TALKING POINTS INSIDE
Myths on hearing loss The newest hearing technology and much more...
THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP
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elcome to the first edition of Talking Points; a magazine bringing you the latest news, expert analysis and tips from our team. We hope you enjoy this edition and we look forward to seeing you in practice again soon.
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ROBERT e are pleased to introduce our new joint magazine, Talking Points, as part of our partnership with The Hearing Care Partnership (THCP). We believe in offering the very best in optical and hearing care which you can read all about.
The Hearing Care Partnership are an independent family-run business who put the customer at the heart of everything they do. With our two businesses in partnership and our shared values of patient-centred care, we are proud to provide the highest quality of care and clinical excellence to everyone who walks through the door. Our hearing services include free hearing assessments, the latest in digital hearing aid technology, ear wax removal and much more.
This issue explores the newest in invisible hearing aids that contain some truly incredible technology that can help you hear to the best of your ability. You will also find a look into how stress can affect your eyes and ears plus a insight into why you should be protecting your eyes all year round. We hope you enjoy this issue and would love to hear your thoughts next time you visit us. Happy reading!
Robert Frith THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
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7
MYTHS ABOUT
hearing loss
and why they're NOT TRUE
Charlotte Jones is a THCP hearing expert who works across our network of practices. These are some of the most common misconceptions about hearing loss that she has encountered over the years.
MYTH: It’s easy to tell if you have a hearing loss. FACT: Many people notice the symptoms of hearing loss before the hearing loss itself. Indicators of hearing loss can include: •F atigue: your brain is having to work much harder to establish what people are saying. • L ower energy levels: when you have a hearing loss, listening effort is significantly increased. •S ocial isolation: many people will stop enjoying and attending social events because of problems hearing. •M ental decline: untreated hearing loss results in less stimulation of the auditory cortex (the hearing part of your brain). This accelerates mental decline, resulting in a higher risk of dementia.
“Hearing changes very gradually, so we get used to missing out on soft sounds.” MYTH: Hearing aids make your ears lazy. FACT: Hearing aids support your brain. If you have hearing loss, the earlier you are fitted with hearing aids the better. Untreated hearing loss results in auditory deprivation, where the brain loses the ability to interpret words due to a lack of stimulation over an extended period of time. Hearing aids provide regular stimulation of the auditory cortex, helping to prevent or reverse auditory deprivation. 4 THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
MYTH: If you have a hearing loss, you won’t be able to hear most sounds. FACT: Most people with a hearing loss don’t notice difficulty hearing in all situations. Hearing usually changes very gradually so we get used to missing out on soft sounds: leaves rustling, clocks ticking, soft breathing. For most people, hearing deteriorates in the high frequencies, such as ‘s’ ‘sh’ and ‘f’ sounds, resulting in a loss of clarity, rather than volume. This results in: •S peech sounding mumbled. •D ifficulty hearing in a restaurant (or any background noise) situation. •A bility to hear doors slamming in the distance, but problems hearing speech clearly.
MYTH: It’s better to leave wearing hearing aids until your hearing is worse. FACT: Hearing aids reduce deterioration of hearing. If you wear hearing aids, your auditory pathway is able to function more normally. This results in a slower rate of deterioration in your hearing. Therefore the longer you leave it, the quicker your hearing deteriorates and the more auditory deprivation develops.
MYTH: There is nothing you can do to help tinnitus. MYTH: A hearing assessment is only for people FACT: Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss. who have concerns about their hearing. Therefore, many people find that wearing hearing aids stops them from being aware of their tinnitus.
FACT: Hearing and ear health should be monitored at regular intervals, whatever your age.
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sound for which there is no external source. This is often a ringing, buzzing or hissing noise. Many people with hearing loss experience tinnitus because the auditory cortex receives less stimulation from your ear.
Like visiting the dentist, or having regular eye examinations, it is important to have your hearing and ear health monitored to detect any changes. Every hearing assessment that you have with us is recorded, allowing us to identify and inform you of any changes over time. It is never too early to have your first hearing assessment.
Tinnitus often occurs at the same frequency as the hearing loss. In fact, 90% of tinnitus occurs as a result of hearing loss. Many people find that wearing hearing aids prevents them hearing tinnitus. Many hearing aids are now fitted with a tinnitus relief system – speak to our audiologist who can advise you on the best hearing aids to help you.
