Just a little over 2 weeks now until the Santa Fun Run on 24th November for Alzheimers Dementia Support.
One of the Alzheimer’s Society’s top tips for reducing the risk of developing dementia is to stay socially active by joining a club, so with this in mind I have joined my local running club The Blackwater Valley Runners.
Running with a group helps me to run longer distances and build some stamina and the company helps the miles go by more enjoyably.
The club meets at 7pm and we set off into the cold evening for what I thought would be a gentle 4 mile run. There were 15 other runners in my group and I was able to have a chat with most of them during the run – except when we were running uphill when I needed to save my breath!
6.5 miles later, I arrived back at the club house, having run further than I was expecting but very pleased that I had kept up with the group.
Guess the time competition
To support ADS and have the chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher, please visit our Just Giving page. Donate £1 and include your name and the time, in minutes and seconds, that you think it will take me to complete the 5K Santa Fun Run.
With 4 weeks to go before the Santa Dash at Dorney Lake for Alzheimers Dementia Support (ADS), I decided that my training on Saturday would be a long walk rather than a run. I set off from Farnham (Surrey) Station to walk along the North Downs Way national trail to Guildford, covering ten miles. The walk is mostly on woodland paths and is far enough from the road to be unpolluted by noises from traffic.
The path initially runs alongside farmland and I wished a cheery “good morning” to some sheep and cows before passing through a field of corn.
There is no definite way to prevent dementia and research continues to investigate how the disease develops. However, there is good evidence that leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of developing dementia (source: NHS Website).
My walk not only provided good exercise but was an opportunity to exercise my senses; looking for seasonal changes, listening to bird song and learning about the local nature reserve from information boards.
To support ADS and have the chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher, please visit our Just Giving page. Donate £1 and include your name and the time, in minutes and seconds, that you think it will take me to complete the 5K Santa Dash.
…..Guess my time to complete the 5K Santa Dash and win a £50 John Lewis Voucher
Well I’m hoping there won’t be snow but on 24th November I will be donning my Santa Suit and taking part in the annual Santa Fun Run in support of Alzheimers Dementia Support (ADS) and the work they do for the local area. Follow this link to learn more about the service and support Alzhemimers Dementia Support provide.
The Santa Fun Run is a 5K fun run around Dorney Lake and I will be joined by Jan Gosling, our secretary at Help in Hearing, and a small group of friends.
I would like to invite you to support ADS by taking part in a competition to guess the time it will take me to complete the 5K circuit.
Entries for the competition cost £1, with all proceeds being passed to ADS. To enter, either make a £1 donation on my Just Giving Page, adding your name and how long you think I will take in minutes and seconds or call into the office on 0345 222 0579 and we will record your guess at reception.
Over the next few weeks I will be keeping you up to date with my training schedule for the Santa Fun Run and will be providing a few clues as to my expected finish time.
Earlier this month, Selma and Paul Lamb, Technical Director at Starkey Hearing, were interviewed by Chris Zaremba on Marlow FM’s Mid-Morning Matters show. Selma and Paul talked about changes people can experience in their hearing, the latest hearing technology and about the Hearing Health event we are holding at the Marlow Club on October 3rd. There was also a phone-in where listeners called in with questions about their hearing.
Listen to the Marlow FM interview
Please click below to listen to the segment. This has been reproduced from a live broadcast and with the permission of Marlow FM. A new browser tab will open and you will see the MP3 player control where you can pause and resume the playing of the audio as you wish.
Click the Listen button above to start the interview playback
Photos from the interview at Marlow FM:
Selma Becker and Paul Lamb at Marlow FMChris Zaremba, presenter of Marlow FM‘s Mid-Morning Matters
Wendy will be working closely with ENT Consultants at the Spire Hospital, offering hearing tests and tympanometry. She is now recognised by all the main insurance companies and can see privately insured patients at both the Spire Hospital and at Help in Hearing in Farnham Common.
Says Wendy: “I am delighted to be working with the Spire team and look forward to now offering this extended service at Help in Hearing.”
