KCBD NewsChannel 11’s John Robison shares hearing aid journey to help others

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - 40 percent of Americans over the age of 55 suffer some form of hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health. The NIH says 80 percent of those who would benefit from a hearing aid choose not to use them.

KCBD NewsChannel 11 meteorologist John Robison decided to put his frustration aside and listen to how a hearing aid could change his life.

“I kept putting it off, because I kept thinking, no, old people wear hearing aids, and I’m not old, but in reality, I need them to hear, whether I’m 20 years old or 50 years old,” Robison said.

When viewers see him in the forecast center, he’s in command of the weather. But it’s the commands behind the scenes that are a little foggy.

“When they’re giving me commands, time 20 seconds, 30 seconds, I can barely hear producers,” Robison said.

Hearing tests are easily available and free at many hearing centers. The test measures response to volume and pitch or frequency.

“I just need you to push this button when you hear the beep or tone,” Laine Smith with Hearing Technologies said.

Robison is missing high frequencies, a common problem in hearing loss and the reason that hearing aids are not a one-size-fits-all remedy.

“Anything that is over-the-counter is still going to be some form of an amplifier,” Smith said.

The NIH says over-the-counter hearing aids may be a good option for some who just need sounds to be louder. But you have to fit them yourself.

“It just makes everything louder. It doesn’t clarify the speech for them,” Smith said.

Most people want volume and clarity. A hearing aid with both needs to be fitted for comfort so users will continue to wear it.

“That feels good. I’d definitely recommend hearing aids. I mean, whatever age you are, if you’re having trouble hearing, you need to get it checked. I waited really too long,” Robison said.

Smith is a licensed fitter and dispenser of hearing aids. She said people don’t realize how many options they have today.

“So they’re not bulky. They’re very small. They’re lightweight. They’re easy and they’re comfortable when they’re fit correctly,” Smith said.

Some hearing aids use AI technology to learn the sounds you want to hear and reduce what you don’t. With all the high-tech devices people wear in their ears today, a hearing aid is more discreet and functional than ever.

“A hearing aid can do everything that the AirPod does. You can listen to music, you can listen to your phone calls, and everything through,” Smith said.

“I decided I need to be able to hear my grandkids, I need to be able to hear family members better. So, it’s so much better with hearing aids in general, but especially this time of year,” Robison said.

Free hearing tests are available after the holidays for those who think they might be missing conversations.