FAQs

One of every 7 people in the UK currently has some degree of hearing loss. For those aged 50 or older, the ratio is 1 in 5 or 20%

Factors that may affect your hearing

• In many cases hearing loss is just part of the ageing process
• Long term exposure to noise
• Hereditary factors
• Illness / infection
• Reaction / side effects to medication
• Injury
• Blockages of the ear such as wax
• Listening to loud music
• Smoking, alcohol and being overweight

Yes, A ground-breaking study by Johns Hopkins and the National institute on Ageing has been published in the journal of the American Medical Association linking the two.

• Chose a place which is private and quiet. Speak clearly and not too quickly will help.
• Listen, understand and be empathetic. Mention your concerns and listen to your loved one’s concerns and let them do the talking so that you can see it from their perspective
• Have a compassionate conversation since questions could lead to a defensive response or denial
• Discuss how advance technology has become in terms of sound quality, performance and look and feel and how they could discover a new hearing experience that gives them confidence to engage and interact effortlessly with the world around them.
• Share how their hearing loss impacts you and the family. Offering guidance and support and that you will be there for them can help them overcome the initial barrier to better hearing.
• Discuss the benefits of being able to enjoy the things they love again.
• They may feel nervous about going to a Hearing Test – go with them

There are approximately 6 worldwide hearing aid manufacturers, each producing exceptional quality products. Which brand is right for you is determined by the results of your audiogram, your lifestyle, your cosmetic requirements and your dexterity. Our audiologist will select the brand only after selecting the type of circuit best for your individual hearing loss as indicated by your audiogram.

Hearing with both ears is called binaural hearing which allows you to know which direction a sound is coming from reaching one ear sooner than the other. Your brain uses the time difference between the sound to calculate the direction where the sound came from. Binaural hearing is therefore required to know where a car is coming from so can save your life. If one ear is worse than the other, it’s better to have two hearing aids which can be programmed differently so that each one is matched to the hear loss in that ear.

There are several factors that will determine which hearing aid will be the best for you. They include the nature and severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle and the activities you regularly enjoy, your job, your eyesight and dexterity, and the size and shape of your outer ear and inner ear canal. Your audiologist should advise you on the best choice for you.

Rechargeable hearing aids allow you the freedom to experience high quality sound without the need to carry spare batteries. Rechargeable hearing instruments use the power of Lithium ions which means you can re-use the same battery simply by recharging the hearing aids with the supplied charger.

With prices starting from £500 upwards, our prices can be tailored to assist anyone with mild to severe hearing loss, with a range of solutions to match every need and budget. Each package includes our after-care service of up to 4 years warranty.

Hearing aid shells look alike, but it’s the circuit inside that you are paying for. The least expensive circuits are Entry Level Digital; the moderately priced hearing aids are Basic Digital; the most expensive circuits are Advanced Digital and Premium digital. When you accept the clinician’s recommendations in the Advanced or Premium categories you will have hearing aids which can be reprogrammed for your hearing loss as it changes.

Today’s hearing aids can reduce background noise but will not cut out the noise completely. Background noise is still important such as an approaching car.

New technology is available which allows certain hearing aids to connect to your mobile phone. What this means is that you can connect wirelessly directly to the device and listen to music or any other streaming music you happen to be accessing. This level of connection is also available on Android phones.

It depends on the level of hearing loss you are experiencing and if it is expected to be temporary or long term. For example, a decline in hearing can sometimes be down to factors such as a build-up of earwax, a damaged ear drum or an ear infection. These issues can be cleared up medication meaning that that you will not normally require a hearing aid. If you have been experiencing a decline in your hear loss over a period of time, this could be a more long-term permanent decline in your hearing. And then having a hearing aid fitted to suit your style and budget will improve your hearing in no time.

Like any piece of electronic equipment, hearing aids will eventually wear out. And, although your hearing healthcare professional won’t be able to tell you exactly how long they will last, they may be able to give you a good idea. Asking this question also opens up another good conversation about how to care for your hearing devices so that you can maximize their performance and life span.

People with all types and degrees of hearing loss can benefit from an assistive listening device (ALD). Since the microphone of a typical hearing aid is worn on or behind your ear, its ability to enhance the talker-to-background-noise ratio can be limited. However, ALDs are designed to increase the loudness of a desired sound, such as a radio, television or a public speaker, without increasing the background noise. This is because the microphone of the assistive listening device is placed close to the talker or device being used, while the microphone of the hearing aid is always close to the listener.

ALDs include alarm clocks, TV listening systems, telephone amplifying devices and auditorium-type assistive listening systems. Many newer devices are small, wireless and compatible with a person’s digital hearing aids. Alarms and other home ALDs may be small devices that are placed discreetly on tables, next to the TV or on the wall.

It’s difficult to perform a full hearing test when there is a build-up of wax in the ears. It can produce inaccurate test results and obstructs the view to the eardrum in order for your hearing care audiologist to accurately assess your hearing. It also creates issues when you need to have an ear mould impression taken, or having hearing aids fitted.

• Your ears are designed to be self-cleaning and will produce enough earwax to prevent problems occurring and make its way out of the ear on its own.
• Many people use cotton buds in an effort to “clean “their rears from excess wax but you are more likely to cause earwax blockage and further issues. Rather than removing the earwax, it pushes it further into the ear which leads to a build-up of impacted wax.
• If you experience any of these symptoms, you may need to have the build-up of earwax removed. If not removed, impacted earwax can lead to infection which will need to be treated.

To protect you rears from further damage , avoid dangerously loud noise , infection and trauma to the head or inner ears.

• Check that the battery is fitted correctly
• Check whether a new battery is needed
• Check that the hearing aid is clean and clear of wax deposits

• Check if there is a battery in the hearing aid
• Make sure the battery is new and inserted correctly
• Check to see if there is any earwax blockage in the receiver tube
• Check to see if the microphone is clear of any earwax, moisture or debris.

• Check the receiver tube for earwax blockage
• Make sure the microphone is clear
• Check for any moisture in the tubing

There may be receiver / microphone damage, the device may need servicing.

• Ensure you are inserting the hearing aid correctly
• IS there any earwax blockage in the receiver tube?
• Do you have earwax build up in your ears?
• Check to see if the hearing aid shell is cracked or split.