MYTH: Hearing loss only affects older people. FACT: Our hearing changes from a young age. Our hearing becomes less sensitive to high frequency sounds from as early as our twenties. 50% of people have a high frequency hearing loss by the age of 50. This can particularly affect the ability to hear in background noise or group situations.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP If you have any questions or concerns about your hearing, or would simply like more information, you can book a free hearing assessment online at www.thcp.co.uk, call us on 0800 52 00 546 or visit your nearest practice.
THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
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IRRITATED
by DRY EYES? What is dry eye?
How we can help you
Dry eye is the most frequent reason why patients contact their optometrists, yet it is under-diagnosed and often incorrectly treated. Dry eye commonly causes discomfort, poor vision and damage to the front of the eye. It is normally caused by not enough fluid being produced in the eye or too much evaporation because the oil glands within the eyelids are not working properly.
Our optometrists are accredited Dry Eye practitioners, so you are in expert hands. We will:-
What are the symptoms? Your eyes may feel:-
• We may take a photo of the front of your eyes which we will show you to explain our findings and to use as a baseline for your bespoke treatment.
• Dry. • Irritated.
• Carry out a careful and accurate diagnosis - key to creating you a bespoke treatment plan. • We will measure the production, drainage, volume and stability of the tear film.
• We assess and grade the extent of the eyelid inflammation.
• Gritty, or you may experience a burning sensation. • A slight blurring of the vision. • You may be light sensitive.
• If you have Blepharitis, we assess and grade the amount of Blepharitis and discuss this with you.
• Contact lenses can feel uncomfortable.
• Blepharitis treatment is a painless procedure and involves cleaning the eye lids, controlling inflammation and increasing lubrication.
• Decreased tolerance of reading, working on the computer, or any activity that requires sustained visual attention.
• We clean the lids using the latest optical equipment - a surgical grade micro-sponge called BlephEx.
• Eye fatigue.
• By unblocking and expressing the oil producing glands this also improves the tear quality and we increase lubrication with your natural tears by controlling the outflow of tears.
•W atery eyes – yes, dry eye can ironically make your eyes water more.
• We can help you control further inflammation with dietary and lifestyle advice. • We will recommend lid hygiene wipes and tear supplements as appropriate for your eyes.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP If you think you have dry eye or Blepharitis, book an appointment with us in practice to see your optometrist.
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YOUR DAILY ROUTINE FOR COMFORTABLE EYES Over 80% of Dry Eye sufferers will also benefit from eyelid cleansing, as well as using eye drops - Why compromise? STEP 1 CLEANSE
PRESERVATIVE
FREE
STEP 2 PROTECT & HYDRATE
BLEPHACLEAN® & BLEPHASOL®
THEALOZ® DUO 10ML & THEALOZ® DUO GEL
Start your daily routine with eyelid cleansing to soften and sooth irritated eyelids - ideal for Dry Eye sufferers.
Thealoz® Duo provides relief for dry, tired or gritty eyes1 with long lasting comfort for up to 4 hours2.
Eye examinations & contact lens appointments available 6 days a week, contact your nearest Robert Frith practice.
1. Chiambaretta F. et al. Eur J Ophthalmol (2017): 27(1): 1-9 2. Schmidl, D. et al. Cornea (2015) 34(4): 421-6
THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
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HearingFitnessTM
Now part of the Oticon ON App, this new data analysis feature helps fine-tune your hearing aid for even better performance.
H
earing aids have come a long way in the last 20 years. Today, they pack incredible smartphone-friendly tech into ever-smaller devices. But what’s the next leap forward? Say hello to Oticon’s mind-bendingly small Opn Custom range, including the smallest in-the-ear hearing aid they’ve ever produced. In the past decade, hearing aids were cumbersome, difficult-to-use and not what you might call ‘smart’. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why only 40% of people who need hearing aids actually have them. But today it’s a different story. Modern hearing aids are small and unobtrusive, tiny technological marvels that are almost invisible when worn. There’s no better example than Oticon’s Opn range of receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids. They were the first internet-connected hearing aids, fitted with super-smart software that helps cut out unwanted background noise and focus on what you want to hear.
BrainHearingTM
Uses localisation, noise reduction, speech clarity and access to all speakers in a conversation to reduce listening effort by as much as 20%.
Five colour options
Choose a colour to match your skin tone.
What Wishes? Our patients tell us that ease of listening in background noise is their number one priority and what they wish for most.
