Hearing Aids Across Scotland

Have we earned your vote?

2012-03-02T03:10:00.000-08:00

People of all ages around the UK are being invited to join the search for the country's top hearing expert. Audiologist of the Year is recognised as the leading accolade for hearing professionals and is judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

The award recognises the work of audiologists throughout Europe who go beyond the call of duty in their quest to deliver a life changing service for their patients and clients. Patients with inspirational stories to tell are encouraged to vote. It may be your hearing professional has provided support at a time of real need or delivered care over many years. Anyone can enter providing you've had a hearing device fitted in the last five years. All you need to do is to tell about the care you received and the difference it has made to your life. If you would like to help us again this year email us for a nomination form which you can download or complete on line.

www.audiologistoftheyear.eu

Race for 2012 Audiologist of the Year begins

2012-02-07T02:18:00.000-08:00

For the fifth year running hard of hearing people across Europe once again have an opportunity to show their appreciation for the people who care for their hearing. The world's no.1 selling hearing aid battery manufacturer, Rayovac, has teamed up with Audio Infos magazine to find the 2012 Audiologist of the Year.

They are looking for hearing patients in the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Sweden to nominate professionals who they believe go the extra mile to help them overcome their hearing problems.

The winner will follow in the footsteps of 2011 champion Jens Warnecke (Germany) who was crowned winner at the EUHA hearing congress in Nuremburg last October. He picked up the title ahead of AIHHP's own Robert Beiny (UK), Michel Bourdin (France), Lidia Rossello Martinelli (Spain) and Anna Kennryd (Sweden), who were each named national champions in their own countries.

Rayovac marketing manager Paula Brinson-Pyke said: "It’s a great pleasure for Rayovac to be launching the 2012 Audiologist of the Year award in partnership with Audio Infos. We look forward to reading each of the many hundreds of entries we receive for each country.

"Audiologist of the Year has become an important standard within the industry and it will once again highlight the expertise, professionalism, dedication and compassion with which hearing professionals approach their job.

"We were delighted to welcome Jens to our winners club in 2011 and want to hear more patients telling us why their audiologist deserves the award."

The Audiologist of the Year award, which was first held in 2008, has grown to become the leading industry award for hearing professionals and is judged by a panel of industry experts. All nominations are judged anonymously with the judges particularly looking for audiologists that demonstrate:

• Outstanding commitment to the patient
• Support for the patient and the family
• Making a difference in the patient's life
• Knowledge about new technologies
• Working closely with other specialists, providing a team approach

Entries can be made online – or via post - and votes can be cast until 13th July 2012. Further information is available at the competition website. The overall winner of the competition will again be presented with their award and prize at the annual EUHA Congress which will be held in Frankfurt in October 2012. Each of the national champions also receives an award as do the nominating patients. (All nominations have to be made by patients)

For more information about the competition visit www.audiologistoftheyear.eu.

Did you know #2

2012-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Quintus Pedius was a Roman painter and the first deaf person in recorded history known by name.

He is the first recorded deaf painter and his schooling is the first recorded education of a deaf child.

The height of discretion

2012-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

Long gone are the days when a hearing aid was a large, obvious, embarrassing beige-coloured prosthesis with poor performance. Just like computers and mobile telephones from a decade ago, modern hearing aids are now available as much smaller devices and they perform in unthinkable ways compared to ten years ago. The best type of hearing assistance depends on the level of hearing loss, lifestyle and size of ear canal. However, they are all significantly less noticeable than trying to cope unaided with hearing difficulties. Nothing is more obvious than frequently asking people to repeat themselves.

Fractal tones help tinnitus

2012-01-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing in one or both ears and although many people have experienced this condition temporarily after being in a noisy environment or whilst suffering from a head cold, for over 7 million people in the UK, it never goes away.

Tinnitus has been and still is the object of extensive research in terms of establishing effective treatment methods or management strategies. Tinnitus is for many a distressing noise leading to increased stress and affected quality of life. As stress is one of the highest exacerbating factors involved with tinnitus, stress reduction is a vital element in effective tinnitus management. To this end and inspired by the relaxing effect of certain types of music, Widex, a Danish hearing instrument manufacturing company, developed ‘Zen’ programs to help tinnitus sufferers.

Based on what is known as fractal technology which ensures that the music is predictable without repeating itself, Zen is a unique music program available in some Widex hearing instruments. Zen plays random, chime-like tones that can be used for relaxation and for making tinnitus less noticeable.

An experiment was conducted in 2009 at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to determine the effectiveness of fractal tones, contained within this hearing instrument, with tinnitus patients. The experiment concluded that fractal tones corrected for hearing loss are effective in relaxing the tinnitus sufferer, as well as reducing the annoyance of tinnitus.

To find out more information on this technology, simply contact us or call us on 0131 220 1220.

Happy New Year from House of Hearing!

2012-01-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

2012 is upon us, and all of us at House of Hearing wish you a very peaceful and prosperous year ahead. It's time, of course, for New Year resolutions, and perhaps time to get your hearing checked. Hearing voices clearly on TV is often a problem for people who have even a mild degree of hearing loss, and often people aren't aware of how much technology is available these days to assist with this.

From specialist infra-red TV listeners, to state of the art hearing aids which will receive a direct wireless transmission from a small device attached to the TV, there are many options which take the headache out of trying to hear what's going on.

If your festive TV-watching has left you with complaints about the volume ringing in your ears, fatigue from concentrating so hard to follow the dialogue, or even a sense of anti-climax from having read the punchline on subtitles a few seconds before it was actually delivered, come in for a free hearing check and a chat.

Beat the January blues by improving your hearing... and your quality of life.

The ears have it...

2011-12-21T06:13:00.000-08:00

Nature has equipped all mammals with two equally functioning ears as a primary means of survival, both for locating food and for hearing approaching danger. For humans, two-eared hearing is just as necessary to survive in our modern noisy societies; to hear in traffic, in crowds and to understand speech. Hearing properly with two ears means the difference between simply listening to noise and hearing clearly with understanding.

The hearing centre of the brain relies on two independent ‘microphones’- the ears. If only one ear is functioning properly, there will be difficulty in understanding speech in noisy environments and in locating the direction from which the sound is coming. Scientific research as well as individual experience, confirms that most people with a hearing loss in both ears, can benefit greatly from wearing binaural (stereophonic) hearing instruments i.e. a hearing instrument for each ear that responds to sound correction. The major benefits are:-

Better understanding in noisy places – By wearing two hearing aids rather than just one, selective listening is more easily achieved. This means your brain can focus on the conversation you want to hear and reduce the amount of unwanted background noise more easily.

Better identification of sound direction - Sound direction identification is called 'localisation' and is dependent upon two equally functioning ears. The effect can be dramatic if the sound is a warning signal such as an approaching car.

Clearer reception of softly-spoken words - When only one hearing instrument is worn, volume has to be at a higher level to compensate and this exaggerates interfering background noise and can distort these sounds.

Better sound quality - By wearing an instrument in each ear you increase your hearing distance range and this greater range provides a better sense of sound balance and quality.

Smoother tone quality - Amplification from two hearing instruments requires less volume than with one alone. This results in less distortion and better reproduction of amplified sound.

Better feeling of balance - Hearing with both ears results in a feeling of balanced sound reception also known as the "stereo effect". Hearing with one ear often creates an unusual feeling of having a blocked or ‘dead’ ear.

Less tiring - Many binaural hearing instrument wearers report that listening to conversations is both less tiring and stressful because a lower volume is required to hear clearly, compared to hearing with one ear.

Two hearing instruments are not always suitable, but when they are, you can be sure that your hearing aid audiologist has your best hearing interest in mind.

Why I'm looking forward to IEMs with ambient mics...

2011-12-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

In a welcome development for current and prospective in-ear-monitor users, ACS have recently launched their Live! versions of their T-series custom IEMs.

IEMs from ACS are made from medical grade soft silicone, which gives unbeatable comfort and a perfect fit in the ear, ensuring that external sound is reduced by the maximum amount possible. This is an unmentionable bonus when listening to, for example, an mp3 player on public transport. Earlier this year, on a flight to the States, there were not one but two babies making themselves heard most of the way across the Atlantic. Plugged into the aircraft's entertainment system with my ACS T2s, I was only even remotely aware of the screaming when the movie I was watching went silent.

However, for musicians playing in a live environment, this almost total exclusion of external sound can be a problem. While the mix in your ears is carefully controlled and balanced, there is a deadness to being shut off like that which is difficult to describe, and fairly disconcerting. Shutting out the onstage noise from drums and guitar amps is nice... but it also removes the sensation of being connected to what else is going on on stage, and in particular, with the audience. Up to now, being a keyboard player in a band from time to time, I have got round this either by taking one monitor out, or if it was available, setting up a condenser microphone somewhere near me and feeding that in to my in-ear mix. The microphone solution is the better of the two, although it adds hassle and cost to the experience. Removing a monitor from one ear re-connects you to reality and returns you to the 'live' experience, but, perhaps particularly as a keyboard player playing stereophonic samples, ruins your in-ear mix, subjects your ear once again to potentially dangerous levels from drums and amps, and leaves you wondering why you spend a sizeable chunk of cash on a pair of in-ear-monitors.

This is why the built-in mics in the new ACS Live! series are so promising. A beltpack control unit will be available soon (estimated March 2012) allowing you control over how much external sound you get in the mix, which will inevitably be a different amount for different musicians, and differ from gig to gig and from venue to venue. Until then, the ambient mics will be disabled.

The second important feature in the new range is a removable cable. With IEMs being inserted and removed regularly by gigging musicians, the cable can be put under a fair amount of strain, most especially at the point it joins the monitor shell. With a recessed socket preventing damage to the contact pins, this should translate into more reliable and robust performance from the IEMs.

Hats off to ACS.

AIHHP member wins top audiology award

2011-12-03T00:58:00.000-08:00

Hertfordshire hearing specialist and founder Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP) member Robert Beiny is celebrating after being named the Rayovac Audio Infos Audiologist of the Year for 2011.

Robert, who runs the Hearing Healthcare Practice in Harpenden, was chosen as the winner by a panel of the hearing industry’s leading figures. He was nominated for the award by the mother of a 20-year-old girl who, with his support, has overcome years of problems to fulfil her dream of becoming a flight attendant. Despite completing a travel and tourism course, she gave up her ambition to become a flight attendant at college after being told airlines would not hire someone with hearing aids.

This changed over a period of months starting in December 2010 when she first went to see Robert who spent time testing several hearing devices that she was happy with and which suited her cosmetically. After eventually selecting a model that suited her hearing requirements, and with her self-confidence transformed, she went for several interviews as a flight attendant, before landing her dream job.

This is the second time Robert has won the award, and marks a tremendous achievement for AIHHP and its membership, which has now provided a total of seventeen different award winners since the awards were launched just four years ago, including three of the four overall winners. Other AIHHP members who received commendations in 2011, included; Jo Rae (The Hearing Healthcare Practice), Nick Chitty (Oxford Hearing Centre), Paul Scigala (Sound Advice Hearing Centre) and Vicki Skeels (The Hearing Care Centre). Our own Stephen Fairfield and Shona Jackson have received commendations in recent years.

