Hearing care

We need to start thinking about our whole communication network… Everyone needs to be part of a social network – real or digital – from our close family and friends to those we speak to less often but still play a critical role in our lives: doctors, hairdressers, shop keepers and many more. These different circles of people form the structure of our lives, allowing us to grow and develop in good health and happiness. After all, where would the joy in life be without the emotional foundation our personal relationships give us to take on everyday challenges? If you have hearing loss, your communication partner plays a vital role in your life. They’re often the first to spot a hearing problem and are likely to be the ones encouraging you to seek medical help. They are also generally the first to adapt their communication style to keep the conversation going. After you, they’re also the most affected by your hearing loss. Their perspective really matters. You need to be sure they’re involved in your treatment or hearing rehabilitation and any related decision-making. Managing communication in a variety of settings can be challenging If you develop hearing loss, the way in which you manage and keep up these relationships can be slightly different – and sometimes more challenging. Communication is key to maintaining healthy family relationships and friendships, and this becomes easier when you hear better. That is why the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes hearing loss as a ‘third-party disability’: the spouse or significant other also experiences more difficulty participating in social situations. You probably have a natural ‘communication partner’ in your life, usually your spouse or another very close family member or friend. Hearing loss can have a real impact on both of you, where repetition causes frustration, fatigue and a loss of those spontaneous, tender moments like sharing a joke or a whispered secret. This is one of the lesser known effects of hearing loss – but it’s important to acknowledge the impact it can have on both of you, as you will both be working harder to have the conversation. Chatting among friends Group conversations can also become more complicated. You can often struggle to hear every word when there are a number of people talking at once, or if there’s loud background noise. In these scenarios your communication partner may instinctively and helpfully act as your ‘ear piece’, doing the listening and taking on more of the communication responsibility; for example, by getting the conversation back on track if a misunderstanding takes place. “Loss of those spontaneous, tender, moments... like sharing a joke or a whispered secret.” Helping out to stay involved in conversation is a natural instinct but requires effort and can lead to fatigue. The WHO identifies the social impact of hearing loss as one of its most prominent consequences, explaining that exclusion from communication can cause feelings of loneliness, isolation and frustration. And this applies to the communication partner as well as the person with the hearing loss. What you can do If you experience hearing loss, or you are in a relationship with someone who does, there are some things you can do to make your situation, and theirs, easier. Empathise. Acknowledge the effort you both make to ensure positive conversation and appreciate the opportunity for this to actually deepen rather than damage your relationship. Identify the positive steps that promote easy conversation which work for you. Involve your communication partner. Bring them along, provide them with the opportunity to describe their point of view and discover ways to enjoy conversation more together. Seek advice, both of you. It’s also an idea to talk to your audiologist about how to have easier conversations (yes, there are tips and tricks that can make things that little bit easier). If you have hearing loss, make sure you consider your significant other and put them at the centre of the treatment process. It can make a real positive difference to your relationship, and to living a fulfilling life with hearing loss. Did you know, people who bring partners with them: Enjoy appointments more. Are more confident with technology and communication at home. Experience enhanced quality of life. Talk to us Request a FREE hearing assessment with one of our expert audiologists by calling 0800 40 20 20 or by booking online today.

