Page 62 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2025 - Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES
Season's Way

A Season

for Better

Hearing!

by Gayle Willson
not functioning and also had surgery. She began wearing
hearing aids in 2013.
At Grand Hearing, we are familiar with the various ways
that environment affects our hearing and understanding,
but we also recognize that genetics can contribute to
hearing loss. (Heather has told us that her daughter is
also beginning to have trouble hearing.) It is important
when you begin the process of rehabilitation for hearing
loss that you include in your case history if any of
your family (blood relatives) have experienced hearing
problems.

Research has shown that a loss that is not corrected can
often accelerate the onset of dementia or even mask a
diagnosis of dementia. Getting the hearing corrected
Pat, Kylee, and Heather using the residual hearing you have can slow the process.
Pat and Heather have not let their hearing loss, the onset
of dementia, or the effects of COVID on their business
discourage them. They stay busy with their loyal in-
n Plainview you can step up (yes, the quaint restaurant house lunch crowd, as well as the many to-go orders and
is upstairs) or be served downstairs or curbside by catering events.
Itwo beautiful ladies. Pat and Heather are a mother/
daughter team who began their adventure of restaurant Here, at Grand Hearing, we want you to know that it
ownership in 2002. “Season’s Way” is a lunch venue and is very important for you to have a baseline hearing
tearoom, where the two serve delicious lunches and also screening/test, especially if you have a family history
cater special events. Heather’s daughter, Kylee, owns the of hearing loss. Other reasons to be evaluated include
gift shop inside the restaurant. Besides Heather, Pat also exposure to long term loud noises, sudden onset of loss,
has a son. Heath and his wife, Brandi, have twins who any type of medical issues—these can all damage hearing.
are the apple of her eye. Besides Kylee, Heather and her When hearing is aided, often discrimination (the way
husband Bracken have a daughter Emilee and “almost” you understand speech) can be maintained. When your
two sons-in-law. (Wedding plans are imminent.) doctor recommends an evaluation, please DO NOT put
that off. Also, your struggles may be related to an issue
Patricia McKinney knew as a young girl that she had in your ear canal (obstruction, ear wax, abnormality) or a
a hearing deficit. Even after surgeries, she has had to medical problem in your inner ear. All of this is carefully
adjust to loss of hearing in her left ear. We have fit her in investigated when you are seen by a hearing professional.
a “cross” system that allows sound to be collected from
the non-hearing ear and transferred to her better ear, so Supplements to Medicare are one of the big issues facing
she now has localized sound. Heather Hill knew as a seniors over 65. Many of the supplements offer hearing
young adult that the tiny bones in her middle ear were health benefits. In some cases, we have fit patients with

62 Lubbock Senior Link