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Because Life is Worth Hearing

"When you lose your sight, you lose touch with things. When you lose your hearing, you lose touch with people." 

Helen Adams Keller 


Just as it is important to have your eyesight checked, your hearing should be tested on a regular basis by a qualified hearing care professional. Hearing is an essential part of life, because it connects people. A loss of hearing can disconnect you from the world around you. That’s why we strive to learn about every single patient's world. By understanding the role that sound plays throughout each person's day, we can keep them connected - so they can get more out of life.

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1 in 6 adults experience some degree of hearing loss

  • One in every six people in Northern Ireland suffer from some form of hearing loss and for people aged 60 and over this figures increases to one in three  
  • A loss of hearing can lead to isolation, depression, cognitive decline and dementia. It is important to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Do you have hearing loss?

Our online hearing test will give you a clear indication of how well you are hearing, using background noise and self-evaluation questions.

 

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Your brain works harder than your ears

Whether you are sitting in a cafe, talking on the phone, or listening to music, your brain filters out a flood of irrelevant sounds so you can concentrate on the information you want.
A healthy hearing system can recognise low-frequency sounds like a double bass, and high-frequency sounds like the tweeting of birds. It can process very quiet sounds like the buzzing of a mosquito, and extremely loud sounds like a jet engine starting. What’s more, your brain can help you determine where a sound is coming from, and give you a feel for how big a room is.

The hearing process

The Inner Ear

The inner ear

Sound waves cause fluid in the snail-shaped cochlea to move, and this movement is picked up by the sensory cells, which send electrical impulses to your brain.

The Middel Ear

The middle ear 

Three tiny bones and the eardrum make up the middle ear: the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. They work together to amplify sound.

The Outer Ear

The outer ear 

The shape of your ear ensures that sound waves are captured and directed through the auditory canal into your eardrum.

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The brain

Once impulses are sent to the brain, it processes the data so that we can decide what is relevant in this particular situation and act upon it.

It is important to treat hearing loss

The sooner you act, the sooner you stop the negative effects of hearing loss from developing - and the sooner you begin to regain sharpness, confidence and control.

Research consistently demonstrates the considerable effects that hearing loss has on social, psychological and cognitive performance. Over time, reduced aural stimulation can impair the brain’s ability to process sound and recognise speech. When you can’t hear what’s going on around you, your mental sharpness suffers. Hearing loss can lead to isolation, depression, cognitive decline and dementia. Therefore, it’s important to begin treatment as early as possible.

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    Noise-induced hearing loss

    This is often caused by overexposure to excessive noise. It threatens the hearing of military personnel, kindergarten teachers, factory workers and farmers - to name just a few. Rock concerts and loud earphones can also damage people’s hearing. That's why it’s important to wear ear protection when exposed to excessive noise.

    Learn more
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    Age-related hearing loss

    This is caused by life-long wear and tear on the hearing system. The most common symptoms are having difficulty hearing soft voices, and having trouble hearing speech when background noise is present. Often, relatives notice age-related hearing loss before the person with the issue becomes aware of it.

    Learn more
  • Tinnitus_250x250

    Tinnitus

    Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition such as hearing loss or an ear injury. It can have a huge impact on the lives of some people. 80% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss without being aware of it, and may be able to benefit from having hearing aids fitted.

    Learn more

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