We’ll watch far too much TV, overindulge at Christmas meals while chatting with the family, and listen to the classic (and some not-so-classic) Christmas songs from years gone by. Christmas can be an onslaught for your ears. So we’ve gathered together the 12 biggest myths about hearing loss to help you sort fact from fiction. 1. Hearing loss will only affect me when I’m older Wrong. Hearing loss can happen at any age. In fact, your hearing can begin to decline from the age of 25 onwards. Half of the population suffer high-frequency hearing loss by the time they are 50, while those over 65 only account for a third of all cases of hearing loss. 2. Hearing aids are large and uncomfortable Hearing aids have come a long way. They’re no longer the large, heavy pieces of equipment they once were. Today, they’re sleek, lightweight internet-connected digital devices that come in all shapes, sizes and different skin tones. You can find out more here. The size of hearing aid you need depends on the type and severity of your hearing loss – many hearing aids fit entirely in your ear canal, rendering them almost invisible. 3. Hearing loss is just hearing loss — I can live with it Don’t assume hearing loss is just ‘one of those things’ and try to put up with it. Hearing loss can lead to subtle but life-changing behaviours. Before too long you can find yourself declining more and more social events, as you can’t take part in conversations. What’s more, researchers have found a strong link between hearing loss and dementia. A 2011 study by John Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging suggested that elderly people who suffer from hearing loss are also more likely to suffer from dementia over time. 4. Music players and headphones won’t damage my hearing They won’t if you’re really careful. But few music players or headphones have volume limiting features. If you can, keep your volume to a minimum, or buy headphones that either block out ambient noise (look for silicon earbuds) or actively cancel out noise using their clever in-built electronics (look for ‘noise cancelling’ headphones – although they are more expensive). 5. Hearing loss is inevitable. If it happens, it happens Not at all. There are things you can do to reduce your chances of developing hearing loss. Here’s our top five: Avoid loud noises – noisy job? Try ear plugs. Try to protect your hearing from prolonged exposure to excessively loud noises. Don’t put anything in your ears – a third of the UK adult population use cotton buds in their ears, resulting in over 7,000 hospital admissions every year. Keep your ears dry – water left in your ears for a long time can lead to bacterial infections, and even hearing loss. Stay fit and healthy – yes, staying active and eating well can even benefit your hearing! Have regular hearing tests – spotting hearing loss early can help slow its progress. 6. Hearing tests aren’t as important as eye tests Hearing tests are just as important as eye tests. We all know we should have eye tests at least every two years, according to advice from the NHS. Part of the reason for this frequency is that problems often occur slowly over time (think how your glasses prescription changes over the years) it’s the same with hearing tests. Every one of your hearing tests with us is carefully recorded, allowing us to identify any changes over time. 7. I shouldn’t be worried if I miss some words here and there Probably not, but it’s worth getting your hearing checked just in case. It’s normal to miss a few words during a conversation, especially in noisy environments like coffee shops or restaurants, but regularly struggling to hear certain words can be a sign of hearing loss. Hearing changes slowly and high-frequency sounds disappear first. Perhaps you have got used to struggling to follow the conversation in a busy restaurant, or not noticing the ticking of your kitchen clock. 8. Hearing aids make your ears lazy Quite the opposite is true. The earlier you get a hearing aid fitted the better. Without any treatment, hearing loss can cause ‘auditory deprivation’ – the brain loses the ability to interpret words due to a lack of stimulation over an extended period of time. Hearing aids can reduce or even prevent it. 9. It’s better to leave wearing hearing aids until your hearing is worse You guessed it – hearing aids actually slow the rate of deterioration in your brain’s ability to process sounds. The longer you put off getting a hearing aid, the quicker your auditory processing deteriorates. 10. Tinnitus and hearing loss are unrelated Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss – 90% of tinnitus occurs as a result of hearing loss. Therefore, many people find that wearing hearing aids stops them from being aware of their tinnitus. Some hearing aids have dedicated tinnitus features to help distract you from the tinnitus sounds. 11. Nothing can be done about tinnitus Tinnitus is incurable, but there are treatment options. Many people find that wearing hearing aids helps to manage their tinnitus, with some hearing aids offering a tinnitus relief setting. Book an appointment with our audiologists at Leightons to find out more. 12. Leightons only do eye tests, don’t they? You might know us as an optician, but there’s more to us than meets the eye. We offer a full hearing care department, with qualified audiologists ready to help you improve your hearing and live the life you deserve. If you have concerns about your hearing or have any further questions, why not book a free hearing test online, call us on 0800 40 20 20, or pop in to your nearest Leightons branch.