All private insurance bookings are via ENT consultant referral. For the private hearing clinics at Spire Hospital, these are processed by outpatients at the Hub on: 01753 665429; or at Help in Hearing, call our freephone number: 0345 222 0579 or contact usfor more information.
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Wendy Davies to our audiology team. Wendy joins us from Sivantos, a leading manufacturer of innovative hearing aids where she held the position of National Sales & Audiology Manager. Selma Becker, MD of Help in Hearing welcomes Wendy to the team:
“We are thrilled that Wendy has joined us as an Audiologist and Ear Care Specialist. She has immense knowledge and industry experience, bringing a new dimension to our hearing care audiology team and the service we offer as our business continues to thrive.”
Wendy initially trained as an audiologist and worked in the NHS for 15 years before joining Siemens (later Sivantos) in 2000 where she was responsible for training and hearing aid supply to the NHS. In 2007, Wendy was appointed Head of Audiology, extending her reach to also include private clinics. After completing an MBA in 2012, Wendy also gained responsibility for sales. Over the years she has also worked with R&D in the deployment of new technologies that revolutionised hearing aid features and client benefits.
In her national audiology role Wendy became a regular and respected presenter on hearing aid technology at industry conferences worldwide. Her leadership role also included providing clinical support and technical education to the Falkland Islands and developing and implementing the new born hearing screening programme.
“My first love has always been audiology”, said Wendy, “the opportunity to work with Selma’s team at Help in Hearing has allowed me to get back to grass roots, directly working with and helping people. I know that Selma offers clients the very best in aftercare to ensure they are getting maximum benefit from their aids and I very much want to be a part of this.”
Wendy continued, “I find hearing aid technology extremely interesting – it has come such a long way since I started fitting hearing aids in 1985 and new functionalities and features are presented to us by all the manufacturers every year. This allows us to provide a great solution for everyone requiring support with their hearing based on their individual needs –there is no “one size fits all”. At Help in Hearing we have access to all the leading suppliers so we can find the right solution for all our clients.”
Make the month of March memorable and trial the latest hearing technology
Throughout March we are offering you the opportunity to personally trial the latest hearing aid technology.
Try the new hearing technology throughout March
At our Technology Days in November we unveiled a host of new hearing aid advances. In case you were unable to attend our events, or have not been able to visit us again since, we thought we would turn March into a memorable month when you can test out the options and, with our help, see what would suit you best.
Advice on the right hearing solution for you
The wealth of choice is almost overwhelming, so our role as independent hearing consultants is to help guide you to the most appropriate solution. Even the best technology needs the support and experience of a healthcare professional, to ensure the most successful outcome for your individual hearing needs. With our dedicated ongoing aftercare, we guarantee that whatever choice is made, it is the right one for you.
New hearing products available to try
Book now and you can choose from the new generation Marvel by Phonak which offers true hands-free calls, or the new-look slimline Styletto hearwear by Sivantos. Then there’s the new custom Oticon OPN aid that uses an app to monitor your health and the Starkey Livio device which has a foreign language translation facility, plus motion sensors to monitor falls.
Book your dedicated free trial appointment now
Book any time in March to trial this new aid technology in our Farnham Common or Marlow hearing clinics. Call our Freephone number to make an appointment: 0345 222 0579
We accept that hearing loss is something we may have to deal with as we get older. However, a growing number of young people are now reporting hearing loss to some degree. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.1 billion people aged between 12 and 35 are at risk of losing their hearing. Below are a few of the problems causing hearing loss in young people, and how we can prevent it.
Modern technology
With the rise of modern technology, including personal listening devices, stereo systems, and surround-sound cinema, young people today are being constantly exposed to loud noises. Prolonged exposure to loud music is known to cause tinnitus and even permanent hearing loss. To prevent damage, turn down the volume on your musical devices and consider wearing earplugs to live music events.
Alcohol
Studies have shown that alcohol may inhibit your middle ear’s acoustic reflex, which tells your muscles to contract in response to loud noise. The less sensitive your acoustic reflex, the more at risk you are of damaging your hearing. To prevent this, consider reducing your alcohol consumption when you know you will be exposed to loud noise, such as at a live music event.
