Hearing Loss Doesn’t Have to Slow You Down

Hearing loss can be problematic in a number of ways. Not being able to hear shuts you out of conversations, makes it difficult to watch the telly, and can sometimes lead to social isolation. But we want you to know that things do not have to be this way. Hearing loss does not have to slow you down, as evidenced by the many people we help every day.

Need further proof? Then consider the example of an 80-year-old man from Plymouth considered to be Britain’s oldest disc jockey. Don Barker plays regular gigs in and around Plymouth to throngs of party goers and a group of about 30 fans who follow him to his shows. Don has age-related hearing loss, but that hasn’t slowed him down. He just uses a hearing aid.

Music has pretty much been Barker’s life since he left the Royal Navy to begin DJ work in 1977. Though he is known to play a variety of music as needs dictate, he focuses mainly on disco. Why? Because disco is something people can dance to. And for Barker, that’s what it’s all about. It is thrilling for him to spin his records and encourage people to get up off their bums and start jiving.

We understand that suffering from hearing loss can be a difficult thing. We know that people with normal hearing do not necessarily understand what it’s like to not be able to hear. But we also know that modern hearing aids can do wonderful things. Hearing loss does not have to slow you down; just ask Don Barker. You can still get out there and enjoy life to the fullest even if you don’t hear as well as you did when you were 20. And of course, disco is always on the table.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

The Difference Between a Hearing Aid and a Cochlear Implant

Scientific advancements now make it possible to address all sorts of hearing problems using everything from hearing aids to cochlear implants. What should be made clear is that solutions are applied based on patient need. Along those same lines, a cochlear implant is a unique device that can only be used to address certain kinds of hearing loss. To say that a cochlear implant is not the same thing as a hearing aid is to state the obvious.

A hearing aid is essentially an amplifier. It cannot restore the physical function of the ear to what it was at birth, but it can make hearing sounds easier by amplifying them in the right way. Hearing aids are considered external appliances even though you can buy models that fit completely in the ear canal.

A cochlear implant is used to address profound hearing loss resulting from the basic mechanisms of the ear no longer working. It involves implanting a device in the head – under the skin – that will stimulate the nerves responsible for carrying signals from the ear to the brain. An external piece ‘connects’ with the implant via magnets. The cochlear implant sends signals to the brain that mimic sound without actually producing them.

As you can see, the hearing aid is an amplifier while the cochlear implant is a sound simulator. Both can be used to address different kinds of hearing loss in patients of all ages. If you have any questions about your own hearing loss, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to help restore your hearing as best we can.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

The Hidden Issues of Hearing Loss

To people who have never experienced any form of hearing loss, losing one’s hearing may not seem like that big a deal. After all, you can always turn up the television and speak a little louder, right? Actually, there’s more to it than that. There are a number of hidden issues relating to hearing loss. These hidden issues are things others cannot see.

Not being able to hear properly automatically puts one at a disadvantage. It’s simple to understand if you think about it. People without hearing loss don’t tend to think about others with hearing problems because it is not something that crosses their mind. As a result, they don’t consider how their actions might impact others with hearing loss.

Hearing loss can lead to things such as:

Social Isolation – People with hearing loss can get frustrated in social situations to the point that they stop engaging with others. It’s not unusual for isolation to set in as a result.

Stress and Anxiety – When hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus (which is actually quite common), the result can be stress and anxiety. Having to listen to constant ringing in the ear can be more than some people can handle.

Broken Relationships – Though it is sad to see, there are times when hearing loss drives a wedge between people to the extent that the relationships are broken.

We do what we do at Darroch Hearing Clinics because we know how serious the hidden issues of hearing loss can be. We are here to help you if we can. Please contact us to book your free hearing test or to learn more about our full range of hearing aids and related services. We may be able to improve your hearing.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog