Kia ora to all new and existing customers of Hobsonville Hearing! We are well and truly settled in to the new clinic space; we are quickly approaching the 3-month mark since moving in. The larger space has brought in even more people and more LIGHT! If you haven't seen it yet, please feel free to drop by for a hello.

As we enter our busiest period of the year, we strongly advise you book any pre-Christmas appointments early - especially for ear wax removal - to avoid missing out. If you visited us during this time last year, you are likely due for another appointment and should book early to avoid missing out.

For hearing aid wearers, we strongly recommend dropping in to the clinic to have your devices cleaned - especially if you are heading away over the holiday period. Please note: if required, we may charge for replacement filters, domes or other consumables. So bring your hearing aid box with you with all the bits and pieces.

In this month's newsletter:

• Abby's new desk is finally in!
• Our November Patient Spotlight - Virginia Cattell
• Phonak Lyric

Abby dealt with Blair at Workforce Furniture in Hobsonville Point. Blair was great to deal with and an excellent communicator. Abby wouldn't hesitate to recommend his services if you're looking for office furniture.

Tell us about yourself (interests, work, anything interesting, etc.)

I live in Hobsonville Point with my husband – our adult son went to live in Melbourne earlier this year. I was overseas for 20 years and have lived in London, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur, which was fantastic, but we absolutely love life here in this world-class neighbourhood. I am a self-employed contractor, supporting not-for-profit governance, designing websites, and providing a design and proofreading service to several leadership consultants in New Zealand and Australia.

Tell us about your hearing loss and when you first noticed it and how did your hearing loss impact your life?

I had been struggling to catch what people were saying for quite a few years, but you do adapt and become quite skilled at lip-reading without even being aware that’s what you’re doing. However, I was starting to struggle in meetings in large rooms where I couldn’t always see the speaker’s face and that was starting to make my work as a Board Secretary for six non-profit boards quite challenging. I even gave up my role as a minute-taker for a national health forum, as I just couldn’t hear to the level required to record such technical discussions – no margin for guesses! During the height of the pandemic, with everyone masking, it was even more obvious how much I was relying on visual cues to catch meaning.

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

Even though I had a hearing test a few years back through Southern Cross, which diagnosed a level of hearing loss, I had decided to delay the inevitable because I was “too young” and felt I was managing to get by. The expense was also a factor, of course. I finally made the decision to revisit an audiologist after celebrating my 60th birthday with a group of friends and family in Bali and struggling to catch the drift of conversations in the group if not tuned in from the start. The time was finally right…

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

My mother is very deaf and totally reliant on her hearing aid. I hadn’t been too impressed by the issues she’d had at one of the large chains, not to mention how much she had ended up spending on her solution, and thought I would avoid those providers myself. I had seen good things about Hobsonville Hearing on the local Facebook page. Being an independent provider not pushing any one product, as well as being located in my neighbourhood, were key factors in taking that big step to make an appointment.

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

From start to finish, my experience at Hobsonville Hearing was a positive one. Abby explained the diagnosis (congenital rather than age-related hearing loss) and the options that would best match my lifestyle very logically and clearly. I chose the top-end aid that was compatible with my Android phone and would provide the best support in my work situations. Abby's patience and support in adjusting the fit and explaining what I could expect in the days ahead was most appreciated.

I have become quite an evangelist amongst my friends – many of whom admit they are in a similar boat to me. I am preaching about how always wearing Bluetooth “earphones” is so convenient. I can listen to podcasts and receive phone calls straight into my ears. Previously when someone phoned me when I was out and about, I’d ask them to ring back, as the background noise made it impossible to hear what they were saying.

I can now hear clearly in meetings, which makes it so much less tiring to take notes. I also have a Connect Clip accessory, which can act as a remote microphone among other functions. I can pop it up the other end of the board table for even clearer pickup… and if I leave the room, I can still hear what is being said in the meeting. I may be able to add Secret Agent to my CV shortly!

I also love Zumba and can wear my hearing aid while dancing – it’s unnoticeable – and at last can hear what the teacher is saying in between tracks.

What advice would you give to people seeking treatment for hearing loss?

There is an element of stigma that holds us back, as well as the cost and inconvenience of wearing a hearing aid. Having finally taken the plunge, I have no regrets. The technology has come such a long way – the devices are practically invisible, the interface with my phone is so convenient, and even the charging case can be wireless for several days. Not only has the hearing aid improved my work life, but I am back in the thick of conversation at book club, dinners with friends and other social occasions. You don’t really know what you’ve been missing until you hear properly again. I’m already telling my friends and family they need to follow in my steps and pay Hobsonville Hearing a visit.

Abby is currently undergoing training to become a Phonak Lyric provider. Lyric is the world’s first and only 100% invisible hearing aid that can be worn 24 hours per day, seven days a week, for months at a time. The opportunity to fit Lyric is exclusive and limited to very few clinics across the country.

Some of the benefits of Lyric include: 

• Worn inside the ear canal, making the device 100% invisible
• Out of sight, out of mind - you can wear Lyric around the clock for months at a time without taking it out  
• 24/7 hearing - for daily activities such as exercising, sleeping, or even showering* so you can go about your daily routine and enjoy life
• Clear, natural sound - Lyric uses the natural anatomy of your ear to localise sound and delivers a full, natural listening experience

If you’re interested in talking more about Lyric, give Phoebe a call on 09-930-9880.

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