As a consumer it can often be confusing to know where to start when it comes to hearing care. You realise how important your hearing is, and you want to be sure you get the very best professional advice and care for it.

AIHPP ensures that all of their members adhere to the best possible standards in hearing care available today.

 

 

Treating hearing loss can help you keep your New Year’s resolutions

The new year is here, and with it come all the new years resolutions. Making these resolutions comes easy, the challenge is making sure they don’t melt away with the snow as winter turns to spring.

Some resolutions might include stress management, spending quality time with friends and family, and doing more social activities or hobbies. For those who struggle with hearing loss, keeping these and other similar resolutions can be difficult. Treating your hearing loss in 2023 can help you achieve your resolutions and improve your life, here is how:

Stress management

Hearing related stress can make every day life challenging. It can present itself if you have to constantly ask people to repeat themselves in conversation, avoiding crowded or loud situations or even travelling. Finding a solution can help you hear better in these situations, therefore reducing some of your daily stress.

 

Social activities & hobbies

Thinking about volunteering work or joining a club but have been too self-conscious about your hearing loss? Don’t let your hearing loss keep you from making new friends and experience new adventures in the coming year. Likewise, starting a new hobby, whether by yourself or in a group setting, can be challenging. Having the confidence to address your hearing issues can lead to new talents and friends.

 

Quality time with friends & family

If being able to stay in touch with loved ones is a priority, addressing your hearing concerns can be a step in the right direction. Being able to communicate easily in person, over the phone or over zoom, will help put your mind at ease.

 

Visit Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres

If being healthier was on your new year’s resolutions, take a few small steps towards healthy hearing too. Seeking help, advice and ultimately treating your hearing loss will benefit your quality of life.

Whether you have hearing aids or you’ve never even had a hearing test before, at Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres we will look after all your hearing needs, from your initial assessment to fittings and continued bespoke care.

 

We are delighted to share that we have now over 10,000 active patients across both practices.

 

We are very proud to attract patients from not only the local areas to our practices but through word of mouth recommendations we have now patients who travel from all over the world to come and see us.

At the heart of WS Hearing Centres we are a family. Our journey started 11 years ago, when Victoria Dixon and Tom Dixon founded Worcester Hearing Centre. Since then, six years ago we founded Stratford Hearing Centre and we have been able to help over ten thousand people in the journey to better hearing across both our independent consultant approved practices.

Our team has grown in numbers and in professional development, which is something we firmly believe in. We continue to train and progress with new technology and audiological advancements to make sure we remain the hearing centres of excellence we have been for the past eleven years, therefore bringing the best hearing aid technology and patient centred hearing care to all our patients in our practices.

As we continue to grow, we want you to know that one thing will never change: We offer so much more than just hearing aids, we are the team and the practice that looks after you.

Thank you all for choosing us as your hearing care provider, for putting your trust and confidence in our whole team. We look forward to continuing to offer the very best level of bespoke hearing care and tailored solutions for many years to come.

In support of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Since 2011, Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres have been in support of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. When we used to run our Hearing Shows in Worcester and Stratford-Upon-Avon, they were always present creating awareness by doing presentations about what Hearing Dogs for Deaf People do and how the dogs are trained.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People train dogs to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds they would otherwise miss –  sounds that many people take for granted like the doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm. Being aware of these – thanks to a hearing dog – makes a real difference to deaf people’s lives, and can even save them.

 

Hearing dogs help deaf people reconnect with life
Deafness can be very isolating. A hearing dog can give a deaf person a newfound sense of independence and confidence now they have a loyal companion and a true friend by their side.

 

We are very happy to share that we are sponsoring 3 wonderful puppies in support of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People:

Cooper

The happy chappy

Likes: Snoozing and running about
Dislikes: Any time he doesn’t have food

Cooper is content when he’s snoozing, thrilled when he’s playing in the garden, and blissful when playing with other puppies. Overall, he’s a happy chappy!

His Volunteer Puppy Trainer Clare explains: “Cooper loves playing with another hearing dog in training whom we’re looking after. They play together, run around lots, and then sleep cuddled up to each other. It’s so cute.”

