“It’s Never Too Early Or Too Late To Get Hearing Aids” – Mary Harris’ Story

November 15, 2021
An elderly woman in a yellow jacket is sitting in a chair.

As we focus during May on celebrating Older Americans Month and Better Hearing and Speech Month, longtime Johnson Audiology patient Mary Harris’ journey to better hearing is a fitting one for the telling

You see, now 108 years old, Mrs. Harris got her first set of hearing aids at 103, proving that, as she says “it’s never too early or too late to address your own hearing health care.”


Interviewing Mrs. Harris, a resident of Signal Mountain’s Alexian Village, for this feature was indeed an interesting hour as she recounted a life spent watching the world change in very drastic ways. At the time of this interview last Fall 2018, the world was marking the 100 th anniversary of Armistice Day, that pivotal historic milestone when the cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Germany became official, and the world’s bloodiest war—at least up to that point—drew to a close.


Mrs. Harris remembers that day—November 11, 1918—well as she says the whole world seemed to come together to take a deep, collective sigh of relief and celebrate the end of World War I. People around the world had been instructed to go outside and join together with neighbors and friends for a time of reflection, commemoration and celebration “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” Mrs. Harris says she and her family did just that. “I was seven years old at the time, and I remember mother giving me pots and pans and spoons to make noise with. We went out on the front lawn, and all up and down the street our neighbors were out doing the same,” Mrs. Harris relates. One hundred years later, Mrs. Harris remembers vividly the sounds from that day, punctuating how our sense of hearing can mentally cement the events that pave the foundation of our life’s story and link us together with others.


For more than 95 years, Mrs. Harris engaged with her world through sound with seemingly little to no hearing loss, quite a feat since the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders shows that an estimated 28.8 million Americans could benefit from hearing aids as a way of addressing their hearing loss.


As is often the case in families where a member has hearing loss, one of Mrs. Harris’ daughters was the first to notice when her mother started asking her to repeat herself. The issue seemed less pronounced when she was looking straight at her mom, a common warning sign of hearing loss since the individual is filling in the gaps by lip-reading. “Reading lips and gestures tends to be a common coping mechanism for people with hearing loss,” says Megan Johnson, Au.D., the founder of Johnson Audiology. “A person’s brain is having to work overtime when they are challenged with hearing loss. This can lead to ‘listening fatigue’ that can affect the person in a myriad of ways from decreased awareness of surroundings, which can cause safety concerns, to accelerated brain tissue loss over time.”


Mrs. Harris is the perfect example of a person who took control of her own hearing health, not waiting years to be tested and fit with hearing aids. Fewer than 30% of those with hearing loss have ever actually used hearing aids. In fact, research suggests that most hearing aid users wait at least 10 years after the onset of their hearing loss to seek intervention.


While Mrs. Harris says she was a bit resistant when her daughter first mentioned it, she quickly realized that being able to hear her friends and family was a simple quality of life choice and that stubbornness was not going to cause her to miss out on engaging fully in the world around her. Johnson says, “I remember Mrs. Harris’ first appointment in the summer of 2014 when she was 103 years old. I applaud her choice to act quickly.”


Johnson goes on to say that for those who are candidates, hearing aids treat hearing loss by giving the user access to sounds they are unable to detect with their ears alone, improving speech understanding and awareness of environmental sounds. “One of the first things Mrs. Harris mentioned to me at her hearing diagnostic appointment was her difficulty in understanding normal speech,” Johnson says. The large population of patients with untreated hearing loss is not only missing out on these direct benefits, but also are at risk for additional physical and psychological health issues.


Hearing loss affects every individual differently, but research has identified numerous potential negative consequences that are more likely to arise in people who are hearing impaired. One of the most basic concerns with untreated hearing loss is general safety. Sounds such as alarms, sirens, car horns, or verbal warnings can signal threats to personal safety, prompting individuals to react accordingly and protect themselves. Inability to detect these signals can therefore put a person in danger.


The list goes on, Johnson says. “Decreased environmental sound awareness also has been associated with an increased risk of falling and thus for injury. Hearing loss has an emotional impact as well. It is linked to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, frustration, and social isolation. This likely stems from the impaired communication that results from declined speech understanding,” she says.These connections highlight the importance of addressing hearing loss as soon as it is noticed. Whether seeking intervention, concerned about a medical issue, or simply monitoring hearing status, Johnson says that “we all need to start thinking of addressing our hearing health as just another way of addressing our overall body health.”


Mrs. Harris continues to have appointments with Johnson Audiology whenever she needs supplies, regular maintenance or a programming adjustment on her hearing aids. The audiologists from Johnson Audiology visit once a month to offer various hearing health care services to Alexian residents. Additionally, all five of offices of Johnson Audiology are accepting new patients.


Mrs. Harris’ suggestion to others about hearing aids is as no-nonsense and straightforward as her seven-year-old self banging on pots and pans at the Armistice Day celebration: “If you need hearing aids, I would say you need to get them.” Sound advice from this lady who has heard a few things in her 108 years.


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Have You Met Your Insurance Deductible? Now May Be the Best Time to Prioritize Your Hearing!

