102 Years Old Patient Positively Improves Her Hearing at Hidden Hearing

Hidden Hearing has an extensive branch network in Northern Ireland and offers world-class hearing healthcare services, free aftercare service including 4 year free service on all hearing devices. It gives a full diagnosis of hearing loss absolutely free including free wax removal.  Added to this are free batteries for life.

Recently 102 year old Isobel Manning visited Hidden Hearing at 73 Carlisle Road, L’Derry and was delighted with the positive improvement to her hearing.

Isobel Manning with Hidden Hearing’s Graham Sutton

It’s important  to look after your hearing  call 0800 587 7267 or log onto www.hiddenhearing.org to book your free hearing screening today.

Becoming an endurance athlete and breaking 47 world records was tough, but facing up to hearing loss was even harder

It was November 1998 when I was on a green patrol in Northern Ireland to Lisburn Barracks. I was waiting for some of the guys to get back and was standing very close to the first of two car bombs that went off inside the barracks themselves. Because of my proximity to the explosion, my hearing was permanently damaged and I was subsequently medically discharged from the army.  Just like that, my whole world crumbled before me.

I joined the army when I was only 16-years-old and it became my whole life. I served with The Royal Green Jackets as an Army Physical Training Instructor for most of my career, and would have been happy to continue in this way had it not been for a car bomb exploding next to me one day, leaving me heavily deaf in my left ear, and quite badly damaged in my right. The most painful result of my hearing loss of course was the fact that I was forced to leave the army. I couldn’t even join the Territorial Army and have a little part of my military life back. The army was my whole life and it was all I ever wanted to do from a very young age. Without it I felt totally lost and I do feel that my life was stolen from me somewhat. The explosion left me with major migraines, headaches that would knock me out for days, where I would just want to lock myself away in a dark room. Trying to get my life in order and live like a normal person was made much more of a struggle because I couldn’t hear people talking to me properly or hear what was going on around me. Once I started working again I found my hearing problems really embarrassing at times. In large conferences I would be asked a question and I couldn’t hear it or I’d only hear half a conversation and give a totally wrong answer or opinion. I felt like hearing problems were something that happened to old people, that someone at my age shouldn’t be dealing with having to say ‘excuse me?’ all the time. It also had a big impact on my social life. I remember feeling very isolated at times, the hardest situations being in large groups and social events where I just felt left outside of the loop because I just could not hear what people were saying. I would often avoid meeting up with friends because I felt like a burden but this just left me feeling even more isolated than before. It was a horrible catch 22 situation.I eventually admitted to myself that I had a problem and needed to do something about it- my family had also had enough of me turning up the volume to max on the TV! The first hearing aids I tried were from the NHS. They were huge bulky things that sat on the back of my ear and left me feeling self conscious and even more embarrassed than before. So I eventually stopped wearing them.I felt like I was back to square one again, when I eventually saw an advert for what was said to be ‘hidden’ hearing aids. I thought this sounded too good to be true but that it might finally be the answer. So I set up an appointment with the company, hearing specialists Hidden Hearing, and it went from there. I’m now the proud owner of some discreet hearing aids and my life has improved beyond belief. It was great to finally be able to hear people properly and not worry that I was saying the wrong thing. I can even hear the trees blowing in the wind and birds sing which I could never hear before. And I don’t have to keep asking people to repeat themselves!
With my hearing problems improving I also eventually found the inspiration I needed to give my life drive and meaning again. I had the memory of reading an article in Ultra Fit Magazine about former soldier, Paddy Doyle, who also struggled with life outside of the army but who turned to endurance world record challenges to help him through it. This inspired me to make something of the rest of my life too, so I entered the 2002 London Marathon, broke my first endurance world record and the rest is history.
Since my first race I’ve broken over 40 world endurance records and taken on many of the toughest endurance challenges around the world, from the Marathon des Sables to the 6633 Arctic Ultra. I now own my own gym and boot camp business and I am loving every minute of it!
My passion has always been centred around fitness and helping others to get fit and healthy. It’s a real buzz knowing that it was me that helped them to get there and knowing I’ve given people the confidence to conquer anything they want. I also eventually found my long-term girlfriend, Helen who has been a huge support through everything. I finally feel I am in a happy place in my life and have a lot to be thankful for.