AIHHP was established by eleven founder members in 1994 and is a professional association dedicated to promoting excellence within the UK Hearing Care profession. AIHHP members provide a range of high quality services including hearing assessments, hearing aid provision, hearing protection and other specialised services relating to hearing.

Current Chair, Rob Davies commented “Whilst being a fantastic testament to Rob’s skills as a hearing aid audiologist and his professionalism, it is also great news for AIHHP. It shows that if someone visits an ‘AIHHP’ accredited hearing care centre, they can be sure that they will be provided with the best possible standards in hearing care available today.”

For more information on the competition visit www.audiologistoftheyear.eu

Battery offer now on!

2011-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas season now upon us, we at the House of Hearing are delighted to extend our goodwill to all customers. Our incredibly popular battery offer returns once again this year, with a twelve pack of batteries on offer during December for £4.00 (normally £6.00).

House of Hearing comes to Glasgow!

2011-11-21T05:34:00.000-08:00

House of Hearing are delighted to announce the opening of a new centre in Glasgow! This is a joint venture with Scotland's leading independent optical chain, Black & Lizars, and is the first of what we hope will be a series of new dispensing locations throughout Scotland.

The new store is situated in their highly impressive Fenwick Road branch, in the south side of Glasgow, and our dedicated audiology suite within the centre sits perfectly alongside the high level of clinical eye care and optical products already available in the store.

Colin I'Anson, one of our younger dispensing audiologists, originally hails from this part of the world, and he has taken responsibility for managing the store. Providing a centre in Glasgow is obviously a boon to many of our existing customers from the west, and part of our strategy to offer what we see as the highest level of digital hearing aid provision throughout Scotland.

If you wish to make an appointment to see Colin then please contact the store directly on 0141 621 1122.

Getting in tune

2011-10-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

Scientists believe it is possible to tune the cochlea so that sound bypasses damaged areas of nerve.

The theoretic possibility of restoring hearing in a re-tuned cochlea is described by scientists from Switzerland and South Africa in a scientific journal. The idea is to let functioning parts of the cochlea take over the sound processing from damaged parts. Injury to the cochlea (nerve centre of the ear) is a common cause of hearing loss. The damage may be done by infections, medications, acoustic trauma and ageing. Whatever the cause, the resulting damage affects the ability to detect sounds in certain frequencies, such as the frequencies of human speech. The hearing loss appears as holes in the normal frequency range.

These holes may be closed by re-tuning healthy parts of the cochlea to make them able to receive and process sounds that would normally be processed by the damaged areas.

Did You Know?

2011-10-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

£700 for a plastic ear? That is illogical, captain.

It may seem completely illogical, but fans of the smash television show Star Trek are expected to fork out hundreds of pounds for a single piece of memorabilia from the franchise.

For a false ear worn by key character Mr Spock in the first Star Trek feature film has come up for sale - and is expected to fetch a staggering £700.

The silicone latex auricle with its famous pointed end has been carefully preserved, and now Trekkies - as fans of the hit show are known - are queuing up to buy it.

Pumping up the volume

2011-09-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Our brains turn up the volume when we speak. Neurons in different parts of our brain decide what we hear. Our brains can filter out unwanted noise so that we can focus on what we are listening to. However, when it comes to our own speech, there is a network of volume settings, which can selectively silence and amplify the sounds we make and hear. These are the findings of a brain study from the University of California, Berkeley. Activity in the auditory cortex when we speak and listen is amplified in some regions of the brain and muted in others.

The auditory cortex is a region of the brain’s temporal lobe that deals with sound. In hearing, the human ear converts vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to relay stations in the brain’s auditory cortex where they are refined and processed. Language is mostly processed in the left hemisphere of the brain.

It used to be thought that the human auditory system was mostly suppressed during speech, but evidence has now been found of millions of neurons firing together every time we hear a sound, right next to millions of neurons ignoring external sounds but firing together every time we speak.

Such a mosaic of responses could play an important role in how we are able to distinguish our own speech from that of others. Until this study, it was not clear how the human auditory system was internally connected.

New Staff Member!

2011-09-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to welcome a new recruit to the House of Hearing staff.

David Parsons joined House of Hearing at the start of September and is enrolled on a two year hearing aid dispenser training programme linked to Queen Margaret University.

David already has qualifications in sound engineering and has worked in theatre production both here in Scotland and also on cruise liners across the world. With his technical expertise and wealth of colourful experience, we are sure he will fit in well on the good ship H of H!

Signature 2: The Next Generation

2011-09-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

In a recent blog post, we told you of our desire to deliver exemplary hearing care with quality bespoke hearing instruments for truly individual assistance.

The Signature range of hearing instruments has been especially commissioned by AIHHP 'Centre of Excellence' clinics and we are pleased to announce that a new 2nd Generation instrument has been released called Signature 2.

Easier speech clarity in noise and unparalleled sound quality were two of the most important criteria we looked for and we are pleased to announce that Signature achieves both these goals.

Signature spotlights technology featured in all premium brands but at a lower cost. Using the latest research, we know that getting the best out of your hearing requires a combination of state of the art technology and professional expertise to precisely tailor the sound to match your own unique 'hearing signature'.

By commissioning Signature, we wanted to cut through the hearing aid marketing material with a simple message. Your signature is your seal of approval and is unique to you. This new instrument allows us to personalise the sound quality just for you, even more than before, to make it as individual as your signature.