Noise pollution
Young people are reigniting city centre living. Whilst this is having positive consequences for the vibrancy of our cities, noise pollution is also on the increase. From traffic and construction work to community events, city centre living is a hazard for young residents’ hearing. Even living next door to a noisy dog can put you at risk. To prevent hearing loss, plant bushes and trees around your home to block out noise. Wear earplugs at night to give your ears a reprieve. Alternatively, invest in soundproof insulation to keep the city noise outside.
Going forward
There are many things you can do to prevent hearing loss in young people in our noisy, modern world. Going forward, ensure you get regular hearing check-ups. Identifying a problem early on is vital to avoid permanent hearing loss.
If you do notice a decline in your hearing, consider seeking advice about hearing aids. Studies suggest that attitudes toward hearing aids are becoming more positive. Hearing aids are no longer associated with seniors or being slow. In fact, 60% of young people now say they “would not hesitate to use them, if needed” to solve their hearing problems for good.
Hearing loss in young people – where to find out more
If you’d like to find out more about how to protect your hearing, visit our Hearing Protection page.
At Help in Hearing we can advise on the most appropriate hearing protection from custom made solutions, in the ear monitors, electronic noise suppressors for those that shoot or a non-customised product, should you need something urgent for a one off event. We also supply customised swim moulds. If you’d like to book an appointment to discuss your hearing or have your hearing tested, please fill in our online form.
Call freephone 0345 222 0579 to book an appointment.
For the first week in April we are offering free hearing tests and ear health checks for any friends and family who book in with our new Audiologist, Wendy Davies. Wendy will also be at hand to discuss the new technology and accessories that are now available for anyone who would like to come in for an update.
Existing clients are encouraged to meet Wendy and book in for hearing aid servicing and cleaning, or for a check-up.
Meet our new Audiologist, Wendy Davies
Hearing aid cleaning and servicing
Free ear checks and hearing test
Technology updates
Accessory demonstrations to further enhance your hearing, including Bluetooth connectivity
Call freephone 0345 222 0579 to book an appointment.
In November we held two Help in Hearing organised Technology Days at the Harleyford Golf Club in Marlow and the South Bucks Golf Club in Stoke Poges. They were very well attended with a total of nearly 70 delegates in all. It was a rare opportunity to ask questions and have discussions directly with each of the leading hearing aid manufacturers. The main venue area was the focus for companies to exhibit all their ranges and accessories. In a separate room a representative from each of our hearing aid partners gave a talk on different aspects of the market and a glimpse into the future. Today we are showing an extract of the Oticon talk on the future of hearing aids and their app HearingFitness, which you can find below, along with a video Oticon showed on the day.
The future of hearing aids – by Oticon
We know that smartphones, computers and tablets connect to the internet, but did you know that some ordinary everyday devices – such as fridges, washing machines and doorbells connect to the internet too? This is an area of technology called “The internet of things (IoT)”. It’s one of the fastest growing areas of technology and it has been made more popular recently by systems like Hive and Nest that connect your home heating and lights to the internet.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Opn hearing aids are IoT devices too!
Opn hearing aids are IoT devices too! They work with a cloud-based service called “If This Then That” (IFTTT for short). IFTTT connects processes and services of all kinds of brands that wouldn’t normally work together. For example, IF you’re tagged in a photo on Facebook, THEN automatically save that photo to your DropBox account. How might that work with hearing aids, you ask.
In this example, a visitor presses your internet-connected doorbell. It sends a message to IFTTT, which sends the notification to the ON app on your iPhone. The ON app in turn sends a spoken message to the Opn hearing aids. “Someone is at the door” (or whatever message you like!).
Right now this service appeals most to people that love their technology. But people of all ages can benefit. For example, a young child or an adult with limited dexterity needs help changing their batteries. IFTTT can send a notification (text, email etc) to a parent, relative or neighbour when the batteries run low.
HearingFitness
HearingFitness builds on the general major change in the nature of health care – which is transforming from being reactive to preventive. New technologies can be expected to allow our current, largely reactive mode of medicine (where we wait until the patient is sick before responding) to be replaced over the next 10-20 years by a personalised, predictive, preventive, and participatory (P4) medicine. This P4 approach is the inspiration and vision behind HearingFitness.