Anybody who might be concerned about their hearing, can avail of a free hearing test at any Hidden Hearing branch nationwide. You can book a hearing test free of charge at any of Hidden Hearing’s 60 clinics nationwide. Freephone 1800 370 000 or visit www.hiddenhearing.org

Could I be loosing my hearing?

Do you feel you’re not hearing as well as you used to? That everyone around you is mumbling or family members complain the TV is too loud.

Hearing loss happens gradually you may not even notice what you’re missing. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is getting a free hearing evaluation from an audiologist to determine if you even have a hearing loss. If you do, at Hidden Hearing our friendly staff will guide through the path to better hearing.

 

Introducing Invisible Hearing Aids. The best hearing aid technology in a 100% invisible hearing aid. Think hearing aids should be heard, not seen? Then the new SoundLens by Starkey is for you. SoundLens is the first custom fit invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aid featuring Starkey’s latest technology – including Voice iQ, Starkey’s newest noise reduction and speech preservation system designed to filter out background noise.

Talk to a hearing professional to find out if SoundLens is right for you. Hidden Hearing in Dublin, Cork and Belfast have specially trained hearing professionals certified for fitting this latest technology. Talk to a professional today and find out if SoundLens is right for you check out online or call 0800 587 7267.

Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants – The difference

cochlear Implant

While hearing aids amplify sound, a cochlear implant transforms sounds into electrical energy that stimulates your auditory nerve. Your hearing health professional can recommend the best treatment option for you; however, cochlear implants are traditionally better suited for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss – especially for those who have already developed their speech and language skills and haven’t had any luck with hearing aids.

Both hearing aids and cochlear implants work best for individuals diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, meaning they have damage to the hair cells in the inner ear and/or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.

While there are no guarantees a cochlear implant will improve your ability to hear and understand speech, adult hearing often benefits immediately and continue to improve in the first three months after the surgery.  Individuals with cochlear implants also don’t have to worry about acoustic feedback or problems with earmolds and may find it easier to use the telephone, watch television and listen to music.

The disadvantages of cochlear implants include the costs and risks associated with surgery. Users also have less control over the instrument, since half of it is permanently implanted in the ear. Fortunately, the majority of individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss get along nicely with traditional hearing aids. Although these instruments don’t process sound like cochlear implants, they are less expensive and offer more flexibility. Hearing aids can be manually adjusted, repaired, replaced and removed and come in a variety of shapes, colors, models, technology and price. This variety allows your hearing health professional to fit you with the make and model that fits your lifestyle and your budget. If you have any questions about hearing loss contact Hidden Hearing Online or call 1800 370 000.

Source Healthy Hearing: Read More>

Cork boy has ‘Bionic Ear’ implanted at US clinic.

A YOUNG CORK BOY who is just one of 145 children around the world to have had a ‘bionic ear’ implanted has just completed an educational course for children with hearing difficulties at a specialist US clinic.

Calum, who was born deaf, was fitted with a groundbreaking auditory brainstem implant device (ABI), or ‘bionic ear’, in February. When the device was switched on in May, the young boy was able to hear the voices of his parents and brothers for the first time.

The non-profit clinic specialises in providing educational and parent-centred services to children under five to help them overcome their hearing loss.

Calum attended classes with his peers and a Situational Language Teaching teacher who specialised in working with children with hearing difficulties, while his three brothers attended the sibling programme. His parents Andrew and Helen also attended sessions at the clinic.

“The course was exhilarating and exhausting, at times very technical, however at all times effective,” his father Andrew Geary said. “There were six hours of class each day, there were also activities organised at the weekend to meet with members of the local deaf community at a picnic.”

Geary says that the family had sought to attend the course since hearing about it in October 2011, but that it “went beyond all expectations” and the whole family feels “empowered” by the experience:

We have come as a whole family, from a status of a pre-lingual child with no definite signs of hearing to a much more confident child with the very first signs of hearing. Our whole family now have the tools to continue his development. The information will also greatly aid the family in dealing with all the experts we encounter.

He said that the clinic featured a number of guest speakers including college graduates who had attended the clinic as small children.

The Geary family is thanking all of the people who have supported Calum and who provided the donations which made it possible for him to attend the clinic.

