Can you hear me now?

An elderly woman had a hearing-aid fitted, hidden underneath her hair. A week later, she returned to the doctor for her checkup.

"It's wonderful," she reported very happily to the doctor. "I can hear everything now."

"And is your family pleased too?" asked the doctor.

"Oh, I haven't told them yet," said the woman, "and I've changed my will twice already."

Since I have hearing aids, I can relate to her experience. But seriously, assuming that she is not able to hear, they underestimate her, which provides her with a tactical advantage that she can use for her benefit.

There is a difference between hearing and listening, as we all know. Many of us have problems with not listening. But not being able to hear is a condition that can often be remedied, and we owe it to ourselves to explore the possibilities. When you can listen actively, you'll find that opportunities often whisper before they shout.

May is National Hearing Month and a good time to get a hearing test to see if you are impacted. Hearing tests are free at many establishments like Sam's Club, Costco and many hearing aid companies.

Many people have difficulty hearing, yet they won't admit it and get checked out. They think hearing aids are a sign of weakness. I strongly disagree. Wouldn't you rather hear and enjoy life more?

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15% of American adults report some trouble hearing. Quite frankly, I think this figure is way too low.

When unaddressed, hearing loss impacts many aspects of life at an individual level such as communication and speech; cognition; social isolation, loneliness and stigma; and education and employment. Adults with hearing loss have a much higher unemployment rate. Among those who are employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are in the lower grades of employment compared with the general workforce.

Hearing loss makes listening effectively much more challenging, and listening is an essential skill in communication and business contexts. It plays a critical role in understanding others, executing tasks accurately and building strong relationships. Here's why it's so important:

Understanding and clarity — Active listening helps you comprehend the full message being communicated, reducing misunderstandings and errors. This is crucial in business, where clear communication can prevent costly mistakes.

Building relationships — Listening shows respect and appreciation for others' perspectives. It fosters trust and strengthens relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.

Problem-solving — By truly listening, you can identify underlying issues and address them effectively. It allows you to gather all necessary information before making decisions.

Innovation and growth — Listening to diverse viewpoints can spark creativity and innovation. It encourages an open exchange of ideas, which is vital for growth and adaptation in any business.

Conflict resolution — Effective listening is key to resolving conflicts. It helps you understand different sides of an argument and find common ground.

Here's another story to illustrate my point: Two friends were walking down a busy street one evening when one paused and said, "Listen to those crickets chirping."

"What crickets?" said the other man. "I don't hear any crickets."

The first man closed his eyes for a moment, then walked to a mailbox on a nearby lawn, reached down and picked a cricket up from the grass.

"That's amazing!" said his friend. "How did you hear that?"

"Watch," the first man said, and he took some change from his pocket and tossed some coins onto the sidewalk. At that sound, the door of the house opened, a car stopped and two passersby stopped to look for the coins.

The first man shrugged and said, "It all depends on what you're listening for."

Mackay's Moral: Hear and enjoy life more. Don't let silence be your only message.

• • •

Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." He can be reached through his website, www.harveymackay.com, by emailing harvey@mackay.com or by writing him at MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.