Good health is important to us, and aside from taking care of our hearts, our minds, and our bodies in general, sometimes we tend to overlook some of the most important parts of our bodies. For my family, hearing health is of utmost importance. My husband and I come from families of musicians, who heavily rely on their hearing for their livelihood. My husband is a classical bass trombonist, so he relies heavily on his hearing in a professional setting, as well. As a singer/songwriter myself, I also need to be able to hear, and hear well.

We know about many types of supplemental health insurances, including dental and vision. If we take extra time out and spend extra money to protect these assets, why wouldn't we do the same for our hearing? I can't imagine our lives without our good hearing. What would it be like if I couldn't hear my children when they cried, or laughed? I don't want to find out. Hearing loss, however, is a common issue. My husband's grandfather suffers from partial hearing loss in one ear, and wears a hearing aid. It can be difficult for us at times to converse with him, because he can't hear certain frequencies.

My husband usually goes to extra lengths to protect his hearing, including wearing protective ear plugs and headphones when we go to loud events, concerts, etc. Our own son has sensitive hearing, as we use special earphones designed to muffle loud music and amplified sounds when we attend events. We know, however, that hearing loss is something we need to pay attention to. If either of us ever starts to experience a noticeable loss in hearing, our first step would be to meet with a doctor. Our hearing is too precious to us to put a consultation off, if need be. 

A hearing aid is often times the answer for many who experience hearing loss, but did you know the cost of a hearing aid can range from $1,500 to $5,000? Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of hearing aids. How can you find out if yours does? Speak with your company HR department to find out if they have insurance that covers:

• Visits to an audiologist for a complete diagnostic evaluation at least every two years for adults and annually for children.
• Coverage of hearing aid treatment.

What can you do if hearing health is not covered for you?