To find out if Signature is suitable for you, call us on 0131 220 1220 or email us.

Hearing loss time bomb!

2011-09-09T04:34:00.000-07:00

One in three people with hearing difficulties is too embarrassed to wear a hearing aid and refuses to visit an audiologist for advice, according to a recent study by a UK hearing care company. Of those polled only 16% sought help immediately after recognising a loss of hearing.

Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID), which this year celebrates its centenary, has signed a five year agreement with a private hearing aid retailer to work together to remove the stigma of hearing loss and promote hearing health. Together they have pledged to reach one million people nationwide over the next year.

Action on Hearing Loss chief executive, Jackie Ballard says: "Our own research shows that 45% of people who reported hearing problems to their GP were, at first not referred for a hearing test, and that there is, on average, a ten year delay between symptoms and treatment."

According to the charity’s report, Hearing Matters, it is estimated that up to four million people in the UK would benefit from a hearing aid and that this figure will rise as our population ages and noise pollution increases. By 2031 it is predicted that 14.5 million people in the UK will have some form of hearing loss.

People don’t think twice now about having their eyesight checked regularly but they put off having their hearing tested. Anything we can do to remove the stigma and encourage people to take action and seek help as soon as possible will have a huge impact and that is why we offer free hearing screening at all our Centres.

That's purr-fect

2011-08-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

Smokey the pet cat, officially has the LOUDEST purr ever recorded and is now entered into the Guinness World Records. Twelve-year-old Smokey from Northampton peaked at 67.7 decibels, which is about 16 times louder than a normal cat, but has been known to reach a deafening 92db – the same sound level as a hairdryer or lawnmower.

Confirming the cat's purr-themed title, a Guinness spokesperson said: "It's incredible to think a purr can be as loud as a vacuum cleaner!"

Why do we have earwax?

2011-08-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

The outer ear is made up of the ear itself and the canal that leads to your eardrum. The ear canal is about one inch long. The skin of the ear canal contains wax-producing glands that are not present anywhere else on your body.

At first, you might wonder why the ear canal is designed that way. After all, the ear canal is like a tunnel that needs to be open for you to hear properly. So why coat it with wax? Well, the skin that lines the ear canal is very sensitive, and a coating of wax helps protect it. In addition, because earwax is sticky, it can trap dirt and objects that accidentally get into the canal entrance before going any deeper. The quantity and quality of earwax vary from person to person - some people make lots of wax while others make very little.

The most important thing to know about earwax is that you should leave it alone. The ear canal will naturally self clean itself but if you try to remove earwax with a cotton bud, it usually accomplishes one of two unintended goals: Either the wax is pushed in deeper and potentially blocks the canal or the sensitive skin lining the canal is scratched which can lead to infection.

For details on House of Hearing's microsuction wax removal service, click here!

Moose-tastic hearing

2011-08-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Moose have exceptional hearing, thanks to their huge ears which are 60% bigger than human ears and can rotate independently in almost every direction. Their antlers also act like giant hearing aids focussing sounds to their ears from up to two miles away.

Signature: bespoke hearing assistance

2011-08-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

Our desire to deliver exemplary hearing care and value for money without compromising on quality is now available with our own bespoke hearing instrument called 'Signature'.

Easier speech clarity in noise and unparalleled sound quality were two of the most important criteria we looked for and we are pleased to announce that Signature achieves both these goals. Signature spotlights technology featured in all premium brands but at a lower cost. Based on the latest research, Signature recognises the fact that we all experience sound differently. Our hearing is unique. What we hear day to day is unique. Even the way our brains interpret sound is unique. So getting the best out of your hearing requires a combination of state of the art technology and professional expertise to precisely tailor the sound to match your own unique 'hearing signature'.

By commissioning Signature, we hope to cut through the hearing aid marketing material with a simple message. Your signature is your seal of approval and is unique to you. Our Signature hearing instrument carries our seal and is also unique. It allows us to design a hearing aid to perform with all the knowledge we have from years of fittings.

The new instrument allows us to personalize the sound quality just for you, to make it as individual as your signature. Signature instruments also don't whistle when you use the phone or when someone hugs you. They use mainly open-fitting technology so you hardly know they are there and can even be used with an additional range of wireless accessories to connect to your mobile phone, TV, stereo or computer. To find out if Signature is suitable for you, call on 0131 220 1220 or email us.

Answering machine that slows speech

2011-07-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

How many times have you had to replay a garbled message on the answer machine? When people talk too quickly and leave a garbled message it's sometimes impossible to understand, no matter how many times you replay the message.

Replaying messages over and over again is a common enough problem, but it's much worse if your hearing isn't what it used to be and for some, communicating with friends and family can seem like a chore.

The new AB900 from Amplicom is a stand-alone digital answering machine that will simply slow down or speed up message playback, so you can hear every word clearly without distorting the caller's voice.

The AB900 is perfect for households with users of different hearing needs as the volume of a message can be made up to seven times louder. It also has a tone adjustment to help with high/low frequency hearing loss, so every word is loud and clear. Simple to use straight out of the box, with a pre-recorded message, the AB900 also allows you to access messages remotely if you are away from home.

With the AB900 there is no need to keep hitting the replay button, all will be clear the first time! For further details please contact us.

Waxing lyrical...

2011-07-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing's reputation is built upon the provision of the highest level of care and service to our clients. We know that ear wax (or cerumen to give it the correct name) is not the most pleasant of substances, but if there’s one thing that regularly affects our patients, their hearing aids and our ability to carry out our job, it's wax! Blocked ears render hearing tests inaccurate, cause even the most sophisticated hearing aids to malfunction or whistle, and ear impressions to be useless.