Small, smaller, smallest
Oticon has once again pushed the boundaries of what hearing aids can do. Oticon has expanded the Oticon Opn series to a Custom range, adding five new micro in-the-ear models.
“Invisible in 80% of ears” They’re the smallest Oticon models yet, with research showing that they are essentially invisible in 80% of ears. The smallest model – Oticon’s smallest ever hearing aid – is the diminutive Oticon Opn IIC (invisible in canal), which is completely hidden within the ear canal.
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FROM THE EXPERT
Melanie Gregory Clinical & Commercial Lead — Audiology
At The Hearing Care Partnership we firmly believe in patient-centred care – offering options, choice, care and technology you wish for most. We are really pleased to be able to work with the Oticon Opn, because it ticks so many boxes in our patients' wish list:
Being active and participating confidently are key to enjoying life. Most people would like to wear their hearing aids without thinking too much about them. They would rather have the simple pleasure of natural sound and easy focusing especially in noisier environments. Managing background chatter in a way that does not interfere with listening is important to prevent fatigue and enhance confidence in a social settings. Being able to connect seamlessly with everyday tech like mobile phones and the television.
As with their receiver-in-canal (RIC) models, Oticon’s Opn Custom range is available in multiple colours to suit different skin tones and preferences.
Optional ConnectClip
Enables hands-free calls and stereo music streaming, and works as a remote microphone.
OpenSound NavigatorTM
Multiple microphones and smart software help you hear everything without being overwhelmed.
The new Custom range comes with all the technology you’d expect from a modern Oticon device. Most importantly, they all have OpenSound NavigatorTM built in. This technology scans the local sound environment 100 times a second to block out background noise. Research has shown that it can increase understanding of conversations from 20% to 75%. Quite simply a life-changing difference.
“Increase understanding of
conversations from 20% to 75%” The Oticon ON App
Available for iPhone and Android – control your hearing aid’s volume and program with just a tap. Misplaced your hearing aid? Use the app’s ‘find my hearing aid’ feature.
Tinnitus SoundSupportTM
Built-in tinnitus relief features.
What Wows? The Oticon Opn really wows us, because it ticks all the boxes by bringing us the latest in hearing technology. The hearing instruments monitor your environment continuously and emphasise the voice you would like to hear most. This superfast chip (50% faster) and 360° monitoring of your environment literally opens your world of sound and provides seamless reduction of unwanted noise while still focusing on the voice you are listening to. Because of the speed of processing, Opn hearing aids can communicate with each
other, making sure hearing on both sides is optimised and synchronised in changing environments. What Works? Wearing these discreet hearing aids, whether behind your ear, or invisibly in the ear, helps to be confident with Opn hearing aids. Being able to adjust your hearing aids with your mobile phone adds to the ease of use. The most important thing is that 96% of people who wear Opn hearing aids hear more easily in background noise and listen with less effort – helping you live life to the full.
Even more like normal hearing
Anyone who suffers from hearing loss will know how exhausting it can be. Oticon Opn Custom hearing aids understand that we hear with our brains, not with our ears. When we can’t hear clearly, it’s our brain that takes the strain. To help, Oticon has developed BrainHearingTM – five separate features that all work together to help reduce the tiring neurological burden of struggling to hear conversations. The result is a 20% reduction in listening effort (and a happier brain).
“96% of users say they hear better with Oticon Opn” Just when we all thought Oticon couldn’t fit any more technology into their products, they’ve gone and upgraded their essential smartphone app: the Oticon ON App now gathers real-world hearing data through its HearingFitnessTM feature, helping you and your audiologist fine-tune your hearing aid so you can hear better than ever.
Like what you hear?
Why not come in for your FREE hearing assessment and talk to our audiologist, you can call us on 0800 52 00 546 or visit www.thcp.co.uk to book an appointment.
THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
9
I
n summer time, it's normal to see crowds of sun- seekers with the latest trend in sunglasses on, but in the colder months not so much. Not only do they look great, but they benefit the health of your eyes by protecting them against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, as research into the effects of UV increases, so does our understanding of how we should be protecting ourselves all year round. 10 THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
For your everyday
Daylight hours will always expose your eyes to UV. From bright winter mornings to cool spring dusks, harmful rays don’t discriminate against the time of year! In the UK we often overlook the amount of time we spend outside. This means it’s easy to forget the long term effects of UV damage to your eyes, as well as your skin. Long term exposure to UV is proven to increase the risk of eye conditions such as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. The delicate skin around your eyes will also feel the impact, as UV rays have been linked to premature ageing of skin and even melanoma. According to the Skin Care Foundation up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate clouds, meaning that even when you don’t feel the benefits of the sun’s warmth you reap the harmful effects of UV. Not only this, but more than 50% of the UV radiation our eyes receive is indirect, meaning that it comes from sources that reflect the light or cause glare. This could be a bright reflection from a shop window, or the glare from a wet road – all of which can cause damage to your eyes.
