WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SOUNDS OF SUMMER?

Summer is full of familiar sounds. Children playing outside, lawnmowers being revved and the sizzle of the first sausage on the barbecue. But for many, the sounds of summer can be lost over time. That’s why this season, we’re encouraging everyone to get their ears and hearing checked – ensuring you don’t have to worry about missing out on any of those special moments, whether that’s time with family exploring new holiday destinations, or you checking out your favourite ’80s band at a festival.

This is especially important when you consider that hearing loss can contribute to depression, and an overall lower quality of life.

The NHS lists common signs of hearing loss as difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places; asking people to repeat themselves; listening to music or watching TV loudly; and having to concentrate hard to hear what other people are saying.

Although people of all ages can develop hearing loss, those over the age of 50 are particularly affected. In fact, hearing loss is the third most common chronic disorder for this age group.

The benefits of early detection are numerous, and there are a variety of things that can impact your hearing:

■ Excess earwax

■ Infection

■ Perforated eardrum

■ Ageing

■ Damage from loud noise

■ Taking certain medicines that can affect hearing

■ Build-up of fluid, skin cells or a bony growth

Failing to address these issues can lead to auditory deprivation and a reduced chance of adjusting to hearing aids, leading to frustration at both home and work. For younger people, hearing loss can affect their education and social life. For older people, it can lead to social isolation, dementia and an increased risk of falls.

Joan Brown is an audiologist at Duncan and Todd in Aberdeen, which, in addition to eye care, offers expert audiology services and advice. She shared what you can expect at your hearing appointment.

“With every patient, it’s important to listen and understand from them where the main area of difficulty is and be able to identify and relate to the results,” said Joan.

“This might include something as simple as not hearing the TV as well, or more complex issues such as struggling to hear family members or friends around them, particularly in a crowded or noisy environment such as a family barbecue or music festival.”

Duncan and Todd’s qualified audiologists offer expert advice and the latest digital technology; our audiologists will work with you to find the perfect solution for your lifestyle and needs.

Joan added: “After gaining a better understanding of signs and symptoms, as well as building up a picture of a patient’s lifestyle, an audiologist can offer help and advice on all options available for treatment, including private hearing solutions that best suit the patient’s individual needs and surroundings.”

To ensure you can enjoy your summer to the fullest, Duncan and Todd has launched Hearsmart Appointments at select branches including Belmont Street North and Westhill. This includes an advanced all-in-one ear health check and earwax removal.

New technology allows Duncan and Todd’s experts to gently remove any wax with micro suction, which is the gold standard of wax removal and considered safer than other methods of removal – you can even watch them remove the wax in real time on an HD screen!

If required, a full hearing assessment only takes around 75 minutes. A specially trained audiologist will ask a series of medical and lifestyle questions for background information, as well as checking the health of the patient’s ears.

Next, they will do a hearing test, where the patient will wear headphones. The patient will usually listen to sounds of different tones and volumes and will be asked to press a button when they hear a sound.

“Much like a lens can be used to show how glasses can improve vision, hearing aids and wearable technology can show the benefits of using these to the patient. Everything is so loud these days, and for those struggling to hear and share special moments, it really is vital we look after our hearing, just like we would our sight.”

Treatment can help make the most of the remaining hearing. This may involve using hearing aids or different ways of communicating, such as sign language or lip reading.

Duncan and Todd Group also offers a free online hearing test on its website, which you can do from the comfort of your own home. All you need is access to the website and some headphones! You can find it by scanning the QR code on the right.

If you have any concerns about your hearing health or your device, simply book a hearing care appointment with one of our qualified audiologists today.

For more information on audiology and to book a hearing test at your nearest branch, visit duncanandtoddgroup.com/services/hearing