Nearly two years ago House of Hearing established a full wax removal service in our Edinburgh centre. This service is provided by Mairi Macleod, who is both a registered nurse and a hearing aid audiologist. Mairi trained as an aural care nurse at Rotherham Primary Health Ear Care Centre, under the auspices of Sheffield University and then completed further specialist training in wax removal using microsuction through Stoke Mandeville hospital with Mr Ian Botrill, consultant ENT surgeon.

Wax removal is done using a microsuction machine, rather than the older irrigation techniques. This advanced practice, employed by ENT surgeons, is regarded as the safest method of wax removal. Mairi also illustrates the effects using video otoscopy, providing customers with a clear view of the ear canals before and after the procedure. In keeping with the high standards that we set at House of Hearing, her professionalism is regularly praised - by staff and customers alike.

Our wax removal service is available fortnightly, on a Tuesday or Wednesday at our Edinburgh premises. This service is available to our clients and members of the public. We are happy to take referrals from GP surgeries too, and will provide a report, including otoscopy photographs where required.

To make sure you ear canals are up to the job why not arrange to come in and experience the service for yourself.

Is Tinnitus an alarm bell?

2011-07-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing in one or both ears and although many people have experienced this after being in a noisy environment or whilst suffering from a head cold, it is thankfully, only a brief intrusion to their hearing.

If it develops into constant tinnitus, this should not be ignored. In these cases, further advice, diagnosis and possible treatment should be sought, as it can be a symptom of other problems and an early warning of more serious underlying hearing loss. It is estimated that over seven million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus, yet only three million people have consulted their GP or a hearing professional with the condition. Many people choose to do nothing and simply resign themselves to live with the problem.

We now know that tinnitus is not a single problem, but can be a common symptom of underlying causes. This can be anything from noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to loud environments; a side effect of certain drugs and medicines; or in some extreme cases, more serious medical conditions.

In many cases, hearing aids have been shown to be helpful in coping with tinnitus. Tinnitus can be commonplace in those who are diagnosed as having a hearing dysfunction, possibly due to the damage to the hearing system, which is associated with its onset. For those people, a hearing aid may not only help to make external sounds more audible but may, in several cases, reduce the level of the tinnitus.

Vote now!

2011-07-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Vote for your hearing care professional - People of all ages around the UK are being invited to join the search for the country's top hearing expert.

Audiologist of the Year is recognised as the leading accolade for hearing professionals and is judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Hearing aid wearers and the hard of hearing are encouraged to nominate hearing specialists for the 2011 Rayovac Audiologist of the Year award. The exciting award aims to celebrate the skill and dedication of the UK's 3000 plus hearing professionals who make a huge difference to the lives of their patients.

Patients with inspirational stories to tell are encouraged to vote. It may be your hearing professional has provided support at a time of real need or delivered care over many years. Anyone can enter providing you've had a hearing device fitted in the last five years. All you need to do is to tell about the care you received and the difference it has made to your life.

Anyone interested in entering the competition can find out more here where you can also cast your vote. The closing date for entries is July 15th 2011 and entries are judged on the quality of the story they tell.

Hearing is one thing...but listening is quite another!

2011-07-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

How many times have we heard "Sorry…I know you're talking but I can’t hear what you're saying". We hear with our ears but we listen with our brain. The problem happens frequently in many situations and we have often featured articles relating to just how important the brain and cognitive processing is in our ability to hear clearly and understand speech.

However, we are pleased to announce that we now have a new and innovative practical training programme to improve listening skills whether or not you wear hearing correction. It will help the brain improve communication skills such as: understanding speech in noise; focusing on one voice in the presence of other voices and increasing auditory memory.

The solution is called ‘LACE’ and it stands for Listening & Communication Enhancement. Just as physical therapy can rebuild muscles to compensate for physical weakness, LACE will help develop skills and strategies to deal with situations when hearing alone is inadequate. Whether you wear hearing aids, are just acquiring hearing aids, or simply wish to improve your listening skill, LACE training will help you get the most out of the sounds of life.

LACE retrains the brain to improve comprehension by more than 40% in difficult situations. The self-paced interactive 20 half hour sessions can be run on a home computer or DVD player and we also have it available in a dedicated room at our centres. To learn more about LACE, contact us for further details.

GN Resound Centre of Excellence

2011-06-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing are proud to announce that they have been made a Centre of Excellence by Danish hearing aid specialist, GN ReSound. ReSound Centres of Excellence are a select, highly skilled professional group who demonstrate exemplary customer care and technical expertise.

Making sure that a client receives the greatest possible benefit from their hearing instruments is a highly skilled job. Each hearing instrument must be delicately tailored to each individual, and often require a significant amount of time and expertise after the diagnosis. They often require adjusting as the client becomes accustomed to their new world of sound. This fine-tuning can take several appointments over a number of months. It ensures that the wearer is getting the most from the hearing aids that they have invested in.

To be recognised as a ReSound Centre of Excellence, House of Hearing were able to demonstrate a commitment to expertise, training and professional development in a clinical and caring background, and a comprehensive aftercare programme.

Stephen Fairfield, owner of House of Hearing says

“I am delighted that the care, service and professionalism of House of Hearing has been recognised by ReSound. Our ethos has always been to put the client first and we spend as much time as necessary ensuring that our customers get the best from their chosen hearing instruments. All our customers receive personalised and ongoing fine-tuning based on their hearing loss, personal preferences and lifestyle. And we offer a service and support package which is second to none in our industry. We know that this level of care makes a real, audible difference to our clients and are delighted to accept this award”.

