‘The sound was so sharp and the tinnitus was unnoticeable’

OR years Soozie Copley was plagued with a constant noise in her ears that sounded like ‘Niagara Falls.’ She’d been suffering with tinnitus following a childhood illness and had also developed age-related hearing loss.

But Suzie had always struggled to find the right support.

When she complained to her friend Judith Glasgow, who also has hearing loss, about the lack of good advice, her pal was keen to help.

Judith, a former teacher, had also endured difficulties getting good hearing aids and found it hard to hear when she was in groups.

But after visiting High Street hearing specialist Amplifon she found her hearing abilities were vastly improved.

So she advised Suzie to give them a try too.

“It was a conversation that changed my life,” says Suzie.

“Judith gave me a wonderful recommendation and the treatment I received was just as amazing.”

Along with tinnitus the former theatre worker had begun to struggle to hear certain consonant sounds.

She explains: “I’d have to ask people in shops to repeat themselves.”

But she was impressed when she visited Amplifon for a test.

Suzie explains: “The audiologist at Amplifon was marvellous. The test was much more detailed than I’d had before and he allowed me to try lots of different hearing aids until we found a pair that would suit and help my tinnitus.

“When I first put the hearing aids in it was wonderful.”

The test had revealed that one of Soozie’s ear canals was narrower than the other, so the aids were fitted to ensure this was taken into account.

In fact, two years after having her hearing aids, a follow-up test found there had been no deterioration in her hearing.

She says the aftercare has been second to none and now goes back to her local branch every six months for the aids to be cleaned thoroughly: “Nothing is ever a problem for them and they’re always so welcoming.”

Soozie has since urged other friends to seek help from Amplifon and adds: “Now I have the ‘RollsRoyce’ of hearing aids I’ve never looked back. The sound is so sharp and the tinnitus is unnoticeable.”