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Why good hearing is so important in our everyday lives

Those with good hearing, don’t often think twice about what it means to possess this quality. Chatting with friends, listening to the sounds of nature, enjoying music or even hearing warning signals – they take it all for granted. It is only when our hearing starts to significantly deteriorate, that we realise just how important it is in our everyday lives, and how much we miss it when we no longer hear well.

Possible impacts of hearing loss

  • Decreased attention
  • Reduced understanding of speech
  • Trouble communicating with others
  • Diminished memory
  • Less willing to embrace the unknown
  • Declining job performance
  • Lack of acknowledgement by others
  • Irritability, stress and depression
  • Withdrawal from social life and isolation

The ear – a miracle of nature

The ear is an amazing and incredibly skilled organ that performs the wonderful and highly complex task of hearing. It can distinguish between 7,000 different pitches and enables the brain to locate sound sources…

How the ear works

How hearing works

The Outer Ear

Outer ear

The outer ear picks up sound and transmits it to the eardrum via the ear canal.

The Middle Ear

Middle ear

The sound makes the eardrum vibrate and is amplified by the ossicles (three tiny bones: Malleus, Incus & Stapes).

The Inner Ear

Inner ear

The cochlea converts movements of the ossicles into electrical signals. The auditory nerve transmits these to the brain.

What does hearing loss mean?What does hearing loss mean?

No two cases of hearing loss are the same.

However, most often people with a hearing impairment are unable to distinguish soft tones and high pitch sounds, such as whispers, children’s voices or bird song.

The understanding of speech also suffers because many of the sounds important for comprehending speech are soft and high-pitched, such as that of “s” and “th”. These are sounds that help us determine the difference between “path” and “pass”, and, however paradoxical it may sound, increasing the volume is of limited help. People with a hearing impairment require clarity and not volume.

Hearing impairments can occur in all parts of the ear. Dysfunctions of the outer or middle ear can normally be treated with medication or surgery. However, a good 80% of all hearing impairments are caused by dysfunctions of or damage to the inner ear. Today, modern hearing instruments can compensate for most inner ear damage.

Possible causes of hearing loss

  • Infections or chronic illnesses
  • Injuries
  • Genetic factors
  • Medication that can damage hearing
  • Exposure to ongoing or extreme noise
  • General wear and tear

Audiology solutionsOnly old people have poor hearing?

Not true!

It’s untrue to say that only older people suffer from hearing loss, as poor hearing is prominent across all age groups.

Increasingly, more and more young people are suffering from hearing impairments. This is often caused by listening to excessively loud music through headphones. Your profession can also impact upon your hearing; construction workers, ambulance drivers, engineers, agricultural and factory workers are all examples of professions where loud noise can have a lasting and damaging effect on your hearing.

  • More than 700 million people around the world have a hearing impairment.
  • Worldwide, 8.5% of all people between the age of 20 and 30 suffer from hearing loss.
  • Only 35% of all people with hearing loss are over the age of 64.
  • Only 5-10% of all cases of hearing loss in adults can be treated medically or surgically.
  • Many people with hearing loss wait as long as 10 years before they do something

Looking For A Hearing Test in Worcester or Stratford-upon-Avon?

We offer in-depth and best practice private hearing tests in our hearing centres in Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Our Initial Consultation is currently on sale at just £35, saving you 63% from our standard price! Call us on 01789 264111 to book your assessment in Stratford-upon-Avon or 01905 617803 to book your assessment in Worcester now, alternatively, book online by using the button below.

Not sure where to begin?

Try our new hearing helper

If you are not sure where to begin with solving your hearing problems we have put together a few questions to help us tailor our support to your needs and guide you to the right place for information that might help.

Do you suffer from hearing loss?

Do you think your issue could be related to a build-up of ear wax?

From the information you have given, you may need Ear Wax removal treatment. An audiologist can asses your situation at your appointment and perform the treatment required. If no wax is present the audiologist will advise you accordingly.

Do the people around you seem to mumble and not speak clearly?

Do you tend to go out less because it is hard for you to follow other people's conversations?

Has anyone ever told you that they often have to repeat things to you?

Is it difficult for you to follow other people's conversations in noisy environments, for example, in restaurants?

Do you find yourself having to turn up the television or radio to hear speech better?

Based on your answers so far, it looks like you might be experiencing hearing loss

Do you currently wear hearing aids?

In order to provide you with the bespoke care we offer to all of our customers, we need to know where you are in your journey to better hearing.

Choose the option that best describes your concern with your hearing

Based on your answers, we will be able to help you on your journey to better hearing

Fill out the details below and we'll be in touch to arrange your appointment.

Thank you, we aim to contact you on the same day as your enquiry

Until we speak with you, from the information you have provided, the following pages may help:

Request Appointment

Call us to make an appointment on 01905 617803 (Worcester) or 01789 264111 (Stratford-upon-Avon) or complete the form below.

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