LIFE SOUNDS GREAT WITH BETTER HEARING

Transcription

1 LIFE SOUNDS GREAT WITH BETTER HEARING

2 Open your world to better hearing

3 Welcome Hearing helps us to communicate and engage with others. If you are thinking about improving your hearing, then this guide is for you. Inside, you will find advice and information concerning all aspects of hearing care and how we can help. Our Hearing Aid Dispensers will also be pleased to offer any further guidance you may require. Contents Page 2 Changes to your hearing Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Why do changes in our hearing happen? Getting help with your hearing How will hearing aids help? Why should I come to Scrivens Hearing Care? Hearing aids to suit you Making the right decision A lifetime of aftercare How do I make an appointment? PAGE 1

4 Changes to your hearing As we get older, our ability to hear begins to change. This change in hearing is a gradual process and it takes time for people to become aware of the impact it has on their lives and their loved ones. It is often the case that someone may struggle to hear certain sounds, but is still able to hear others perfectly well. Some of these situations will be familiar to someone having difficulty with their hearing: Other people seem to mumble when speaking Being told that the television is turned up too loud Group conversations are difficult to follow Telephone conversations are difficult to understand Having to ask people to repeat themselves Hearing is difficult when there is a lot of background noise, such as on a busy street Friends and family Living with someone with a hearing loss can be frustrating for friends and family, and if you find you have to repeat yourself a lot or feel like your loved one is ignoring you, this may be a sign that they need to find out if their hearing levels have changed. The best way you can help them is to encourage them to seek assistance from a qualified Hearing Aid Dispenser, who will be able to advise them of the best solution. Coming to terms with a hearing loss can be a challenge, but with the correct help and advice, better hearing is something many people can enjoy. PAGE 2

5 Why do changes in our hearing happen? There are a number of reasons why changes in our hearing may occur. It may be due to a temporary condition, such as too much earwax or an infection, both of which can be treated easily. A long-term change in hearing may be due to many different factors. Age-related hearing loss This is the most common form of hearing loss and as many as 50% of people over the age of 60 have this kind of loss. Changes in our hearing happen naturally as we age and can be easily helped with the hearing aids available, improving our quality of life. Noise exposure Exposure to loud noises for a long time can damage your hearing. This can happen if your workplace is noisy or you take part in certain activities such as DIY, attending concerts and listening to personal music players. Within the inner ear is the organ called the cochlea. Inside the cochlea are a number of tiny hair cells that receive the sound signals entering the ear and pass them on to the brain. Each of these sets of hair cells are tuned to a particular frequency and, over time, some of these wear out, which is why certain sounds become muffled and difficult to hear. Stapes Malleus Incus Semicircular Canals Healthy hair cells External Auditory Canal Tympanic Membrane Cochlea Eustachian Tube Damaged hair cells PAGE 3

6 Getting help with your hearing You should look after your hearing in the same way you would look after your eyes and teeth. Scrivens Hearing Care recommends an annual hearing health check for anyone over 50 and every two years for the under 50s. A free hearing health check carried out by one of our qualified Hearing Aid Dispensers is the best way to find out why changes in your hearing have occurred and what steps need to be taken to address these changes. There are two different types of assessment available from Scrivens Hearing Care: Hearing Screening This is a quick and simple check that takes just minutes to complete. Using a simple testing device called a hearing screener, it shows how well someone is hearing across four sound frequencies (from low to high pitched). The results of this simple test will indicate whether the more thorough Full Hearing Health Check is required. Full Hearing Health Check This is a more comprehensive assessment carried out by our qualified Hearing Aid Dispensers, who are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Scrivens Hearing Care recommends that a friend or family member also attends, as a familiar voice is a useful reference during the testing procedure. PAGE 4

7 The Full Hearing Health Check will take approximately 45 minutes and is made up of four steps: Step One: Initial discussion Our Hearing Aid Dispenser will ask about your medical history, as well as your lifestyle and occupation. You will be asked about any hearing difficulties you may be experiencing, if you have worn hearing aids before and in what specific situations you would like to hear better. Step Two: Checking the health of the ears (Otoscopy) An instrument called an Otoscope is used to look inside the ears, checking for any blockages or abnormalities of the ear drum and the ear canal. Should any conditions be discovered that are best addressed by your GP, our Hearing Aid Dispenser will refer you for further investigation. Step Three: Checking the level of hearing (Audiometry) A computerised audiometer is used to establish how well you can hear. By playing different tones at a set range of frequencies and volumes, our Hearing Aid Dispenser is able to determine your level of hearing. Should the results require it, we will also fit a hearing aid at this point, to demonstrate the improvements to your hearing that are possible. Step Four: Explanation of results It is extremely important that you fully understand the results of your Full Hearing Health Check and any implications. Therefore, we ensure that we take the necessary time to explain the results at the end of the appointment. If your Full Hearing Health Check determines that a hearing loss is present, our Hearing Aid Dispenser will advise you of the most appropriate solution. PAGE 5