For your lifestyle
Contrary to popular belief, sunglasses don’t just make things darker – they can completely change the way your eyes receive light. The right lenses can enhance your quality of vision when doing the things you love most, whether that’s a day at the beach or skiing down some slopes! When browsing for your next pair of shades, you’ve more than likely seen the term ‘polarised lenses’ advertised on the most current frames. When light hits a surface, it is often reflected horizontally. Polarised lenses contain a special filter, minimising surface glare by acting as a Venetian blind to break up this horizontal stream of light, whilst still allowing light and colour through. Polarised lenses minimise surface glare, which is not only great for driving in wet conditions but also when sailing, letting you look across the water with ease.
If you would like to have a look at any of the sunglasses we have available, please get in touch with us in practice at any time.
Available in prescription STYLE: WIKI WIKI
The view’s better from here. PolarizedPlus2® Sunglasses
THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
11
No laughing matter We look at the unseen side effects of hearing loss
T
here’s more to hearing loss than struggling to hear the TV or telephone. It can be much worse for your social life than you might expect.
Untreated or undiagnosed hearing loss can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, and sometimes even depression. Whether it’s attending local meetings, picking up your favourite hobbies or enjoying dinners or parties with friends and family, they’re often taking place in venues with ‘unhelpful’ acoustics.
Film makers and TV writers love hearing loss. It’s a never ending source of comedy – from hard of hearing grandmas to comically misunderstood conversations, it provides a deep well of funny material.
Hearing loss and the link to dementia
But of course, living with hearing loss in real life is no joke
The simple frustration of not being able to hear conversations with friends and family can be difficult to deal with. Yet there’s another side to hearing loss that’s rarely talked about, and it can be just as profound and life- changing: the impact on your social life.
The knock-on effects of hearing loss
Of course, the worst thing about hearing loss is obvious – you can’t hear as well as you once could. Simple things become difficult. The shop assistant asking you a question, a telephone conversation, crossing a road. But the secondary effect, the psychological impact of not being able to hear your friends and family, isn’t as widely understood. Over time, just as your hearing loss gradually creeps up on you, the social impact can catch you unaware. When you struggle to hear conversations, it’s natural to withdraw from those social situations.
12 THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP | TALKING POINTS
A 2011 study conducted in the US by Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging suggested that those who suffer from hearing loss are also more likely to suffer from dementia over time.* The study found that for individuals over the age of 60, more than one-third of those with dementia also had hearing loss. So it’s clear that identifying hearing loss as early as possible can potentially contribute to slowing the onset of dementia.
Start laughing again
More than 11 million people in the UK are living with hearing loss – that’s 1 in 6 of us. So there are plenty of things you can do to mitigate the effects of hearing loss and help you stay socially active. The first step is getting your hearing tested, no matter your age. After that, there’s a full range of types and sizes of hearing aids available to boost your hearing sensitivity. The latest hearing aid technology is so sophisticated that it automatically scans and analyses noisy environments in a split second, enhancing speech and minimising troublesome background noise. * Lin FR et al (2011). Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Arch Neurol. 68(2):214-220.
LIFE GETTING
BUSY?
This is how stress can affect your eyes and ears
A
lmost everyone experiences stress at some point, especially if you’re going through a hectic phase in your life. If so, you’re not alone: stress is behind 40% of all days off work in the UK. So we’re focusing on some of the less well-known effects of stress: the impact on your eyes and ears. Blood pressure and eyes
We all know stress can lead to high blood pressure, but did you know that an optometrist can see signs of high blood pressure simply by looking at the back of your eyes? That’s because the eyes (other than being the window to the soul, of course) are the only part of the body where small blood vessels – capillaries – are directly visible. This means we can see if the vessels have become thickened, narrowed or even burst. If we detect any of these signs you’ll be referred to your GP for precautionary general health and blood pressure assessments.
