It is estimated that one in six people in the UK have hearing loss and fail to address the issue for up to ten years. That’s 10 million people who are not addressing their health! And it’s not an age related situation as 3.6 million people with hearing loss are of working age. Staggeringly just less than half (4.8 million people) wear hearing aids and less than 15% (1.4 million) use them regularly. Leaving 3.8 million people that are not addressing the issue, and trying to manage day to day with one of their senses underperforming. Like any other health situation such as sight, addressing hearing loss early ensures you can remedy the problem and continue to enjoy an active and full lifestyle. Research shows that ongoing stimulation of the cognitive functions allows the brain to keep engaged and maintain good memory and communication skills.

If you are one of the majority that has sidestepped hearing issues and you’re ready to bring your hearing back in line, then you need to know what you should look for when selecting an audiologist. Below we highlight the key factors and choices you need to make.

Audiology experience

Your hearing is so complex that it is vital for a hearing assessment to be comprehensive and thorough. A consultation with an experienced audiologist is the first step on your journey.

Hearing technology is advancing at great speed, but your hearing needs more than just technology. It also needs experience.

At Help in Hearing we are a local, independent, family owned, hearing healthcare practice with a combined 50 years’ experience. We are proud to offer our clients unrivalled standards of professional hearing health care.

Our friendly but highly professional approach has earned us life-long client relationships built on trust, reliability and continuity of care. Many have become friends and are self-proclaimed members of our Help in Hearing family. Our hearing care specialists have exceptional audiological knowledge and their experience in all aspects of hearing care is unrivalled. They are committed to ongoing and continuing education, frequently attending seminars, courses and trade shows to keep up with newest ideas and developments in the industry.

Independent audiologist

When you decide to seek services from independent audiologists, such as ourselves, you are looked after by professionals who are committed to best service, attention and solutions with access to products from a range of manufacturers. Our business exists entirely from recommendations and referrals from clients who have experienced our bespoke, personal but highly professional approach. The latest Which? report confirmed that the highest satisfactory score for hearing care providers was achieved by the smaller, independent local businesses, because to us “it’s personal.”

Hearing health

Our hearing health should be equally as important as eye checks, dental checks and hearing checks and should become the norm from a very early age. We at Help in Hearing advise that hearing tests should be carried out regularly from early childhood through to our senior years.

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.

Listening

An audiologist should listen to your story, establish your family history, find out any related medical information and understand your particular requirements.

Evaluating

Evaluating your hearing requirements will include a number of tests using state of the art diagnostic testing systems. You can’t know this on your own. You may think you are losing your hearing, but maybe you only need to have excess ear wax removed.

Recommending

Your hearing requirements are unique, so it’s important that a personal treatment plan is created for you that exactly matches your lifestyle, technology requirements and budget.

After care

Your audiologist should see you for as many follow-ups as necessary, to ensure that your new device is comfortable and as effective as possible. It is also helpful if the costs of your care can be spread across a hearing plan membership programme.

Client Testimonials

Does your audiologist have good recommendations from other clients? Check out their website and ask to talk to other clients to find out what they think. Or look at online sites such as GroHawk where you can look at reviews. Some of the testimonials we’ve received from our clients:

“Selma gave me the most intensive hearing test, much more sophisticated than at the chemist”

“Selma went above and beyond the call of duty. It’s the personal touch that you just wouldn’t find in the high street.”

“I got sick of seeing so called audiologists who sold me expensive hearing aids without explaining how to use them.”

“I made a lot of mistakes in seeking help and wasting many thousands of dollars and pounds on people who were merely hearing aid salesman posing as audiologists.”

“I recommend Selma to everybody, because not only is she brilliant but she knows how to break through that most insidious aspect of loss of hearing which I see all around me, denial that it is happening, born out of fear.”

“No effort has been spared to ensure that my hearing aids have been adjusted to give me the maximum possible benefit.”

Commitment to quality of hearing care

At Help in Hearing, our commitment to quality of care is unfaltering. We give you as much time as you need and never give up on anyone. Our aim is to help you maintain your hearing health and enjoy life to the full. We ask our clients to rate our service and are very proud to receive an overall score of 94% from our client feedback surveys to date.

Selecting an audiologist – For us, it’s personal.

If you’re based in the Buckinghamshire, UK area, and would like to talk to our experienced audiologists or come in for a thorough hearing assessment, please get in touch either by email or via our website form. You can also give us a ring on 0345 222 0579.

Not had a hearing test before? Find out what’s involved by reading our article: “What to expect at a hearing assessment.”