Cornucopia: The Secret of The Sound

The Secret of the Sound

By Kate Chamberlin

November 13,2025

Click

Plunk plunk

Squeak squeak squeak

Clump clump clump clump

   I’m re-learning the world around me, one sound at a time. I didn’t realize how much my hearing had declined over the years until the Oticon Intent3 prescription hearing aid re-awakened my wonder at the forgotten nuances of sound.

The click of the electric baseboard heater told me the bathroom was getting warm, but how long had the faucet been dripping?

      For years, I thought I walked quietly down the hallway in my soft comfy slippers, but now, I hear the clump clump of each step, accompanied by the squeaking of the floor. When did my home get so noisy and old?

   Later in the day, when I was walking through the dining room, I heard a shushing sound. I stopped to try to figure out what made that shushing sound. It stopped. I started walking again and I heard the shushing again. Then, I noticed when I moved forward, I heard the shushing. Apparently, my Oticons picked up the air movement as I walked and turned off when I stopped. Or was it my curly, grey  hair whispering into the microphone?

   I must agree with the Oticon testimonials that say: My only regret is that I didn’t get a hearing aid years ago.

   Tickity tick tick. I knew my old manual typewriter made a clacking sound, yet, I didn’t realized my laptop keyboard also makes a sound as I type.

   Tick Tock chime chime

   I can hear the tall case clock Dave’s Dad made loudly marking off my life’s longevity.

   The Oticon has rekindled my childlike curiosity about the sounds surrounding me.

   I wonder if I’ll hear myself losing weight?