ReSound are a leading hearing aid manufacturer responsible for many of the major technical advances in hearing aid technology in the past 25 years. Their latest product ReSound Alera enables you to hear effortlessly in everyday situations and on special occasions. It has a natural, rich and accurate sound. It also has first generation wireless streaming that connects to the TV and mobile phones. To find out more contact us on 0131 220 1220.

24/7 hearing now available at House of Hearing!

2011-05-25T00:51:00.001-07:00

Lyric, the new hearing device from Phonak, is promising to take the world by storm. Bringing the convenience of 24/7 hearing, along with complete invisibility, the new instrument has wowed those who have tried it. Its placement deep in the ear canal means a quite unprecedented natural quality of sound, and since it remains in the ear while showering and sleeping, brings a never-before-experienced convenience to the wearer.

House of Hearing were the first registered and qualified fitters of Lyric in Scotland. Contact us to find out more details.

House of Hearing in Chicago

2011-04-15T07:30:00.001-07:00

Andrew and Shona had the privilege of making the trip over to Chicago last week, for the American Academy of Audiology convention AudiologyNOW!

The enormous exhibition space at the McCormick Place Convention Center was, as ever, chock-full with impressive stands and displays from all the major manufacturers, featuring the very latest in hearing aid technology and accessories. Giant screens were everywhere, promoting hearing aids or even in one case projecting a cycling game. All for charity, you understand.

Phonak took the opportunity to provide a live demonstration of the UltraZoom and StereoZoom features in their Spice product range, and this proved impressive.

Alongside the exhibition, there was a wide choice of education on offer, from world-renowned speakers, on everything from specialised fitting techniques to marketing tips.

Both were grateful for the opportunity to visit America for this conference, although may have had their fill of burgers for the time being.

House of Hearing upgrade testing suite

2011-03-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

House of Hearing recently took delivery of a brand new Otometrics Astera high frequency audiometer, along with Otometrics' latest Aurical Freefit real-ear and visible-speech-mapping system, bringing several new dimensions to the testing and verification suite in our Edinburgh office.

With Edinburgh's tram project having hit the buffers somewhat, the prospect of quietly-efficient public transport passing by on the adjoining Shandwick Place is still something of a dream, and so all testing in the new suite is done in a soundproof booth.

The new audiometer allows testing to be carried out up to 20kHz (conventional audiometers are restricted to 8kHz), bringing a more complete picture of the hearing loss, and allowing the full performance of today's state of the art hearing aids to be unleashed. Modern hearing instruments are capable of amplifying up to 8kHz and in some cases even higher.

House of Hearing staff who have tried out their hearing with the new audiometer have been somewhat dismayed by their complete inability to hear anything above 16kHz...

Readers of this blog are invited to make an appointment to see if they can do any better! Give us a call on 0131 220 1220, or contact us via the website.

St Andrews Open House

2011-03-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing's newest premises in the heart of St Andrews launch their first Open House event on Monday! As with our recent incredibly popular Edinburgh event, there will be an opportunity to have your hearing re-checked and your hearing aids cleaned, serviced and adjusted. These services are completely free of charge for the duration of the event, which runs from Monday until Wednesday 30 March.

There will be a chance to try out the latest bluetooth hearing technology and find out more about the latest in discreet hearing devices, the Phonak Lyric and Starkey Soundlens. With free goodies, and all hearing aid purchases discounted for the three days, the event is sure to be popular, so make sure of your place by calling 01334 470011!

Galashiels Open House

2011-03-15T00:59:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing's office in the heart of the Borders launch their Open House event on Monday! As with the popular Edinburgh event, there will be an opportunity to have your hearing re-checked and your hearing aids cleaned, serviced and adjusted. These services are completely free of charge for the duration of the event, which runs from Monday 21st until Tuesday 29 March.

There will be a chance to try out the latest bluetooth hearing technology and find out more about the latest in discreet hearing devices, the Phonak Lyric and Starkey Soundlens. With free goodies, and all hearing aid purchases discounted for the three days, the event is sure to be popular, so make sure of your place by calling 01896 755474!

Open House 2011

2011-03-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

House of Hearing have run Open House events over several years now and these have proved to be a great success with our customers. They provide an opportunity to have your hearing re-checked and your hearing aids cleaned and serviced. With our in-house ENT nurse, you can also have your ears cleaned too, if required! All free of charge. We usually have a theme for our events and this year it will be demonstrating the wonderful new technology now available, allowing you the opportunity to learn about the latest in hearing aid technology; from the new truly invisible, completely-in-the-canal products, the Phonak Lyric and the Starkey SoundLens, to the latest easy to wear, open-fit micro products, with full bluetooth compatibility for excellent telephone and TV reception.

This year’s event runs from Monday 7th – Friday 11th March in our Edinburgh store, with later dates in March for our Gala and St Andrews events. For more information contact 0131 220 1220... Oh, and did I forget to mention there will be a 10% discount off all hearing aids purchased during the event?

Hope to see you there!

Recycle here!

2011-01-19T06:28:00.001-08:00

An innovative idea being put into practice in our Galashiels shop has an environmental theme. In the UK only about three to five per cent of all household batteries are recycled. Most old batteries end up in landfill, where they can leak harmful chemicals into the soil.

House of Hearing are offering a free clean and check of hearing aids to anyone who brings in their hearing aid batteries for recycling. This invitation is open to any hearing aid user including NHS patients and those with aids purchased elsewhere.

Hearing aids are designed to be precision instruments, and they need a certain amount of basic attention in order for them to perform at their best.

