Hearing care

With autumn here, it’s “back to school” for many of your local clubs and societies that may have taken a short break over the summer months. It’s likely that you will be socialising more, whether it’s attending local meetings, picking up your favourite hobbies and sports again or simply enjoying dinners or parties with friends and family. However, if you suffer from hearing loss, some of these activities can be difficult. Struggling to hear what people are saying around you can be disorienting and tiring, taking the enjoyment out of many activities. A busy environment with lots of background noise, such as a room at a party, can be particularly problematic. Fortunately, with the right set of hearing aids you can sail through any situation. Social butterfly More than 11 million people in the UK are living with hearing loss – that’s 1 in 6 of us. Action on Hearing Loss further estimates that this figure will go up to 15.6 million by 2035. Research has shown that hearing loss affects your quality of life, leading to feelings of isolation, social withdrawal and at times depression. People tend to stay away from social situations, especially those where the background noise levels prevent them from hearing well. This includes attending parties, going to the pub, and even speaking on the phone. The use of hearing aids can really help to improve the overall quality of life, contributing to more active lives and better health. Hearing aid wearers are less likely to suffer depression, and even less likely to get dementia, compared to people who have a hearing loss but do not use hearing aids. Types of hearing aids Today’s digital hearing aids are not only more powerful than the analogue hearing aids of the past, but are also more discreet. Furthermore, aids such as the Oticon Opn™ are packed with clever technology to make it easy for you to listen to exactly what you want to hear, even in noisy environments. There are several types of hearing aids in the market, and your audiologist will be able to help you choose the one best-suited to you, your hearing loss and your lifestyle. Fitting styles include: Completely in the canal (CIC) hearing aids are very tiny (almost invisible) and sit deep inside the ear canal. These are most helpful to people with mild hearing loss. The receiver-in-the-ear (RTE) hearing aids provide natural sound clarity and are helpful to people with mild to moderate hearing loss. These are quite discreet and therefore usually a popular choice. Behind The Ear (BTE) hearing aids fit snugly behind your ear. They are more powerful than most other hearing aids and give better sound clarity. These hearing aids are useful for those suffering from moderate to severe hearing loss. Even if you only have a mild hearing loss, hearing aids can be incredibly helpful in navigating daily life and social situations, letting you make the most of your activities and keep living life to the full. Pay us a visit Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care store offer a free hearing assessment, which includes a free hearing aid demonstration to help show the difference that a hearing aid can make to those with a hearing loss. We also offer a wide range of digital hearing aids from some of the world’s leading manufacturers, including Oticon, Phonak, ReSound and more. For more information or to book a free hearing test, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or visit your local branch. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online.

Did you know that our ears not only help us to hear, but also perform a host of other functions? One of the most important functions of the human ear is to help us keep our balance. Surprised? Read on to find out how. It’s all a balancing act Our balance depends on an extremely complex system, comprising of nerve signals to and from our eyes, limbs (proprioception), brain and inner ear. The key to your sense of balance is the vestibular system in the inner ear. This sends signals to the brain to relay the position of the head and the body’s movements. One part of the system is made up of semi-circular canals. These tubes sense your rotational head movement. At the same time, otoliths, the other part of the vestibular system, work to sense linear movement. Working together, both parts of the system also keep your vision clear so that you can maintain your balance as you stand or walk. Apart from the vestibular system, other areas of your body also work in tandem to help you maintain balance. Your eyes help you see where you stand and orient you in the environment. At the same time, sensors in your joints, muscles and tendons, called proprioceptors, help your brain understand the position and movement of your limbs. All three of these systems send signals to your brain, which processes them and then sends messages to your body that help it move in the correct way. If you feel off-balance or dizzy, it means that one or more of these systems is sending conflicting signals. For example, when standing on a platform watching a train move past, your eyes sense movement so you may have to look down to confirm the proprioceptive information from your muscles that you are standing still. Can hearing loss affect your balance? Your inner ear holds the vestibular system but is also responsible for your hearing. That means that a problem with your inner ear, such as an ear infection, could mean that hearing loss occurs at the same time as a balance impairment, although one does not cause the other. Other indicators of balance issues include: Dizziness or vertigo Difficulties with balance when walking or standing Light-headedness or a floating sensation Blurred vision Disorientation Nausea Panic attacks In addition, hearing loss also reduces your awareness of the environment and can make you more susceptible to falling. Don’t ignore it If you think you may be experiencing balance impairment, however minor, it may indicate a problem in your inner ear which could also affect your hearing. Hearing loss is a gradual process, and it can progressively impact your quality of life in various ways. Watch our ‘Bringing Hearing Loss to Life’ video, which will help you better understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss. However, it’s not a condition that you have to struggle with. Today’s digital hearing aids can help people with anything from mild to severe hearing loss. Visit one of our Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care branches and have a free hearing assessment. Based on the outcome of the test, the experienced audiologist will advise on the best course of action. This may be treating an ear health issue, or helping you select a hearing aid to assist you with hearing loss. To find out how we can help, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or book an appointment online.