Central Serous Retinopathy
Other symptoms of stress can include eyestrain, soreness or twitching of the eye lids. Stress-related eye conditions can be temporary, but if left undetected and untreated high blood pressure and CSR can potentially lead to blurred vision or permanent vision loss. If you notice any changes with your eyes, or have any on-going concerns about your vision, feel free to get in touch with your local practice at any time, as they may be related to other health and eye conditions.
Stress and hearing loss
Prolonged stress can directly affect your ear health, causing conditions like tinnitus or contributing to hearing loss. As with your eyes, decreased blood circulation can also affect your ears, and chronic stress plays a big part in slowing blood flow. When you’re stressed, the extra adrenaline can decrease circulation in the inner ear, damaging or even destroying the essential tiny hair cells inside your ear. This is because these tiny hair cells depend on good circulation to be able to perform their delicate task of translating the noise. If your hearing loss is a reaction to stress then it's often reversible: first cut out the stress for improved circulation (easier said than done – but take a look at the NHS stress buster guide* for some starting points) and then even consider rehabilitation of your hair cells through sound therapy. If you’re concerned about stress-induced hearing loss then look out for symptoms such as blocked ears, an inability to hear sounds at certain frequencies, a sensation of pressure in your ears, loss of hearing in one or both of your ears and sounds seeming more distant than usual. * www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/reduce-stress
BOOK WITH US TODAY
If you have any concerns about your eyes, please get in touch with us in practice at any time. | To book in for a FREE hearing assessment, please call 0800 52 00 546 or visit www.thcp.co.uk
THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP TALKING POINTS
13
Meet THE audiologist
GUY LOVELL BSc(Hons) RHAD
Guy brings a wealth of audiological experience from his previous roles working in a prestigious Harley Street clinic and at the heart of the most innovative NHS departments. This experience equips him with specialist knowledge of a wide range of hearing instruments. He is also an expert in hearing protection products specifically aimed at people working in the music and entertainment industry. Guy prides himself on his patient-focused and personable style, which helps to ensure he truly understands each person’s individual requirements. Guy is a keen sportsman and away from work he can often be found out running or getting lost in country lanes on his bike.
To celebrate our partnership we are offering 10% off * any hearing aid purchases when you bring this advert in to your FREE hearing assessment
* Valid for 2019 and first purchase only
STRUGGLING TO READ
SMALL PRINT?
WE HAVE A SOLUTION It’s completely normal for your eyes to change over time. People usually notice this happening when they find themselves holding things further away, such as a phone or menu, to make it less blurry. Most people begin to notice this change, called presbyopia, around the age of 40, so you’re not alone.
NORMAL SIGNS OF PRESBYOPIA:
Straining your eyes to read
Getting heavy eyes or headaches
Finding it hard to read the menu
small print or a text message
after reading for a long time
in a restaurant or in low light
Solutions to continue enjoying great vision include glasses and contact lenses. DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses are perfect for those who want to be glasses-free and are the ideal choice if you’re looking to combine exceptional comfort and superior breathability.†
9 OUT OF 10 WEARERS AGREE THEY FEEL LIKE NOTHING1
ASK US ABOUT A TRIAL TODAY*
*Professional fees may apply. † Most breathable daily disposable lens dk/t =156 @ -3.00D. Compared to any branded daily disposable lens. 1. Pérez-Gómez I, Giles T. European survey of contact lens wearers and eye care professionals on satisfaction with a new water gradient daily disposable contact lens. Clinical Optometry. 2014;6:17-23. 13199 © 2019 Alcon. DAILIES TOTAL1 and the Alcon logo are trademarks of the Novartis company. GB/VC/VCG/02/19/0024
At The Hearing Care Partnership, our care doesn’t stop after your consultation. We’re here when you need us, so if you need some advice or want to talk something over, we’re here to listen. For total peace of mind, we provide a 60 day 100% money back guarantee, and all our digital hearing aids come with 3-5 year warranties, free servicing and maintenance, and free batteries for 3-5 years. We understand that hearing aids can be a big investment. To help you spread the cost, ask about our Hear Now, Pay Later plans.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE • Free Hearing Assessments
• Tinnitus Management
• Hearing Aid MOTs
• Hear Now, Pay Later
• Lifetime Aftercare
• Ear Wax Removal from £40
The Hearing Care Partnership Robert Frith Optometrists 104 Heath Road Twickenham TW1 4BW 0203 051 8103
0800 52 00 546 www.thcp.co.uk
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