SILENT NO MORE

Aug 04, 2015 in Hearing Care

SILENT NO MORE

More than 10 million people in the UK are suffering from hearing loss, of which 6.3 million are over the age of 65 years. It is possible that someone in your circle of family and friends may be suffering in silence.

Silence is not golden

Hearing loss usually occurs gradually – many people are not even aware that they have a problem with their hearing until the issue becomes severe. Some people may also ignore the early warning signs, thinking that hearing loss is simply a part of the ageing process.

While this is true to an extent, early detection can help elderly people adjust to and manage their hearing loss better. Addressing any possible problem early also helps slow the deterioration of the nerves and the area of the brain that processes what we hear.

Another reservation that many people have relates to wearing hearing aids. This may be because they think that hearing aids are too bulky, or they fear that they will be treated differently. So they instead they suffer in silence, until a mild hearing problem gradually deteriorates into severe hearing loss, which could eventually become deafness.

Under-diagnosis of hearing loss is a growing problem. In the UK, with an ageing population, this issue is only going to get more serious. Action on Hearing Loss predicts that by 2031, 14.5 million Britons will be living with a degree of hearing loss.

Hearing aids are here to help

Detecting hearing loss in the early stages is half the battle won. Early intervention not only helps in managing your hearing loss better, but it can also deal with the other side effects such as anxiety and depression.

Today’s digital hearing aids are state-of-the-art and there are hearing aids that suit most levels of hearing loss, from mild to severe. People with mild to moderate hearing loss can really benefit from using hearing aids at an early stage so can grow used to them and navigate daily situations better.

Technological advancements have made hearing aids smaller, lighter and aesthetically more pleasing; completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are practically invisible. It’s time to get rid of the stigma attached to hearing aids and embrace them for what they are: a means to manage your hearing loss and live a fuller life.

We’ll be with you every step of the way

Don’t ignore early signs of hearing loss in yourself or in a loved one – book a free hearing assessment at your local Leightons branch. Our expert audiologists will gauge the extent of any hearing loss and be able to offer professional and caring support throughout the entire process.

Based on the results of your hearing test, we will advise you on your next steps and, if required, help you choose hearing aids to suit your hearing loss as well as your lifestyle. We have a wide range of digital hearing aids at our stores, from leading brands such as Phonak, Oticon, Widex and ReSound.

Your hearing assessment will also include a free hearing aid demonstration to show you how you can hear better with amplification correcting your loss. Our audiologists will also invite you for regular follow-up appointments to fine-tune your hearing aids over several weeks, which is vital as you slowly adjust to wearing them. After this gradual process, you will have hearing aids that are perfectly tailored to your personal as well as your hearing needs.

To find out more about our free hearing assessments, stop by your local branch, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or book an appointment online.