Kia ora to all new and existing customers of Hobsonville Hearing! We are excited to bring you our October Newsletter for 2022. We are well into the spring season now, and with lots of exciting things in the pipeline, it is shaping up to be another busy month in the clinic.

In this month's newsletter:

• Shining the spotlight on Lilian Kyle
• Hearing aid care & maintenance
• Why should you have your hearing tested

Lilian Kyle

Tell us about yourself

My name is Lilian, I am semi-retired, and I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. For 28-years I ran my own business in the clothing industry, firstly NZ made and latterly including the importing and wholesaling of clothing, supplying schools, clubs, groups, retail, and the public.  Due to the skills learnt during my business years, I now work with a large accounting company, doing the website maintenance, emailing of updates, and design of logos, letterheads, business cards and other associated promotional products. I am also a volunteer with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) which is both challenging and a great learning experience.

Tell us about your hearing loss and when you first noticed it

To be honest, I never thought I had a hearing problem, I thought it was just that people didn’t speak up or enunciate properly, especially the young ones who mumble constantly, and I had to ask them to repeat nearly everything they said. Although my kids and grandkids thought I was going deaf - I laid the blame on them. I did notice that in groups of people I had trouble hearing but put that down to the noisiness in cafes, where there is often music playing, which you sometimes need to shout over to be heard and to hear. I got myself some earphones so I could hear the TV, especially Neon and Netflix, but put that down to the poor quality of the sound, even though we have the latest smart TV with good quality sound. So basically, I was living in denial.

Prior to getting a hearing aid, how did your hearing loss impact your life?

I didn’t realise how much my hearing loss really impacted my life until I got hearing aids, that was when I realised what I was missing out on. Not hearing properly had started to make me feel a bit ‘dumbed down’ due to the difficulty I had in hearing conversations, it made me feel as if I wasn’t a part of life as much as I had been. My kids started to talk to me like I had an intellectual disability, speaking to me in slow, loud and concise sentences like I was a child, which didn’t help with my self-esteem much. When I used my earphones for TV, I isolated myself from everyone, I couldn’t hear what was happening around me without taking off my earphones, not even the phone. My poor hubby was starting to feel a bit lonely, so it impacted on our relationship. 

At what point did you realise you needed to do something about your hearing?

I got a blocked ear so rang the doctor to get my ear syringed, they referred me to Abby to have wax extraction done. I happened to mention to Abby that now the wax was extracted, maybe my hearing will improve because my kids reckon, I am going deaf.  She asked me if I would like a hearing test, to which I said “no” because you will probably tell me I need hearing aids which I don’t want or need.  She said “no, that’s not what we are about, if I don’t think you need them, I will tell you.” That satisfied me so I went ahead and had a hearing test and guess what? – the computer doesn’t lie. The evidence was right in front of me – I had a hearing problem. Abby patiently and carefully went over all the options with me, and I decided to do something about it, so I got hearing aids.

Did you do any research about hearing solutions before coming to Hobsonville Hearing?

No, I did no research, if it hadn’t been for my blocked ear I would have just continued as I was. I have done more research and learnt more after coming to Hobsonville Hearing due to Abby. She is extremely knowledgeable and has taught me a lot about how hearing problems impact lives, both psychologically in relation to isolation, feeling left out and stupid, and physiologically with the links to dementia, cognitive abilities, and aging.

Tell us about your hearing aid journey and how it has impacted your day-to-day life

The impact of hearing aids on my life has been immense. I now hear every word that people say, even in crowded restaurants, meetings and cafes which means I can actively take part in social occasions and keep up with the play. The TV has been turned down, and the earphones have been dispensed with. I can have a conversation with people while TV is on and be a part of the group. In fact, I often ask that the sound be turned down on the TV as it is too loud – amazing! Normally I would have it at full volume and often with subtitles on as well. Have you ever tried ‘reading’ a movie?  - not recommended!

The other thing I have noticed is that my memory has improved, I can remember names and events so much easier, I reckon my cognitive skills have sharpened up a lot which has added to my confidence.  I have my hearing aids tuned into my iphone which is marvellous, I can listen to podcasts, hear when my phone rings and when a message comes in. That’s a win-win situation.

The service I received from Abby has been unquestionable, she has given me the confidence to go ahead and get hearing aids, to embrace the experience and to get the most out of it. I was worried that it would make me feel old, but to the contrary it has made me feel younger and surer of myself. I wish I had done it years ago.

Hearing aids or their ear pieces sit inside the ear, which means they collect wax, moisture and debris that can affect their performance. Whether you are a new hearing aid wearer, or an experienced wearer, it is important to understand how to maintain and clean your hearing aids. Here are some important tips when it comes to maintaining your hearing aids at home:

Brush the microphones on your aids, these often get very blocked with dust and debris and can dull the sound quality that is transmitted to your ears.

Change your wax filters often if you are prone to wax build up. A blocked wax filter is the most common reason a hearing aid can stop working. It is always worth changing this filter if your hearing aid stops working, even if it doesn't look blocked - you'd be surprised at how often this solves the problem.

Use a tissue or alcohol pad to clean your hearing aid dome or mould (if applicable). If you pinch the dome inside of the tissue and rub your fingers together, this helps to remove any trapped wax, skin and debris from the vents in your dome. It is a common misconception that domes need to be changed when they are blocked - unlike wax filters, domes have a much longer lifespan and can be easily cleaned. Domes can last up to 12-months. You should change your dome if it feels loose on the hearing aid or if you can't get it clean.

When you are not wearing the hearing aids, they should be stored in a safe, dry space, out of reach from children and pets. For rechargeable aids, placing them in the charger at night or when not in use keeps them safe and also charges the battery. Do not store hearing aids or their chargers in the bathroom.

We are in the process of creating more helpful tutorials for hearing aid care and maintenance, plus some helpful tips to make your life with hearing aids a bit easier. We will keep you updated on when these will be available on our website and other platforms.

If you have any further problems with your hearing aids, you can drop into the clinic for our complimentary clean and on-site service. We are always here to help! 

It is important to undergo regular hearing tests from your mid-50s onwards and especially if you are or have been exposed to noise through your job or in the military. It may be worth booking in for a 15-minute hearing screen if you are experiencing any of the below:

• It sounds like people are mumbling a lot
• You have trouble hearing clearly in noisy settings
• You are asking people to repeat themselves
• You need to turn up the volume on the TV
• You avoid social settings because of the background noise
• You feel tired after being in a challenging listening environment
• You find yourself leaning in closer towards people to hear them
• You have difficulty hearing people if they are wearing a facemask, facing away or in another room

A hearing screen is a quick pass/fail check to see whether you have a hearing loss and need a diagnostic test. The appointments cost $20 and are complimentary for gold card holders.

As always, we are here to help you with all of your ear-related needs:

Visit our website at www.hobsonvillehearing.co.nz

Email us on [email protected]

Call us on 09-930-9880

Or visit our clinic during opening hours 8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday,

You received this email because you signed up for Hobsonville Hearing.

Unsubscribe