A little care given to your hearing instrument will allow you to get the best possible service out of your device, make it work efficiently and ensure that you prolong the natural life of the aid.

The whole job has been made so much easier by the introduction of this new maintenance offer and we welcome anyone coming in with their hearing aid to take advantage of a free clean and check.

Our hearing aid audiologists will be happy to advise you about the importance of looking after your hearing aid and will be available to talk through any questions on general hearing aid maintenance.

Breakthrough towards hearing loss drug

2011-01-13T06:35:00.000-08:00

Researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have discovered a drug that repairs hearing after damage caused by loud noise.

Until now, exposure to loud noise has led to permanent hearing loss. However, the researchers have shown that if treated with a compound called ‘ADAC’ after noise damage, hearing recovered substantially. The scientists found that a five day treatment of daily injections starting six hours after noise exposure were most effective. Single treatments were less effective but also resulted in some hearing recovery. The drug is thought to work by increasing the sensory hair cell’s ability to break down the damaging waste products, which build up during noise exposure.

This study presents the most effective pharmacological strategy to date for reducing noise-induced hearing loss after exposure to damaging noise. If clinical trials prove successful, this research could mean that, in future, people who are exposed to loud noise and risk damage could be administered a drug to stop the hearing loss becoming permanent.

Hearing Aid Top Tip!

2011-01-06T04:33:00.000-08:00

Don’t leave your hearing aids on a windowsill in a bathroom or kitchen – condensation will readily form on the instrument and may cause it to become faulty.

Moisture can be a real problem for most hearing devices as the tiny microphones and receivers (loudspeakers) are susceptible to moisture ingression and when damp, will not function correctly, if at all. In addition, battery contacts can corrode, causing intermittent or complete malfunction.

Always keep your hearing instruments in their case when not in use and regularly use a proprietary silica gel drying agent. We always have these available at House of Hearing.

Take That Hear the World

2010-12-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

Take That is helping to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Following the return of Robbie Williams, the hugely successful pop group are the latest names to support Hear the World, a global initiative launched by hearing system manufacturer Phonak, joining stars like Jude Law, Elle Macpherson, Annie Lennox, Sting and Peter Gabriel.

“Hearing is something that we rely on every day, even more so being musicians. To lend our support to this campaign is something we are really proud of and are grateful for a chance to play a part in raising awareness of the issue of hearing loss”, Robbie Williams says on behalf of the band.

Hear the World is now one of the world’s largest celebrity supported health campaign currently more than forty high-profile musicians, actors and models from across the globe helping raise awareness for a problem which affects over 800 million people worldwide.

More than 16 percent of the world's population have hearing loss with experts predicting this will to increase to 1.1 billion by 2015. In the UK an estimated 8.5 million people are affected by the condition and struggle for up to 15 years before seeking advice. Studies have shown that this has a significantly negative effect on a person's social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Phonak set up the Hear the World foundation, a non-profit organisation that is committed to improve the quality of life and promote equal opportunities for people with hearing loss globally. To achieve this, the foundation provides financial funds, hearing aids and assistive listening technology. For more information visit www.hear-the-world.com.

Christmas battery offer!

2010-12-02T03:02:00.000-08:00

Eat healthily, hear better

2010-11-03T01:35:00.000-07:00

You may not have thought that food and hearing loss treatment could belong in the same sentence, but good nutrition has been shown to reduce incidents of hearing loss or to slow down the loss of hearing associated with age. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that if you eat two servings of fish (and those fried fish things at the fast food place don't count), you lower the risk of experiencing hearing loss by 42% if you're 50-years-old or older.

Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, a well-studied nutrient that delivers a range of health benefits including a reduction in hearing loss. Other studies have shown that certain micronutrients – vitamins, minerals and compounds – can also lessen the likelihood of hearing loss related to age, called presbycusis. A report released in 2007 showed that folic acid delayed presbycusis in the lower frequency ranges when 728 men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 consumed increased amounts of folic acid. Folic acid is found in green leaf vegetables, like broccoli, lettuce and kale. Another study recommends eating more beta carotene to prevent premature hearing loss. This micronutrient is found in orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, yellow beans and other colorful fruits and vegetables.

Remember the old saying: you are what you eat so eat better foods and hear better longer!

Ear MOT week in Galashiels

2010-10-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing are the Borders only permanent hearing aid centre and have been based at 51 Bank Street, Galashiels for nearly five years. The company specialise in providing digital hearing aid solutions customised for the particular needs of each individual client and have very recently received international recognition for their efforts. Stephen Fairfield & Shona Jackson, the two resident hearing aid audiologists in the Galashiels branch, have both received commendations in the European Audiologist of the Year Competition. These awards, organised by multi-national battery manufacturer Rayovac, are designed to highlight best practice and exceptional customer care in the industry, and this is the first time that two Scottish audiologists have been included in the shortlist.

By way of celebration, House of Hearing are holding a special “Ear MOT” week. From Monday 25th October to Tuesday 2nd November the company will host an event that gives clients, old and new, the opportunity to have their ears checked over and their hearing aids cleaned and serviced. During the week of the event this will all be provided free of charge, along with a complimentary packet of hearing aid batteries.

Stephen Fairfield, House of Hearing’s managing director is delighted to be able to offer this additional service. “House of Hearing is well known throughout the hearing aid industry as providing the highest levels of service and customer care. For Shona and I to be awarded the Rayovac commendations is really the icing on the cake. As part of our celebration, and as part of our ongoing commitment to this end, I am thrilled to be able to offer this Ear MOT week to our clients throughout the Scottish Borders”, he commented.

