David Leyes first noticed changes in his hearing around 15 years ago. But it was a change in his conversations with his two young sons that finally prompted him to seek help.

“My children would try to talk to me, but I was constantly having to ask them to repeat themselves,” he recalls. “It became frustrating for all of us, and they naturally began going to my wife first whenever they had something they wanted to say.”

For David, that was difficult to accept.

“I found that heartbreaking, and it made me realize it was time to do something about my hearing.”

Today, he shares how finding support at Deegan Hearing Clinic has changed those everyday conversations, along with many of the smaller moments he hadn’t realized he was missing.

When conversations became harder to follow

A husband, father and Oshawa resident, David has worked as a photographer in Toronto and the surrounding area for more than three decades. Communicating with people is part of both his working day and his life at home.

As his hearing changed, he found himself regularly asking clients to repeat themselves. At events, he sometimes struggled to hear speakers, even when they were using a microphone. People sitting farther away would laugh at something he hadn’t caught.

At other times, he would nod along, pretending he had heard a complete sentence. The experience was deeply frustrating.

When those difficulties began affecting his conversations with his children, David decided it was time to have his hearing tested.

Finding care that felt personal

Before coming to Deegan Hearing Clinic, David’s questions were practical.

Would hearing aids make a noticeable difference?
Would sounds feel natural?
Would the devices be comfortable to wear?

What stood out during his experience was the time our team took to explain things and help him feel at ease.

“I loved the way everything was explained to me, and especially the time and patience given to me throughout the process,” he says. “I never felt rushed.”

For David, that personal attention mattered as much as the fitting itself.

“It never felt like I was simply being fitted with hearing aids - it felt like they genuinely wanted to make sure I was comfortable and that they were working properly for me and my everyday life.”

Rediscovering the sounds around him

David still remembers the first time he tried his hearing aids.

He could hear his hands moving on his lap, people walking behind him, birds singing and trees rustling in the wind. These ordinary sounds suddenly became noticeable again.

They were small details, but together they helped him recognize how much he had been missing.

The difference has continued at home. David no longer feels the need to turn his radio or television up so loudly. He can hear himself more clearly, too, which has brought an unexpected change: he finds himself singing more while doing things around the house.

Easier conversations with the people who matter

For David, one of the most meaningful changes has been being able to talk with his clients and family without repeatedly asking them to say things again.

The conversations that once left him frustrated have become easier. Hearing aids have made a practical difference to his work and, most importantly to him, to communicating with his family.

Reflecting on his experience with Deegan Hearing Clinic, he says:

“From the beginning, I felt listened to, never rushed, and genuinely cared for. They took the time to explain everything clearly and worked with me patiently to make sure my hearing aids were right for me.”

David’s advice to anyone putting off a hearing test

When asked what he would say to someone who has been delaying getting their hearing checked, David is direct:

“Stop putting it off. Stop depriving yourself of a world that may be slowly, almost unconsciously, slipping away. Give yourself the chance to hear what you’ve been missing and allow some amazing people to help change your life for the better.”

For David, taking that step has meant easier conversations with his family, more enjoyment of everyday sounds and a little more singing around the house.

If you recognize something of your own experience in David’s story, we’d be happy to talk. Contact Deegan Hearing Clinic to arrange an appointment at our Oshawa or Lindsay location.