By Jan Hollingsworth • October 29, 2026
As the year comes to a close, you may have an opportunity to make the most of your health insurance benefits before they reset on January 1. By the third and fourth quarters, many people have already met their annual insurance deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. But what does that mean for your hearing healthcare? Understanding Your Benefits Your deductible is the amount you pay for covered healthcare services before your insurance begins sharing certain costs. Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you'll pay for covered, in-network services during your plan year. Once reached, insurance generally pays 100% of covered expenses. Depending on your policy, this could mean significant savings on hearing evaluations and hearing aid technology, with some plans covering a percentage or even the full cost. We Help You Understand Your Coverage At Johnson Audiology, we have dedicated insurance specialists on staff who contact your insurance provider to verify your hearing healthcare benefits before your appointment. This means your audiologist has your coverage information available during your visit, helping you understand your options, potential costs, and available benefits so you can make an informed decision about moving forward with hearing technology. Don't Forget Your HSA and FSA Dollars! Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) can help cover eligible hearing healthcare expenses. Some FSA funds may expire at year's end, so be sure to check your balance! Your Benefits May Reset January 1. Schedule Now! The sooner you schedule, the more time you have to explore your hearing healthcare options before the year ends. Appointments fill quickly during the fourth quarter, and waiting until December could limit your options. Whether you're considering hearing aids for the first time, exploring newer technology, or simply due for a hearing evaluation, now is the time to take action. Don't let valuable insurance benefits go unused! SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE TODAY Choose your preferred Johnson Audiology location and request an appointment before the end-of-year rush. Our team will help verify your benefits so you can make an informed decision about your hearing healthcare. Insurance coverage varies by plan. Verification of benefits does not guarantee payment or coverage.

Are You Using All the Features Your Hearing Aids Offer?

October 29, 2026
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But understanding what your technology is designed to do can help you use it more effectively and set realistic expectations. What to ask your audiologist: “What features do my hearing aids have for noisy environments, and when should I use them?” 2. Smartphone Apps That Give You More Control Many hearing aids can connect to a smartphone app, allowing you to make adjustments without touching the devices themselves. Depending on your hearing aids, an app may allow you to adjust volume, switch listening programs, check battery levels, or make limited changes to how sound is processed. Some apps also offer features such as finding misplaced hearing aids or contacting your hearing care provider for assistance. For example, if you're struggling to understand someone in a restaurant, you may be able to select a different listening program directly from your phone. However, not every adjustment is appropriate for every situation. 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Your hearing needs, listening environments, and personal preferences are unique. That's why hearing aid care shouldn't end when you leave your initial fitting appointment. Follow-up visits give your audiologist an opportunity to evaluate your experience, make adjustments, answer questions, and help you understand features you may not have explored. If you're struggling in a particular environment, be specific. Instead of simply saying, “I'm having trouble hearing,” explain where the difficulty happens. For example: “I can hear people at dinner, but I struggle when several people speak.” “Phone calls are still difficult to understand.” “I hear my family well at home, but restaurants are challenging.” “I'm not sure when I should change listening programs.” These details can help your audiologist identify potential solutions and determine whether adjustments, additional features, or accessories might be helpful. What to ask your audiologist: “Can we review my hearing aid settings and make sure I'm using the features that fit my lifestyle?” What If Your Hearing Aids Don't Have These Features? Hearing technology has changed significantly over the years, and not every device offers the same capabilities. If you've worn the same hearing aids for several years, newer models may offer improvements in sound processing, connectivity, and personalization that weren't available when you purchased your current devices. That doesn't automatically mean you need new hearing aids. But if you're consistently struggling in situations that matter to you, it may be worth exploring whether your current devices can be adjusted or whether newer technology could offer additional support. At Johnson Audiology, our Doctors of Audiology work with the industry's leading hearing aid manufacturers, allowing us to recommend technology based on your individual hearing needs, lifestyle, and preferences. Your Hearing Aids May Have More to Offer Kathy Young's experience is a reminder that sometimes a meaningful improvement comes from discovering a feature you didn't realize could help. Whether you've been wearing hearing aids for a few months or several years, taking the time to understand your technology can make a difference in your everyday listening experience. You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Our team at Johnson Audiology is here to help you understand your hearing aids, explore available features, and make the most of the technology you already have. Ready to get more out of your hearing aids? Schedule an appointment with Johnson Audiology to review your hearing technology, discuss your listening challenges, and explore your options.

Hearing Loss & Palliative Care: Supporting Comfort, Connection, & Patient Choice

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Hearing Loss and Palliative Care: What You Should Know Palliative care focuses on comfort and quality of life for people living with serious illness. Hearing is an important part of that care, helping patients understand their options, communicate their needs, and stay connected with the people who matter most. When hearing loss goes unrecognized, patients may have difficulty following conversations about symptoms, treatment options, and personal wishes. These communication barriers can make it harder to participate in care decisions and may leave patients feeling isolated during a time when understanding and connection are especially important. At Johnson Audiology, we work alongside patients, families, and healthcare providers to identify hearing concerns and explore support that aligns with each patient’s needs and goals. Hearing evaluations, hearing aid support, assistive listening devices, and practical communication strategies can help make important conversations more accessible. Addressing hearing loss as part of palliative care supports patient participation, meaningful connections, and care that reflects what matters to each individual.