Participatory:
Participation is key to HearingFitness – the foundation of the other Ps. Clients are given information so that they can better manage and are prepared to make their own decisions. We want to engage and encourage the users to be active partners and involved in their own healthcare.
Personalised:
We want to tailor hearing solutions/services to the client and their environment. Create hearing aids that could potentially adjust themselves not only to the user, but also to changes during the day (e.g. more tired in the afternoon), during the week (such as different needs during the week when at work versus during the weekend), and also over time (for example, if hearing deteriorates). We want to provide personalised support based on the specific user’s hearing aid, preferences, etc. This personalisation reaches its full potential when combined with user participation (which is the foundation). We can then use the information from HearingFitness to better understand behavioural patterns, the contexts in which the hearing aids are most used and how/where do people struggle – all these things are important in order to be able to personalise.
Prediction:
Oticon HearingFitness app collects data to predict future needs of hearing aid users
We will know in advance, through big data, what is best for every hearing aid user. 360 million people worldwide with a hearing loss – imagine the potential data sets. Users are profiled into subgroups that share common features. For example, we will know through monitoring when a user is having trouble hearing and the hearing aids provide extra help.
Prevention:
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We take a life course approach, with early detection and monitoring over time of hearing and health status. Through combining multiple datasets and applying advanced analytics, it is possible to build profile-specific prevention strategies. For example, the hearing aid user could receive an alert if they are exposed to loud noises that could result in further hearing loss. Thereby the HearingFitness technology can help people to remain healthy late in life.
References:
Hood, L. & Galas, D. (2008). P4 Medicine: Personalized, Predictive, Preventive, Participatory: A Change of View that Changes Everything: A white paper prepared for the Computing Community Consortium committee of the Computing Research Association.
How HearingFitness works
HearingFitness is a feature in the ON app for smartphones. When a pair of Oticon hearing aids is connected to the app, it gathers data about how the hearing aids are being used and the type of sound environments the person is spending time in.
HearingFitness will combine this information with data from the Health App on the smartphone. The specific data taken will depend on the user’s permission during installation.
Generally, the Health App stores data from apps on the iPhone and Apple Watch. It also works directly with some health and fitness devices. Other devices and data sources (such as HearingFitness) must have a companion app that can access the data and save it to Health App for them.
Initial release of HearingFitness
In the initial release, which came out about 2 months ago, the functionality will appear somewhat simple. But as we gather more data we will introduce more and more useful functions, such as making adjustments to the hearing aids according to the user’s preferences, and notifications with suggestions for taking better control of your health.
When the installation is done, you will be presented with a welcome screen introducing HearingFitness. After pressing ‘Continue’, HearingFitness will open. The first version of HearingFitness will look approximately as shown here. You will be able to see how much the hearing aids are used overall (in hours) as well as how much individual programs are used.
An example of how the first version of the Oticon Hearing Fitness ON app will look
In the upper right corner of the screen, you will be able to set a goal for the hearing aid usage. This goal could potentially be set together with your audiologist at the fitting appointment. In the left corner, you will see if the goal is reached – measured in percent. You will then be able to track usage for the specific day, week or month.
Hearing care is health care
We know from research that ”hearing care is health care.” It is well-documented that hearing well highly influences how healthy we are. With HearingFitness, Oticon aims to involve people in their own hearing care. We want to help them to make smart decisions about their hearing health and get the most out of their hearing potential with the ultimate goal of improving their overall health.*
Watch video: Hearing care is health care
HearingFitness – where to find out more
At Help in Hearing we understand that caring for your hearing health is just as important as caring for the rest of your overall health and wellbeing. By looking after all aspects of your hearing, ear care and hearing protection, we make sure you remain socially active, stay confident in your working environment and ascertain your continuing enjoyment of your hearing health. With our personal and friendly approach we provide personalised hearing care plans offering a continuity of service which is second to none.
Please get in touch to make an appointment for a hearing check-up or to discuss your hearing concerns.
Our new audiologist, Wendy Davies, is now holding private hearing clinics on Monday afternoons at the 
Advice on the right hearing solution for you