8 How will hearing aids help? Very simply, a hearing aid will amplify the sounds you have difficulty hearing. This is achieved by programming the hearing aid based on the results of your Full Hearing Health Check. The more advanced models constantly analyse the sounds around them and change between programs, automatically selecting the appropriate performance for the situation. The entire sound reproduction is constantly adapted by the hearing aid to provide you with the best possible hearing. While hearing aids will not restore your hearing completely, they will improve your quality of life. They will make conversations easier and increase your confidence when talking in groups or on the telephone. Hearing in stereo why two hearing aids are better than one Just as glasses have two lenses, one for each eye, when you need help with your hearing you will most likely need a hearing aid for each ear. This is called a binaural fitting. People with two hearing aids tend to find it much easier to follow conversations in background noise, and can more easily tell what direction sounds are coming from, ie a car on a busy street. PAGE 6

9 Why should I come to Scrivens Hearing Care? For years, we have been offering a superb level of customer service. We pride ourselves on meeting the individual needs of our customers, with tests and procedures designed specifically to help us to fully understand how your hearing has changed over time and how we can improve the situation for you. Our Hearing Aid Dispensers are trained in the latest techniques and technologies and we are dedicated to assisting the next generation of Hearing Aid Dispensers with training and education. We are an independent company and work closely with several manufacturers to ensure that we can offer you the best hearing aids available, including the newest models with the most up-to-date features. You can be confident that you will receive first class service when you come to Scrivens Hearing Care, and the choice of the latest range of hearing aids. All of our Hearing Screenings and Full Hearing Health Checks are completely free of charge, and there is no obligation to buy if you do find your hearing has changed. We offer the best, most appropriate advice and will ensure you are fully informed and able to make the right decision for you. PAGE 7

10 Hearing aids to suit you The array of hearing aids available can be baffling. Below you will find a simple guide that explains the main features of the different types of hearing aids, so you can identify which ones will best suit your individual needs. On the Ear One of the most popular styles of hearing aid available. They are small and discreet and come in a range of designs and colours. They are an ideal choice for the first time wearer as this style gives a more natural sound. In the Ear These custom made hearing aids sit in the shell of the ear and are comfortable, discreet, and powerful enough to handle a wide range of hearing losses. Behind the Ear This type of hearing aid provides the most power and handles moderate to severe hearing losses with ease. It is even suitable for people with a profound hearing loss. In the Canal The most discreet hearing aids available, the hearing aid sits inside the ear canal, making it all but invisible. They use custom-made moulds of the inside of your ear, making them extremely comfortable and secure. RECEIVER IN CANAL OPEN FITTING IN THE EAR BEHIND THE EAR IN THE CANAL Our Hearing Aid Dispensers will be able to give you advice on the best fit and style to suit the changes in your hearing and your lifestyle. PAGE 8

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12 Making the right decision We understand that buying a hearing aid is a big decision. All of our High Definition digital hearing aids provide high quality amplification and excellent sound processing. The main differences between our hearing aids are the number of technical features, the benefits they provide and the sensitivity with which we can fine-tune the hearing aids to meet your needs. PRICE FOR A PAIR OF DIGITAL HEARING AIDS FREQUENCY CHANNELS FEEDBACK (WHISTLING) CONTROL SELECTED FEATURES BACKGROUND NOISE REDUCTION 795 PER PAIR 4 SPEECH ENHANCEMENT 1095 PER PAIR 4 SPECIALIST TELEVISION MODE 1395 PER PAIR 6 WIRELESS CONNECTION 1795 PER PAIR 8 ENHANCED BACKGROUND NOISE REDUCTION 2295 PER PAIR 12 ULTIMATE ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT 2895 PER PAIR 16 Interest Free Credit You can spread the cost of your hearing aids by taking advantage of interest free credit. Pay a deposit of just 15% and the rest in monthly instalments, making better hearing even more affordable than ever. PAGE 10

13 A lifetime of aftercare Deciding to buy a hearing aid from Scrivens Hearing Care is the beginning rather than the end of your relationship with us. Having a hearing aid means you need to learn to hear all over again and your Hearing Aid Dispenser will be with you throughout your journey. Rehabilitation is a vital part of the process, as adjusting to the new and different sounds you are hearing takes time. When you first receive your hearing aids you will need to gradually build up the amount of time you wear them. This is where expert help and advice is essential. You will be invited back to see your Hearing Aid Dispenser within six weeks of your hearing aid fitting in order for them to make any adjustments based on your comments, and answer any questions you may have. Our hearing aid wearers understandably become very reliant on their hearing aids to help them in their daily lives. As such, it is important that they are able to access immediate help should they encounter difficulties. Apart from our high street branches, we also have a dedicated UK based Customer Services team on hand to ensure any queries are dealt with competently and efficiently. With Scrivens Hearing Care, you will receive an aftercare service that ensures you get the best out of your hearing aids. Changes in your hearing don t have to mean changes in your lifestyle. PAGE 11

14 How do I make an appointment? If you would like to make an appointment for either a Hearing Screening or a Full Hearing Health Check, both of which are completely free, you can do so by visiting one of our many high street branches. Alternatively, you can book an appointment by calling Freephone , or visiting our website at My Hearing Health Check Appointment Date: Time: Branch Location: Notes PAGE 12