Connect with the world again

IS YOUR life being affected by hearing problems? You’re not on your own. There are more than 10 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss — that’s one in six of the population. Our ability to hear can define who we are and how we communicate. When everything works as it should, our sense of hearing has the power to inform, entertain, and connect us with family, friends and the world around us. When our sense of hearing begins to let us down, even simple conversations can become tiring and following a discussion within a group requires intense effort. Basic communication becomes difficult, which can lead to isolation and frustration. People with untreated hearing loss may also feel angry, frustrated, anxious, isolated and depressed. That’s the bad news. The good news is that hearing aids help the vast majority of people with hearing loss. Their mental health improves and depressive symptoms are frequently reduced. People regain emotional stability, have an easier time joining in groups and become more socially engaged, experience a greater sense of safety and independence, feel more in control and see a general improvement in their overall quality of life. They even report improvements in their relationships at home and at work. Having a hearing test and using professionally fitted hearing aids is an important way for people to ease the stress associated with intensive listening and to safeguard their quality of life. But the old adage that ‘the best hearing aid in the world is the one you’ll actually wear’ is very true! That’s why a detailed assessment is so important, to identify the right device.