Julie Stelmack

Picture the hearing aid you're imagining right now. Chances are it's beige, a little bulky, and whistling faintly the second someone gets too close. That image is exactly why so many people put off getting help; nobody wants to feel like they're wearing their grandparents' equipment. Here's the good news: that stereotype is seriously outdated. Let's clear up a few of the big ones. "They're huge and obvious." Many modern devices are small enough to tuck behind the ear or sit discreetly in the...

Noticing that someone you love may be struggling to hear is hard enough. Bringing it up with them can feel even harder, especially if past attempts have been met with denial, frustration, or a firm "I'm fine." These reactions are common, and they rarely have much to do with you. With the right approach, though, it's possible to open the door to a conversation that actually goes somewhere. For many people, hearing loss feels tied up with aging, independence, or vanity, and admitting to it can...

Hearing loss rarely arrives all at once. It creeps in through small moments: a word missed in conversation, the television volume climbing higher, a joke you laugh along to without quite catching. Because these changes happen so gradually, it's easy to explain them away or quietly adjust around them without ever stopping to ask what's really going on. Here are some of the quieter signs that often go unnoticed, and why they're worth paying attention to. You Find Yourself Asking "What?" More...