Indeed, Cooper has a lovely life in which everything is a delight.

Back to Clare: “He loves running off with our garden shoes – in fact, any of our shoes, especially those with laces, and especially those we’re about to wear, oddly enough.
“Outdoors, he adores watching the birds on the feeders, plus the squirrels, which fascinate him. Indoors, he even sleeps cheerfully, with little puppy snuffles as he dreams about, presumably, shoes, laces, birds and squirrels.”

Cooper’s favourite places are the garden, and his bed in the kitchen. So, between active times frolicking in the garden, and sleepy times all curled up in his fleecy bed, what else does Cooper like?
“Food,” says Clare. “Always food. He’s a Labrador after all!”

Ah yes, Labradors and their food. Cooper’s happiness is matched only by his love of food. This makes him a happy chappy with a bit of puppy fat. But don’t worry, he’ll grow into his skin. One day he’ll be magnificent, glossy and sleek, and will change a deaf person’s life, and spread his happiness far and wide.

 

Teddy

The cheeky little monkey

Likes: Running around in circles
Dislikes: Staying still

Who calls Teddy a cheeky little monkey? Peter and Hazel, his Volunteer Puppy Trainers, that’s who!

When he went to live with them, he was all sweetness and light. “His first night was very good,” Peter tells us. “He cuddled his dog-shaped hot water bottle and went fast asleep, not waking up until six o’clock the next morning, which was quite amazing. Not a squeak all night.”

Since then, he’s made himself very much at home. “He loves visitors of all shapes and sizes,” says Hazel. “He has learned that ‘doorbell = visitor = fun.’” Who’d have thought a small puppy could do mental arithmetic like that?

And as he’s grown in confidence, he’s become a bit cheeky, a bit mischievous… but he’s so cute he can get away with it.

Peter explains: “Around tea-time, he’ll have a sudden spurt of energy. He races from one room to the next and back again, jumping around on our rugs. He repeats this several times before stopping, looking at us with the cutest of smiles, and then setting off again for more laps!”

So the rugs are all a bit of a mess now, but it’s alright, because Teddy’s cute!

He’s soft and cuddly, just like a Teddy bear – provided you can catch him as he does his circuits of Peter and Hazel’s house.

 

Lily

The good-natured little girl

Likes: Gentle cuddles
Dislikes: Being disturbed while snoozing

Lily is an absolutely gorgeous little Cocker Spaniel!

Her markings are so distinctive, with that classic blue roan ‘smoky’ look. She hasn’t quite got the hang of her ears yet, and tends to fall over them. Same with her gangly puppy legs. It’s so cute!

She’s also very cute indeed when she snuggles on your shoulder and falls asleep, emitting hot little puppy snuffles right into your ear.

Everything about Lily is soft, gentle and good-natured. She’ll go for a little explore in a new place and then, happy that everything is as it should be, will plonk herself down and have a snooze. She’ll play with her toys quietly to herself. She’ll meet new potential friends – dogs, cats, socks – in the same, peaceable way.

Did we say everything? Not quite! You see, she’s also a puppy with a sense of fun. She occasionally enjoys a bit of tug-o-war with her toys too, and she’s fascinated by her Volunteer Puppy Trainer’s own pet dog. She would like to play tug-o-war with his tail too! But don’t worry, it’s just a big, furry, waggy thing that fascinates her.

Back to the soft-hearted, sweet-tempered Lily. When you’re around her, there’s a sense of calm and peace. One day, a deaf person who may be feeling anxious or scared will really benefit from this little girl’s tender, patient love.

 

Would you like to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People?

You can find a donation box in reception at Worcester Hearing Centre and Stratford Hearing Centre.

Alternatively, you can visit the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People website to donate or sponsor a puppy by clicking below:

If you would like more information you can contact your nearest practice, we would be happy to help.

 

Have you ever attempted to ignore a toothache? They can be rather tough. At some point, you’re unquestionably begging to go to the dentist.

The same thing takes place when your eyesight begins to blur. You’ll probably call an ophthalmologist when you begin to have trouble reading street signs.

But the problem is, when your hearing begins to go you might not show such urgency.

