Sandra switches life back on again
HEARING loss is far more common than you might think, experienced by 12 million people in the UK — around one in six of the population.
While 40 per cent are aged over 50, many younger people are experiencing hearing damage too, due to exposure to loud noise.
But there is still often a reluctance to have it looked at (inset). We use excuses such as, ‘I can hear well enough for most situations’, or, ‘it’s embarrassing to wear a hearing aid’. Sounds familiar? And on average it takes us up to seven years to do anything about it.
But when people do, 71 per cent of new hearing aid users say they should have acted sooner. Studies show the benefits can include improvements in your communication, performance
Hearing aids are game-changers!
at work, social life, sleep and mental and emotional health.
Sandra Pierce (pictured top) has seen her life and career improve dramatically with better hearing.
The mum of three has been promoted to senior manager in a beauty business and has even met Lord ( Alan) Sugar through her role.
’Previously I could often only hear parts of conversations — and it was so hard to concentrate that I would get headaches.
‘I was gradually losing all my confidence, felt isolated, frustrated and useless and was on the verge of giving up.’
Sandra, 57, now has state-of-the-art hearing aids, which also connect to her phone via Bluetooth. She says: ‘After having them fitted, I went straight out to test them — and was absolutely thrilled. Not only was a noisy coffee shop more do-able, but the Bluetooth has been a complete gamechanger! I no longer live in fear of the phone ringing.
‘My confidence is back and I can do all the things others take for granted, because I can communicate properly now.
‘Solving my hearing loss and switching life on again has been one of the best things I’ve ever done!’