“We feel the greatest message that came from the John Tracy Clinic was the power of the child’s family to influence the success of their child. We feel empowered by the whole experience,” Andrew Geary said.

The Gearys say they “strongly urge” any parent with a severely or profoundly deaf pre-school child to consider the clinic’s long-distance courses or to avail of the summer sessions they attended in July.

The family is also urging Irish universities and speech and language graduates to consider the student programmes being offered at the John Tracy Clinic.

If you have any questions about hearing loss contact hidden hearing 

Source Journal.ie: Read More>

Olympian with the US men’s volleyball team wears hearing aids in both ears.

Coach John Speraw had the ”David Smith Rule” for his star middle blocker. ”That means, `When David wants it, David takes it,’ ” Speraw said. ”Because in the middle of a play, you can’t call him off.”

The reason? Smith is nearly deaf and primarily uses lip reading to understand his teammates. In volleyball, such face-to-face communication is not always possible.

Hence the David Smith rule. It was easy for Speraw to institute the rule because when Smith gets the ball, he knows just what to do with it. ”He’s mitigated any issues he has by being a great all-around volleyball player,” Speraw said.

Smith was born with his disability. He says that his doctors believe that that his hearing loss is in the 80-90 percent range and he has worn hearing aids in both ears since he was 3.

”Every once in a while it affects me,” he said. ”But this is the only way I’ve ever known how to play.”

Really, the main problem is that sometimes when he sweats a lot, the hearing aids go out.

”But I just got these before the Olympics and I don’t seem to have any problems,” he said, raising both hands to his ears.

Smith was something of a surprise addition to the US team in London. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker was not on the roster when the men qualified for the London Games at the NORCECA Olympic qualification tournament in May.

It has been a crazy summer, that’s for sure,” he said. ”There were some opportunities that came up for me to show what I could do, and I think I did a good job with that. I wasn’t counting on being here, but I knew I was capable of being here.”

Four years ago, the United States won the gold medal in Beijing, going undefeated and upsetting favorite Brazil in four sets in a thrilling final.

The men are currently ranked No. 5 by volleyball’s international governing body and are coming off a silver medal finish in the FIVB World League. Since volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, the US men have won three gold medals, at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, the Seoul Games in 1988 and in Beijing. The men won the bronze in 1992.

The team is in a difficult pool in London, joining top-ranked Brazil, perennial powerhouse Russia, Serbia, Germany and Tunisia. The other pool includes Italy, Poland, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and host Britain.

Smith picked up volleyball in high school. He originally committed to another college, but Speraw persuaded him to come to UC Irvine and he was part of the team that won the 2007 national championship.

He graduated from Irvine with a degree in civil engineering. He has his license, even though engineering is on the back burner for now. Like many players at his level, Smith plays professionally overseas for a living. Last season he played in France.

”I think the thing that separates him from some of the other players is his physicality,” Speraw said. ”He really does jump very well, so he can physically match up with players who are much bigger than him. That physicality is what we saw that we thought would separate him.” But Smith never dreamed he’d be an Olympian. ”I still can’t believe it,” he laughed.

If you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids contact Hidden Hearing.

Source Fox News: Read More>

What hearing aid users should pack on holidays.

Regardless of your mode of travel, consider putting together a small travel bag filled with the essentials you’ll need to keep your hearing aids working efficiently while you’re away from home. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Batteries. The average hearing aid battery lasts between 5-14 days. Make sure you have enough batteries to last for the amount of time you’ll be gone. Hearing aid batteries are typically available from hearing aid centers and most major pharmacies; however, if you’re traveling outside the United States or EU to a remote location, you’ll want to make sure you have your own supply.
2. Hearing aid dryer. If you don’t already have this equipment, consider investing in it. A hearing aid dryer, also known as a dehumidifier, is specifically designed to eliminate accumulated moisture in your hearing aids overnight.  If your vacation involves the beach or sport-related activities that exposes you to water or causes you to perspire, this dryer will remove any remaining moisture after you wipe them down. There are many varieties available on the market today, most of which are the size of a small cosmetics jar or jewellry box.
3. Cleaning Tools. More than likely, your hearing aid center provided you with a cleaning kit when you purchased your hearing aids. Even though you’re on holidays, it’s still important to maintain a daily cleaning schedule. Consider purchasing an extra cleaning kit to keep in your travel bag.  they usually include a wax removal brush, wax removal pick, tube vent cleaner, hearing aid battery door opener, and battery magnet.
4. Other accessories. If you wear a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, consider packing a few extra tubes. Plastic tubing is one of the first part of a hearing aid to wear out. You might also want to consider purchasing a hearing aid sweat band or sleeve for your BTE. These sleeves can keep your hearing aid dry and free of environmental debris, such as sand or dust.

