Hearing the simplest sound, such as a beep at a grocery story checkout is very important. Often, I see grocery items getting passed over the checkout and hear the beep and can only imagine the difficulty it can be for those with a hearing loss. Each beep signifies that the item was entered and billed. The next time you’re in the grocery store or at checkout, notice the many beeps being heard at all of the registers. Confusion can set in for those who don”t hear the beep, or have difficulty locating the direction of the sound. When a person has hearing loss different in each ear, it can be difficult to tell where the sound is coming from. A person with the most common high frequency hearing loss often cannot hear the beeps.
To hear these beeps can be taken for granted. The stores are very busy and especially noisy this time of year, around the holidays. As an audiologist, it’s our responsibility to help you to hear everything that is a part of life, including beeps.
I cant even imagine! I just had this happen a couple of weeks ago, the cashier didn’t hear the extra beep, but I did. I had to stop her, and she went thru my whole order just to make sure, bc she didn’t realize she missed that extra beep. It’s always so cool to hear the things our patients can now hear, that they didn’t even realize they were missing.
So true Mary! Great catch! I think that all the time especially when there are rows of tellers beeping at the same time.
Yes, the grocery store can get very noisy and it’s hard to hear those beeps sometimes!
Gail,
Yes, it sure can. Thank you for adding your thoughts!
This is so true! I had never really thought about how much I depend on hearing those beeps to account for what I am purchasing. I really enjoyed this thought and reminder that there are a lot of people out there that can not hear that beeping. So glad that our centers are here to help!
Jen,
I often have thought the same. Yes, we are here to help!
Thank you for sharing!
Yes, they are annoying beeps and have actually caught a clerk scanning an item twice which she didn’t catch but I did! The other beeps we will now and forever hear are the ones when we put our “chip” cards in and then have to remove them. Another annoying beep to cause our hearing to “awaken!” Am not fond of these “beeps.”
Joanne,
Agree. Good job hearing the beep and catching the error. Thanks for offering your thoughts on this blog Joanne!
I never have payed attention. I will from now on.
Dale,
It’s funny how I started paying more attention to the beeps.
I’ve always thought the beeping was annoying but I guess it has a purpose!
Yes, so true Amy.
Just had a patient who never realized that her heater sitting right next to her made noise until I fit her with her hearing aid. It is amazing what we miss and don’t miss when we have a hearing loss!!
Kristie,
Thanks for sharing about your patient!