“Since we established our centre in Galashiels, the business has grown steadily, despite the difficult economic conditions over the past couple of years. We now have satellite centres in both Peebles and Hawick. We also offer a full home-visit service for those unable to travel into any of our three Borders outlets. Although Edinburgh-based for over forty years, we have always had strong connections with the Borders and we understand the needs and perspectives of those with hearing problems throughout the region.”

“Hearing loss is an increasingly common issue. A recent survey published by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) found that almost a quarter of people over 55 missed out on social activities because they had a hearing loss that could be addressed if they saw a hearing professional. But hearing is not just an age-related issue. In a separate survey, the RNID found that 75% of people under 55 experience some difficulty in hearing. “

“These figures are increasing over time, but the good news is that digital technology is always advancing and the solutions available today are streets ahead of what we could provide even five years ago. But don’t take my word for it. Why not pop in and hear for yourself? To book an appointment contact Shona Jackson in our Galashiels office on 01896 755474.”

The sooner, the better

2010-09-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

It is a well-known fact that hearing loss is the third most common health condition behind arthritis and hypertension. We also know that tiny hairs inside the ear that help us hear become damaged and die as we age. For most people, losing hearing is a matter of "when," not "if.” The process is gradual, progressive and quite insidious; some experts say it can start as early as in our 40s when most are healthy and active but may not realise that their hearing has already started to diminish. Just like our joints and muscles, the use-it or lose-it principle applies to our hearing. Understanding hearing loss and treatment options, such as hearing aids, can assure you don't lose it before it is too late.

As you are reading this, one in three people over 65 are suffering from hearing loss but hearing loss affects all age groups. In fact, even though hearing loss is widely perceived as
affecting predominantly older people, the Better Hearing Institute says that 65% of the hearing-impaired are younger than 65. Undetected and untreated hearing loss can diminish your quality of life by making it difficult to communicate and interact with people around you – be it at work or in family and social situations.

So don't wait until you have to cup your ear to hear people around you. Have your hearing checked – and, if needed, treated with some of today's sophisticated digital hearing aids – as soon as you finish reading this article!

Scottish Sinfonia Fringe concert 2010

2010-08-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

House of Hearing are proud to sponsor the Scottish Sinfonia in their 40th anniversary season. Their annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe Concert will include music from Mozart and Strauss, and takes place this year at Greyfriars Kirk, on Sunday 29 August.

Tickets from The Fringe Box Office and the Queen's Hall Box Office, priced £12.

2010-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

In product news, Siemens have introduced the next generation of Motion, Life and Pure hearing systems. The new instrument range is built around BestSound Technology, which includes three new state-of-the-art technologies offering better hearing, improved sound comfort and increased individuality for the wearer.

New to the portfolio is the Pure Special Edition (SE), an especially discreet receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) device. its teardrop shape makes it almost invisible and it is available in two styles: 'Grace' and 'Spirit', giving it a modern and timeless look.

Don't hesitate to make an appointment if you would like to try one out!

Read the signs

2010-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hearing loss is often gradual and not immediately noticed by the person affected. Sometimes friends or family will notice a person's hearing problems before he or she recognises it. For instance, family members may complain that the person listens to the television or radio too loud or asks them to repeat what they've just said. Or, that the person with hearing loss doesn't answer the telephone or doorbell because they didn't hear it ringing. Although each person may experience symptoms of hearing loss differently, some of the most common symptoms may include:

Inability to hear people clearly and fully. People may seem to mumble and those experiencing hearing loss may not hear all parts of a conversation. For instance, someone with hearing loss may miss the essence of a story or punch line of a joke that someone just told
Frequent requests for clarification
Tendency to stare at people when they are talking in order to make it easier to understand what they are saying
Fatigue at the end of the day from straining to hear
Avoidance of social situations because of difficulty in following conversations in noisy environments
Tendency to bluff when not hearing someone because of the fear of asking them to repeat themselves

If any of these signs are familiar then the next course of action should be to have a full diagnostic hearing assessment to establish the cause and potential remedial action.

Going loopy at the Festival

2010-06-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

As many of you will know, House of Hearing have branches in the Borders and Fife, as well as our main office in Edinburgh. Recently our Galashiels branch was asked to become involved with the Borders Book Festival and I am delighted to say that we have been able to support the festival with the provision of loop systems for hearing aid wearers at several venues. The event takes place from 17-20 June and attracts excellent speakers from the UK and beyond. I would encourage you to attend. For more information look at the website, or contact 0844 357 1060.

New processor technology improves clarity

2010-06-11T03:07:00.000-07:00

It has long been known that amplification alone in a hearing aid is not enough to enable someone with hearing loss to not only hear everything clearly again, but also as naturally as possible.

The human hearing system has a distinct dynamic range within which sounds can be detected and remain comfortable. In people with impaired hearing, this dynamic range is reduced. This means that they perceive loudness differently.

The result of simple amplification is that some sounds are still too soft, stay below the hearing threshold level and therefore remain inaudible. Conversely, other signals may be amplified too much, causing loudness discomfort.

To date, with many hearing aids, while most sound signals will indeed be reproduced within the residual hearing range of someone with hearing loss, they may not be perceived correctly in relation to the person's changed dynamic range or sound natural.

A new type of audio-processor is now available and used by several manufacturers in different ways in their hearing systems to manage and control hundreds of parameters.

The ability for all of them to react quickly and accurately to different sound situations means that the very latest audio-processors allow carefully controlled, amplified sound to be more accurately reproduced than before, to keep pace with the ever-changing soundscape a person experiences.

For more information and to find out if these new developments are suitable for your specific needs - simply contact us to arrange an appointment.