Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, can occur suddenly, develop gradually as you get older, or can also be caused by repeated exposure to loud sounds.
Do you have a hearing loss?
If you think you have a hearing loss, speak to your GP. They may refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. If you suspect hearing loss in a family member or a friend, encourage the person to get his/her hearing checked.
Below are a few pointers that may help you decide whether your hearing is impaired.
A person with hearing loss may:
- Have difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say
- Ask people to repeat themselves
- Not respond when called to or may respond inappropriately
- Speak much louder than usual
- Have difficulty hearing on the telephone
- Complain that friends/family don’t listen to them
- Become withdrawn, quiet and isolated
- Turn up the volume to hear the TV or listen to music
- Report that they can hear but cannot make out what is being said/ ‘I can hear you talking but don’t know what you’re saying’, or that others are mumbling
- Have unclear speech
- Have difficulty in hearing high frequency sounds like doorbells or telephone ringing
- Complain of a ringing sound in the ear (tinnitus)
- Have a history of ear discharge
What can be done for hearing loss?
Either hearing aids (available free of charge through the NHS), or hearing implants can be offered (including bone conduction devices and middle ear implants).
Hearing Aids
Depending on your level of hearing loss, we can prescribe the most suitable hearing aid for you.
Implants
For those who are unsuitable for conventional hearing aids a hearing implant can be an excellent alternative.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Hearing Therapy
Within our Audiology department, we offer hearing therapy, which is a service specifically for patients who require additional support with problems such as:
- bothersome tinnitus;
- hearing loss;
- problems with sensitivity to noise;
- auditory training;
- hearing loss in one ear;
- balance problems;
- sudden acquired hearing losses;
- other auditory processing difficulties.
Our hearing therapist will help you find ways of coping with your difficulties. Many of these strategies involve a counselling-based approach.
Some of the services offered may include: management of tinnitus, sound therapy, listening tactics, and relaxation therapy.
New patients are referred by their GP to Audiology, who can then refer you onto hearing therapy. If you have already been seen by our hearing therapist, you can re-refer yourself at any time.