Untreated hearing loss can be responsible for significant health problems (specifically mental health problems). Naturally, you can only ignore your diminishing hearing if you’re actually aware of it. And there’s the second problem.

 

Signs you might be experiencing hearing loss

We typically don’t appreciate our hearing. A high volume music festival? No worry. Blaring ear pods? You like to listen to your podcasts like this. But your overall hearing will be substantially affected by each of these decisions, particularly in the long run.

It can, regrettably, be hard to detect these impacts. Hearing loss can sneak up on you gradually, with symptoms that advance so slowly as to be essentially invisible. 

That’s why it’s important to be familiar with some primary red flags (and to deal with them sooner than later):

• Your short term memory tends to suddenly fail occasionally
• You have an especially difficult time making out consonants when listening to everyday speech
• It’s difficult to understand conversations in noisy or crowded environments
• You have a hard time falling asleep at night and feel tired for no apparent reason
• Voices of those around you (family, co-workers, friends) sounds dull or distorted
• You always need to turn up the volume on your devices
• You frequently have to ask people to repeat themselves

If your hearing loss comes on especially slowly, your brain will instantly begin to compensate for it, making you somewhat unaware, at first, to your symptoms. 

That is the reason why all of these warning signs should be taken seriously.

 

What happens if you ignore your hearing loss?

Your relationships could be negatively affected: When you have a difficult time comprehending what your friends and relatives are saying, something can change in the relationship: you start having fewer conversations with them. You quit saying hi, you quit checking in, you pull away. Some of those relationships will be damaged, particularly if the issue is hearing loss that you have kept secret (and not some unexpressed bitterness).

You could cause your hearing to get worse: If you don’t use hearing aids or increased hearing protection, you’ll keep cranking the volume on your television up. Or you’ll keep going to rock concerts without any earplugs. And your hearing will keep declining as you continue to do damage to your ears.

Depression and cognitive decline: You may start to discover symptoms of depression as your relationships are affected and socialising gets more challenging. You might also start to go through some mental decline without the auditory activation your brain is used to, your neural physiology starts to experience specific changes. This can lead to long term cognitive problems if your hearing loss isn’t dealt with.

 

Audiologist Advice:

If you suspect you might have hearing loss, don’t ignore it. The longer you leave it, the worse it gets.

Don’t suffer in silence. Book an appointment for an Initial Assessment at Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres and find out how we can help you on your journey to better hearing. 

 

 

 

Loud sounds damage ears!

Listening to loud sounds damages sensory cells in your ears. This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss or ringing in the ear (tinnitus).

 

You could be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss if you regularly:

• work in a noisy place,
• listen to audio over head/earphones,
• visit places with amplified music e.g., nightclubs, concerts, or fitness classes.

 

 

 

 

 

Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent

Hearing loss due to noise cannot be reversed.

People with hearing loss can benefit from hearing devices and rehabilitation services.

 

 

 

 

 

But, noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented!

Safe listening practices can prevent hearing loss. The louder you listen, the shorter the time for listening safely.

By turning the volume down or protecting your ears, you can listen for longer without harming your hearing.

 

 

 

 

Adopt these simple safe listening behaviors:

 

• Keep the volume down

Set your device’s volume level to no more than 60% of maximum.

Use well-fitted, and noise cancelling headphones.

 

• Protect your ears from loud sounds

Wear earplugs in noisy places.

Move away from sources of sound, such as loudspeakers.

 

• Limit time spent engaged in noisy activities

In a noisy place, take regular breaks in a quiet area.

Limit daily use of personal audio devices.

 

• Monitor listening levels

Use apps to monitor your sound exposure.

Choose devices with built-in safe listening features.

 

This World Hearing Day, RAYOVAC® is sharing stories from our real-life hearing heroes. Five ordinary people living ‘Life Without Limits’, Bethan, Danny, Alfie, Jake and Karen reveal how their hearing aids help them to get more out of life and we celebrate all that is possible with the right hearing solution.

COVID-19 Important Information About Our Practice

As you know, at Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres we have always been focused on the health and safety of our patients and our team and now is no different. We will continue with our Covid-19 protocol and safety measures past the 24th of February, even though the government is lifting Covid restrictions in England.