Finally, if you have time before your holiday, consider scheduling a visit to your audiologist for a pre-holiday inspection. Your audiologist can check the fit and condition of your hearing aid, which may help identify impending problems before they occur.

For further information or to book your inspection contact Hidden Hearing.

Source Healthy Hearing: Read More >

How to Find Help Paying for Your Hearing Aid

As a customer, one of your greatest safeguards is the recognition by the hearing aid retailer that your satisfaction through clearer hearing is of the greatest importance. Hidden Hearing will provide you with a friendly, reliable and helpful service in order to maintain our excellent reputation.

Health Board or private hearing aids?

To obtain a hearing aid through the health board you must first visit your doctor. If hearing loss is confirmed, and if a hearing aid is recommended one may be provided free through the Health Board. This will depend on whether, upon checking, you qualify under the rules of the Social Welfare Scheme. If your doctor confirms that a hearing aid is required you have the option of seeing a private Hearing Aid Consultant of your choice.

The benefits of private hearing aids

If you decide to purchase a private hearing aid you may be able to choose from a wide range of instruments. If you buy from an independent supplier you may also have a choice of manufacturers.
The instrument will be made to your exact prescription to compensate your own hearing loss as closely as possible.

How much do they cost?

Although most companies can supply price guides on request, the problem with pricing hearing aids is that the aid most suitable for you depends entirely on your own particular type of hearing loss. The extent of the sophistication of the instrument which you need will have a bearing on the price.

Can I finance my hearing aids?

Yes….. Hidden Hearing offers a special finance package with a 0% finance option on the purchase of your hearing aids. This means that we will spread the cost of the hearing aids over 12 months in 12 installments and there is no extra charges or costs. Terms and conditions apply and all details can be obtained from your local branch or by contacting 0800 587 7267.

Are there special terms for pensioners?

Yes, certain hearing aid retailers are able to offer special terms for Pensioners as well as being able to supply hearing instruments which are particularly suitable. For further information contact Hidden Hearing.

Dad … Dad? DAD! It’s Time to Get a Hearing Test — Part 2

Dad is also concerned a hearing aid would spoil the hearing he still had left, because it would feed back or amplify really loud sounds. I admit, I had wondered about that too.

Modern hearing aids have made great strides. Digital technology allows the hearing aid to monitor and control sound levels. Devices are programmed to cut off at unsafe levels and control feedback as well as isolate specific sounds, making it easier to hear in a crowded room for example.

Wait Not, Want Not

If my father continues to avoid dealing with his hearing loss, the neurological components of his hearing that function properly may atrophy at an accelerated rate. It’s called auditory deprivation.

Reams of studies have been conducted on sound deprived children, adults, and unfortunate baby rats. Google it.

“When you have a hearing loss, you’re depriving the auditory system of the stimulation it needs to run efficiently,” Saunders says.

“The longer you leave a hearing loss untreated, the less efficient the system becomes. It [your brain] forgets how to process certain sounds.”

“Your 90- or 80-year-old self is really going to suffer for your decision at 70 to wait.”

Dad is worried a hearing aid will give him an ear infection. Today’s popular models, called open-fit hearing aids, don’t plug your ear completely. Air and sound enter the ear freely. There is little wax buildup, and you won’t feel like your voice is booming when you speak.

At nearly 74, my father is also concerned a hearing aid will make him look old. (It’s a perfectly legitimate concern for such a handsome guy.)

These days, the only visible part of an open fit hearing aid is a tiny, clear tube going into your ear. The largest part is hidden behind your ear.

“Those tiny hearing aids which tuck behind your ear have advanced technology with directional capabilities,” Saunders says.

