IMAGINE if you could no longer hear the sound of birds gently singing, a clock ticking, someone whispering or leaves rustling in the wind. Amazingly, for a large percentage of our population that’s exactly what is happening.

Because hearing loss happens so gradually, we don’t even notice that we are slowly losing one of our vital senses. The passage of time leaves us thinking that nothing’s changed. If your eyesight gets worse we notice straight away - hearing loss, though, is an invisible handicap.

Statistics show that, because of this lack of perception, we delay a hearing test for many years - by which time the problem can have advanced significantly without us knowing.

The statistics also show that almost half of all people aged 50 or over have some form of hearing loss. The figures throw up some amazing facts - and the subject of hearing loss is remarkable for the huge number of people it affects. It’s a simple fact of life that our hearing gets worse as we get older and it affects virtually everyone.

At the age of 65 the statistics show that 62% of people have some kind of hearing loss. By 70- it’s 70% and by 85 it’s 85%.

“Age is the main reason for hearing loss,” said hearing expert Tim Lapham of Island Hearing, “but there are other factors too, such as inherited hearing problems passed on genetically and damage to ears through excessive noise.”

Tim Lapham is highly qualified in the subject of hearing loss and has been an approved hearing aid dispenser since 1998. He decided to set up Island Hearing to provide the Isle of Man with a truly independent consultancy to guarantee complete freedom to dispense the best available product at each price point, regardless of manufacturer.

He added, “This approach is unique on the Isle of Man. Every other provider will only dispense their own ‘preferred’ brand of hearing aid. It’s not unusual for one company to charge in excess of £6,000 - £7,000 per pair for an instrument which normally retails for well under £4,000. This ‘rebranding’ or ‘repackaging’ is designed to make product and price comparisons extremely difficult for the hearing aid user, and is used by some companies to keep their prices as high as possible or provide poorer quality hearing aids.”

Tim Lapham also pointed out that ‘rebranding’ makes it almost impossible for adjustments to be made by anyone other than the original provider, thereby removing choice.

As in the UK, there are two ways to obtain hearing aids on the Isle of Man, the N.H.S and the private sector. The N.H.S will provide a hearing aids which are ‘free’ and of a reasonable standard. However, they will not provide an ‘in the ear’ type or cosmetic aid and the technology is usually between 2-3 years behind what is available in the private sector. 

“Like good health in general, we only value our hearing when its gone,” added Tim. “The quality of hearing aids and aftercare varies considerably. A pair of hearing aids that cost £500 will not be as good as a pair of N.H.S hearing aids. However, a pair that cost £6000-£7000 will not be 10 times better !”

As with any important purchase it is best to shop around, as Tim says “Take as much time as you need before you buy, don’t be pressured, and try and get a quote for the price and product. Most reputable companies will do this over the phone.”

The invention of the modern digital  hearing aid is almost entirely down to the space race. The technology jumped a huge distance when the technicians on the Apollo missions to the moon developed microchips to reduce the sound interference on speech messages travelling through space.

In the following decades the technology has continued to move forwards with hearing aids becoming more and more miniaturised and the clarity of sound improving dramatically. In fact, today’s hearing aids are so small and unobtrusive and cleverly designed it’s almost impossible to tell whether anyone is using one or not.

Only fifteen years ago there were only one or two digital hearing aids on the market. Today, there are hundreds. It has become a massive industry. The stigma of wearing an aid has also diminished dramatically. Instead of having a large pink chunk of plastic sitting in your ear for everyone to see, today’s hearing aids are incredibly small and virtually invisible.

It’s only natural, too, for people to not want to feel as if they have to be dependent on a hearing aid but Tim Lapham has found that it’s extremely rare today for someone to go back to poor hearing once they have tried a hearing aid.

Another factor is that hearing loss is much more anti-social than, by comparison, poor eyesight. If you can’t hear someone’s speech people will subconsciously exclude a person with poor hearing from a conversation. However, no one stops talking to someone because they wear spectacles.

This is probably the most difficult aspect of hearing loss that people have to deal with. As we get older and hearing problems develop, we usually lose the abilility to discern the consonants of speech and it becomes extremely difficult to listen to a conversation or the radio or television. It can change your life dramatically.

Island Hearing offers a low cost confidential and very personal hearing assessment, using the latest state-of-the-art testing equipment in a secluded setting at the company’s office in Port St Mary or in your own home if preferred, especially for people who may be house-bound.

The company also offers custom made ear-defenders for gun and motorcycle enthusiasts, industrial screening for businesses and offers free trials by arrangement, a full aftercare service, 5-year worldwide warranties, numerous accessories and a full repair service for all makes of hearing aid. A full and comprehensive hearing test costs nothing but your time. 

Tim Lapham added, “The priority is to provide an accurate assessment of a person’s hearing and then to offer our advice, find the best piece of equipment which is comfortable and efficient and within their budget.

“Coming to terms with hearing loss is not easy and some people may feel embarrassed, frustrated and often isolated. It’s important to remember that the statistics show you are not alone.”

For more information on Island Hearing click here.