A patient came in to see me today. She had to drop off her hearing aids for repair and was devastated at the thought of being without them for a week and a half.
We first fitted this lady with hearing aids about 18 months ago. At first, she was uncertain whether her hearing was the problem or if everyone else was just mumbling. Was it the actors on TV? The noise level in the pub or restaurant? Teenagers nowadays not speaking clearly? What we discovered was that she had a moderate to severe high-frequency hearing loss that had been affecting her for many years. However, because the deterioration was so gradual, she believed that everyone else was the cause of the problem. In reality, it was her quality of hearing that was preventing her from easily interacting in her daily life.
She arranged an appointment for a hearing assessment because she felt her hearing had deteriorated. In actual fact, it was the hearing aids that were at fault. Since she wore them all day, every day—at work, socially, and in all aspects of life—the internal components had naturally started to wear out after 18 months. We sent them off for servicing, which unfortunately takes around a week and a half.
When I saw her this morning, I asked how she had managed without her hearing aids. She said she was exhausted. Without them, she had to work much harder to understand what people were saying. She had to ask people to repeat themselves far more often, and she had to concentrate intensely just to follow conversations. This extra strain on her brain was overwhelming, leaving her feeling incredibly tired.
When I asked if she was looking forward to getting her hearing aids back, her response was a resounding “Yes!” She couldn’t wait to “get her ears back in.” She was eager to hold conversations more easily, hear birds singing, understand her work colleagues again, and, most of all, enjoy her audiobooks once more.
It was truly wonderful to see how much of a difference the hearing aids had made in her life. This experience highlights the impact that well-fitted, well-maintained hearing aids can have when embraced positively. With today’s advanced technology, hearing aids can be a hugely beneficial investment in your quality of life.
With hearing aids available both through the NHS and privately, and with technology being as advanced as it is, there’s really no reason not to improve your hearing.
People are quick to address vision problems—most are happy to wear glasses to correct their eyesight. However, when it comes to hearing difficulties, there’s often a reluctance to accept the issue. Many people assume the problem lies with others mumbling rather than recognising that their own hearing is the common denominator.
Hearing loss is difficult to come to terms with because it usually happens so gradually. On average, we start losing our hearing in our mid-50s. So, the closer you are to 55—or the further past it—the more likely it is that your hearing, not others’ speech, is the issue.
If more people embraced hearing aids, society would be much happier in later life. We would understand conversations more easily, interact more confidently, socialise more freely, and enjoy all the beautiful sounds that life has to offer.
I encourage anyone in their late 50s, early 60s, or beyond to get their hearing assessed. With consistent use, hearing aids can truly transform lives. If you find yourself frequently asking people to repeat themselves, struggling with mumbling voices, turning the TV volume up higher, relying on subtitles, or finding it difficult to hear in noisy environments, it’s time to get your hearing checked.
Chances are, you would benefit from wearing hearing aids—and the sooner you take action, the sooner you’ll enjoy better hearing and a better quality of life.
If you would like more information about how we can help at Cotswold Hearing, please call 0800 669 6084 or email info@cotswoldhearing.co.uk