Now I can hear my family

VEN though he was a doctor himself, Frank Henry took some time to face up to his hearing problems. Now retired, he recalls: “I couldn’t hear what was being said on the TV and my wife would complain that I had the volume turned up too loud.

“When people rang on the phone I’d often pass the handset to her, as I had difficulty making out what the caller was saying.”

Frank went to see his own GP who referred him to an NHS clinic, but he soon found that the hearing aids they gave him weren’t adequate for his needs.

He explains: “I suffered frequent squealing noises, especially in a car.

“When I went cycling or walking with friends the crackling noise in my ears was so bad I had to turn them off completely.

“I was having to fiddle with my hearing aids all the time and use the phone on loudspeaker too.”

After struggling on for five years with his NHS hearing aids, Frank decided to try going private after being impressed with those of a friend who had got his privately.

Frank found that Amplifon offered him the best service.

He adds: “The audiologist, Kara, gave me a very thorough hearing test.

“Ok, things might have moved on a bit in five years, but it seemed more thorough than the NHS test I’d had.”

“She listened to what my needs were and explained exactly which technology could help.”

Equipped with his new hearing aids, Frank says his daily life has been transformed.

Frank adds: “Thanks to Amplifon my hearing is significantly improved.

“It’s so nifty being able to use my iPhone to adjust the controls of my hearing aids, to suit whatever situation I’m in.

“The back up support has been excellent too. I just pop in to see Kara if I ever have a question.”

Frank adds: “If you’ve got hearing aids from the NHS that work, then fine. But for many going private is a sensible choice.

“My Amplifon hearing aids have certainly given me a new lease of life.”

“At last I feel that I’m able to talk to my grandchildren on the phone... and hear what they’re saying.”