Please be advised that this guidance does not apply to healthcare settings and by law, we are still required to follow the guidelines set by NHS England.

We are considering our governments guidance and the concerns from our patients and the members of our team, especially those who are vulnerable.

Therefore, we kindly ask all our patients and visitors to respect our decision and continue to follow our Covid-19 safety measures whilst in our practices. Please rest assured that every procedure we have put in place has safety and peace of mind at its very core.

We ask all our patients and visitors to wear face masks whilst in our practices, our Covid-19 assessments will take place before your appointments and restrictions on attendance will be in place if you have tested positive at the time of your appointment.
The whole team at Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres thank you for your continued cooperation with our Covid safety measures, your customer loyalty and your caring response to all we do.

 

Starkey Evolv AI

Explore the new Starkey Evolv AI hearing aids

Effortlessly connect to better hearing.

Effortless hearing. Effortless living.

Our most advanced hearing technology gives you the best Starkey Sound™.

Evolv AI hearing aids boast our most exceptional Starkey Sound yet. With up to 55 million personalised adjustments every hour, Evolv AI is expertly designed to automatically deliver realistic and genuine sound quality in every listening environment so you can hear and enjoy life.

A style crafted just for you.

Exceptional sound quality in a full line of our most innovative hearing aids. That’s what we call effortless hearing.

From our smallest to our most powerful, Evolv AI offers a complete line of our most advanced hearing technology. Compared to previous technology, Evolv AI provides an additional 40% reduction in noise energy designed to reduce listening effort. Effortlessly enjoy every moment with the hearing aids that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.

When it comes to better hearing innovation, you can expect effortless.

 

Effortlessly connect to better hearing.

A complete line of the world’s most innovative hearing technology connects you to your favourite moments.

Evolv AI offers friendly AI paired with our newest and most advanced connectivity ever. With improved connection, more Android connectivity than ever before, and our best sound quality, you can experience and enjoy your favourite TV, music and conversations. A full line of hearing aids automatically connected to your lifestyle makes better hearing effortless.

 

Introducing 2-Way Audio.

Hear and connect effortlessly with hands-free conversations.

Now, Evolv AI hearing aid microphones pick up and stream your voice directly back to iPhone and iPad,* allowing you to seamlessly talk hands-free.

*Compatible with iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and later, as well as iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air (4th generation), and iPad mini (6th generation).

 

 

To find out if Evolv AI is right for you, contact us to book your hearing assessment today at your nearest practice.

 

Are you looking for a hearing test in Pershore, Redditch, Evesham, Kidderminster or even Droitwich?

Worcester and Stratford Hearing Centres are just a short drive away.

Find out which of our two practices is closer to you and book your hearing assessment today.

Do You Know The Difference?

 

There are many aspects to consider between NHS and private hearing care and systems and hearing care.

Among the most important ones are:
•   Waiting times
•   Style
•   Technology
•   Continued Care
•   Costs

Digital hearing instruments can make a real difference in the quality of life for people that are struggling with their hearing, but choosing whether to get a hearing aid through the NHS, or privately, is a difficult decision.

You can book an appointment to see a hearing specialist for a private hearing test, which consists of a full evaluation of your hearing and ear health, at both our hearing aid centre in Worcester and our Stratford Hearing Centre. You will be shown the inside of your ear on a video otoscope, a pure tone audiogram will be performed to show the hearing thresholds and then a speech in noise test to establish a level of real world effective hearing.

 

During this consultation the audiologist will explain the difference between NHS or private hearing care and answer all your questions.

 

Director of Audiology, Tom Dixon says “We offer bespoke hearing solutions for each person that comes into our practice, no two people are the same. Therefore, no two cases of hearing loss are the same. That is why we don’t provide anything off the shelf. The most important part of a patient’s journey to better hearing isn’t just fitting the hearing systems, it is the continued care and support so they can improve and enjoy their life.”

 

Are you looking for a hearing test in Pershore, Redditch, Evesham, Kidderminster or even Droitwich?

Worcester and Stratford Hearing Centres are just a short drive away.

Find out which of our two practices is closer to you and book your hearing assessment today.