Hearing care

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 bluetooth-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.

Ashish Shah is a Leightons hearing expert who works primarily in our Marlow, Reading and St Albans branches. These are 7 of the most common misconceptions about hearing loss that he has encountered over the years. MYTH 1: It’s easy to tell if you have a hearing loss. FACT: Many people notice the symptoms of hearing loss before the hearing loss itself. Indicators of hearing loss can include: Fatigue: your brain is having to work much harder to establish what people are saying. Lower energy levels: when you have a hearing loss, listening effort is significantly increased. Social isolation: many people will stop enjoying and attending social events because of problems hearing. Mental decline: untreated hearing loss results in less stimulation of the auditory cortex. This accelerates mental decline, resulting in a higher risk of dementia. MYTH 2: If you have a hearing loss, you won’t be able to hear most sounds. FACT: Most people with a hearing loss don’t notice difficulty hearing in all situations. Hearing usually changes very gradually so we get used to missing out on soft sounds: leaves rustling, clocks ticking, soft breathing. For most people, hearing deteriorates in the high frequencies, resulting in a loss of clarity, rather than volume. This results in: Speech sounding mumbled Difficulty hearing in a restaurant (or any background noise) situation Ability to hear doors slamming in the distance, but problems hearing speech clearly MYTH 3: Hearing aids make your ears lazy. FACT: Hearing aids support your brain. If you have a hearing loss, the earlier you are fitted with hearing aids the better. Untreated hearing loss results in auditory deprivation, where the brain loses the ability to interpret words due to a lack of stimulation over an extended period of time. Hearing aids provide regular stimulation of the auditory cortex, helping to prevent or reverse auditory deprivation. MYTH 4: It’s better to leave wearing hearing aids until your hearing is worse. FACT: Hearing aids reduce deterioration of hearing. If you wear hearing aids, your auditory pathway is able to function more normally. This results in a slower rate of deterioration in your hearing. Therefore the longer you leave it, the quicker your hearing deteriorates and the more auditory deprivation develops. MYTH 5: There is nothing you can do to help tinnitus. FACT: Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss. Therefore, many people find that wearing hearing aids stops them from being aware of their tinnitus. Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sound for which there is no external source. This is often a ringing, buzzing or hissing noise. Many people with hearing loss experience tinnitus because auditory cortex (the hearing part of your brain) receives less stimulation from your ear. Tinnitus often occurs at the same frequency as the hearing loss. In fact, 90% of tinnitus occurs as a result of hearing loss. Many people find that wearing hearing aids prevents them hearing tinnitus. Even if you haven’t noticed any difficulty hearing, we recommend booking in for a hearing check if you have tinnitus. MYTH 6: Hearing loss only affects older people. FACT: Our hearing changes from a young age. Our hearing becomes less sensitive to high frequency sounds from as early as our twenties. 50% of people have a high frequency hearing loss by the age of 50. This can particularly affect the ability to hear in background noise or group situations. MYTH 7: A hearing assessment is only for people who have concerns about their hearing. FACT: Hearing and ear health should be monitored at regular intervals, whatever your age. Like visiting the dentist, or having regular eye examinations, it is important to have your hearing and ear health monitored to detect any changes. Every hearing test that you have with us is recorded, allowing us to identify and inform you of any changes over time. It is never too early to have your first hearing check. If you have any questions or concerns about your hearing or that of a loved one, or would simply like more information, you can book a free hearing test online, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or visit your nearest branch.