on the sounds and began to identify where they originated. I giggled at my experience. “That sound was water coming from the faucet. Another sound was the cup of coffee setting down on the marble slate.” Holy moly, my world exploded in sound. Every morning I write stream of consciousness in the Julia Cameron style of ‘Morning Pages.’ The front entrance slider was open to allow some fresh air to circulate into the stuffy house. While writing I heard a ‘beep.’ I dismissed it as one of the phantom sounds I would need to tolerate. Until a tiny bird hopped into view. ‘Cheep’ as the bird went on its morning quest. Then a bit lounder ’squawk.’ A jay landed and announced his presence. The pen scratched its way along the paper as I continued on writing with an inner smile. Thank you to the doctors and staff at Earlens for their expert attention and knowing advice. Today is a new day. ====================================================