There are also implantable hearing aids that stay in your ear for three months at a time. Others fit deep in your ear canal and are removed nightly.

“If somebody wants an inconspicuous hearing aid, we have a ton of options to show them.”

It seems there are several completely invisible options, and an added benefit, according to Saunders, is that “you will appear younger, [because] you’ll be part of the conversation again.”

Audiologists and hearing instrument specialists are health professionals

Here’s another common concern: If you go to get tested at a place that sells hearing aids, are you more likely to end up leaving with one?She objected to the idea that places that both test hearing and fit for hearing aids are doing more than offering a needed service.

“If you’re seeing an audiologist you’re seeing a health professional. Everybody has to have a master’s degree or equivalent,” Kealey says.

Fitting hearing aids is only a small part of what an audiologist does. You may also be tested and fitted by a hearing instrument specialist who is college-trained specifically in hearing aid technology.

The hearing clinics I spoke with use differing combinations of both. Professional conduct doesn’t appear to be the real issue.

“The biggest problem we have is getting people with serious hearing problems in the door for a test,”  “Even if the problem is easy to solve, you’ll never know if you don’t get tested.”

‘Did Kleenex always make a sound?’

The key to a successful experience is working with professionals you feel comfortable with.

Improper device tuning during the fitting process can create unsatisfied customers. A skilled professional will be able to provide you with good results. “What makes the difference between a good hearing aid and a bad one is how it’s programmed.”

In the event that you need to go back a few times to get the programming or the fit just right, you need to feel confident you will get excellent service and all the time you need.

It is also important that people get assistance and counseling when acclimatizing to the change in their hearing.

Saunders says some clients have forgotten what the world really sounds like. Accustomed to living with hearing loss, they are not used to hearing natural sounds at normal levels. “They ask, ‘Did Kleenex always make a sound?’”

If you have any questions about the latest hearing aids and digital technology contact Hidden Hearing.

Source The Epoch Times: Read More>

A short history of the Hearing Aid

Hearing aid history is interesting and goes back to the 1700s. Over the years, hearing aids have remained consistent with one basic function – to increase the volume of sound. Here’s a fun, yet informative look at the history of hearing aids.

In the 1700s, a simple ear trumpet was used to help those with impaired hearing. There were different versions of this trumpet that ranged from bull’s horns to seashells. It’s suspected that the human race has used both of these basic “assistive devices”for thousands of years.

In the mid 1880s, the French were very ingenious and came along with the Clarvox Lorgnette Trumpet. This cumbersome gadget combined ‘spectacles’ (glasses) with a light tortoiseshell ear trumpet. This was rather an awkward device so it was made with dark material in hopes of being somewhat concealed when the user wore dark clothing. The British came up with something a bit spiffier around the same time, the London Dome. It came in a variety of sizes and was often decorated as the makers tended to cater to opera fans. While at the opera, this dome greatly improved the quality of the performance for those with hearing challenges.

In 1887 the ear tube came along and this allowed the user to obtain sound directly from the source – the speaker talked into it at one end, and the user listened.

The 1900s saw many hearing aid advancements. In 1914 the Stethoclare came along measuring 11 cm in diameter and it was placed on a table. It caught sound and an attached tube went to the listener’s ear.

The history of hearing aids continues with electric hearing aids which entered the market in 1901; although this technology was bulky and impractical. It wasn’t until 1930 that the electric hearing aid was designed smaller. This desktop device came with several components and the batteries never lasted more than a few hours. This was also something very few people could afford as it cost almost the same as a new car in today’s currency.

Carbon microphone aids became popular throughout the 1930s and 1940s and all varied in size. Technological advances eventually brought smaller models. The microphone was worn around the neck and it was connected to the earpiece by wires. From this point on technology greatly advanced.

In the late 1950s, transistorization changed everything. Much smaller over-the-ear hearing aids came along followed by in-the-canal hearing aids in the 1970s. Digital processing hearing aids made their debut in the 1990s and now at the top of the micro-technology scale there is the Lyric – a miniscule hearing device so small and unobtrusive that is often compared to being a contact lens for your ear.

It’s wonderful to review the history of hearing aids and to see the amazing advancements. Technology will continue to help those with hearing impairments. For more information about how hearing aids can help you, please visit Hidden Hearing.