Listen Up!: A Physician's Guide to Effectively Treating Your Hearing Loss

This book is a must-read for anyone who is experiencing, or who has a family member who is experiencing hearing loss. Dr. Syms cuts to the chase: Ignoring your challenges with hearing has a more important and bigger impact on your health than you think. individuals with even mild untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to experience cognitive decline/dementia. He also makes the very important point that hearing aids must be appropriately 'fit' for your hearing to be effective and acceptable - and connecting to a computer, clicking a button and asking "How does that sound?" is NOT a proper hearing aid fitting. The author also introduces innovative new technologies like Earlens and middle ear implants that offer a more complete and natural listening experience, which benefits the brain.Again, if you're struggling to understand in noisy places, if you're asking people to repeat, if you're embarrassed by misunderstanding, or are missing the jokes and getting complaints that the TV is too loud - buy this book, read it, then go see your doctor and ask for a referral for audiology testing. A freebie screening or a whisper test across the room is NOT a diagnostic test. Even if you're not a candidate right now, you'll have a valuable baseline test to compare to.Whatever the solution is for you, it will be a lot less expensive and a lot more enjoyable than long-term memory care.One last thought...

As someone with hearing loss my whole life, Listen Up! finally gives me the answers I’ve been looking for. In this easy read, Dr. Syms explains why people struggle with their Costco hearing aids (hint: it’s not the hearing aids) and explains how quality hearing care is the key to better hearing. This is a must read for anyone who has hearing loss or needs help getting a family member to check their hearing or wear their hearing aids. Having successfully treated tens of thousands of patients and experienced the pain of family members having hearing loss, Dr. Syms understands the struggles people have with hearing loss and how to help them. Dr. Syms correctly notes that better hearing is a game changer when it comes to having a better life. I don’t know of another book that better guides you on what questions to ask your provider and how to know you are getting good care.

This is one of the most informative books on hearing loss and guidance for the patient journey that I have read. Dr. Syms is candid about the importance of treating hearing loss and provides information in an informative and unbiased way. Whether you are making your foray into treating your hearing loss, are an existing hearing aid wearer who wants better results or a loved one looking for solutions for friends and family, this book is for you. It is informational, witty, entertaining and full of valuable research-based information. It is refreshing to see a physician who is not only an incredible surgeon, but also so passionate about helping patients with every aspect of their hearing health that he took the time to write this book.

Dr. Mark Syms, "the Hearing Loss Physician," does a powerful service to our world with this highly readable, short and practical guide. LISTEN UP! empowers readers to take clear action, dramatically improving their quality of lifeby specifically guiding us to the best care for hearing loss.Dr. Syms covers the full range of root causes of hearing issues while addressing all the major inhibitors that get in the way of the "80% of Amercians who could benefit from hearing aids but don't wear them." From human inability to self-diagnose hearing loss, to the economic factors that drive us to buy hearing aids "that end up sitting in the dresser drawer," LISTEN UP! guides the reader on a prescriptive but compassionate journey to better hearing and a better life.

This book takes hearing health and loss, a very complex issue that becomes more impactful over time, and in a very straight forward way explains why and how to treat hearing health holistically. Not treating single symptoms or events.This is all done in a non-threatening positive way, with appropriate anecdotes to make it more relevant.A quick read that was also enjoyable.

If you or somebody in your life suffers from hearing loss, this book is a must-read. It discusses hearing loss as well as its treatment in an informative, readable style that includes plenty of science-based facts and entertaining anecdotes. It also provides tools to help families broach the topic of hearing loss and get their loved ones the treatment they need. I came away from the book more informed about both hearing loss and its treatment. I also learned why so many people struggle to get well-fitting hearing aids that perform as they should. (Hint: It's not the hearing aids.) You can read this book in a day or two, and you'll come away better educated and have some fun along the way.

Dr. Syms' writing style allows the reader to understand how important awareness of hearing loss is in everyday living environments and how the overall sum is a product of all the minor parts that make up that sum. Little scenarios that most people 'accept' or feel is not an issue during 'day to day activities' add up very quickly and Dr. Syms brings this to light in his book. This book increases the awareness of hearing loss to the reader in very realistic terms and will change the lives of many individuals who would have otherwise not addressed their hearing situation. Thank you Dr. Syms!

The book Listen up is extremely well crafted and relates to the average person.Hearing loss is so ubiquitous and most often not addressed properly by those suffering with it.Dr Syms makes a compelling case for the benefits and importance of hearing assistance.This book is truly a game changer by giving specific analogies of hearing loss ...Dr Art Mollen

I especially appreciate how Dr. Syms guides you on how to gently but effectively convince a family member it is time to get their hearing checked. Highly recommend.