THCP A&A Stevens Opticians Talking Points 2020

TALKING POINTS

INSIDE

Myths on hearing loss The newest hearing technology and much more...

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP 0800 52 00 546 | THCP.CO.UK

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elcome to 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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message FROM

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ANDREW

e are pleased to introduce the latest edition of our 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 is an independent family-run business that puts the customer at the heart of everything it does. 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 latest in invisible hearing aids that contain some truly incredible technology that can help you hear to the best of your ability. You will also see how stress can affect your eyes and ears, and gain an 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!

Andrew Stevens Owner 0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

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.

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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.

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

Keep Laughs Loud.

Your hearing is as important as your sight.

For individuals with hearing loss, the risk of a problem with their vision is 1.5 times greater.

Keep life in full colour.

Book your Hearing Health Check today.

MYTH: There is nothing you can do to help tinnitus. MYTH: A hearing assessment is only for people who have concerns about their hearing.

FACT: Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss.

Therefore, many people find that wearing hearing aids stops them from being aware of their tinnitus.

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.

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.

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

FACT: H earing and ear health should be monitored at regular intervals, whatever your age.

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.

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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LET'S TALK

about

S

ugar seems to be the buzzword that has gripped the nation over the past couple of years, and how we all should be drastically curbing our sugar habit for the sake of our health. While it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of the latest ‘sugar free’ diet, as a dietitian, it worries me that most people are still very confused about sugar: What is sugar? How much sugar is too much? Are there ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sugars? Does sugar make you overweight or cause diabetes? I am on hand to help demystify sugar, as well as help you make healthier choices without having to cut out all of the sweet stuff.

What is sugar?

Most of us think of it as simply the white sugar found in the sugar bowl (sucrose), but it comes in many guises. Despite the ballyhoo that surrounds ‘sugar free’ diets, it’s impossible to be completely ‘sugar free’ because sugars are in healthy foods too – yes that’s right! There’s lactose (found in dairy products), glucose and fructose (found in fruits, vegetables and honey) and maltose (found in malted drinks).

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With State Registered Dietitian Helen Bond

Is sugar public enemy number one?

Sugar is still top of the health agenda and with good reason.

As a nation, we are all eating and drinking too much of it!

The average British adult is getting through around 60g of added sugar a day - the equivalent of around 15 teaspoons.

Teenagers are consuming even more than the older generation, 80g or 20 teaspoons for boys and 65g or 16 teaspoons for girls. A spoonful of sugar here and there may seem harmless, but it soon adds up and can boost your daily calorie intake – which if not used up in your day-to-day life will expand your waistline and cause dental disease.

Does sugar cause diabetes?

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you need to monitor your sugar and carbohydrate intake to manage your blood sugar levels. Over time, uncontrolled diabetes and persistently high blood sugar levels can damage the network of tiny blood vessels in the eyes and the inner ears, leading to vision and hearing loss. If you don’t have diabetes, sugar intake alone won’t cause you to develop Type 2 diabetes, but too much could lead to you being overweight – one of the main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. There is also some research that suggests that having too much sugar in the form of sugarsweetened drinks increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

How much sugar should we have in our diets?

Added sugar, or newly-termed 'free sugars', is sugar that's been added to food by you or a manufacturer, including natural sugars you get in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juice. For the sake of our waistlines and overall health, Public Health England (PHE) recommends we should be halving the amount we're consuming to no more than 5% of our daily calories – that’s around 30g of sugar (or about 7 teaspoons) a day for adults, and less for children, depending on their age.

Naturally occurring sugars, found in whole fruit, vegetables and dairy products, come hand in hand with lots of other useful nutrients, so there’s no need to restrict them in your diet. After all, many of us still fail to reach the recommended 5-A-Day!

Are there ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sugars?

Many articles, celebrities, health bloggers, food manufacturers and diet ‘experts’ will have you hoodwinked that the best way forward when it comes to cutting down or making products healthier is to switch to ‘natural sugars’ such as honey, coconut sugar and agave nectar. Not so!

These ‘natural’ sugars may have a more wholesome image to traditional sugar but no matter what they’re called, any sugar found in a syrup or extract counts as a ‘free sugar’, so you still need to watch your intake to avoid the health pitfalls highlighted above.

Sugar is sugar whether it’s granulated, syrup, honey or treacle — a teaspoon of any of them contains the same calories and your body processes it in the same way.

How to cut down on sugar?

Lifelong healthy eating and living is about taking little decisions along the way that balance pleasure and moderation. Most of us want to enjoy a little sweetness in our lives, so, if you have a sweet tooth but are looking to take steps towards cutting your ‘free sugar’ intake - without compromising on taste - check out my easy hints and tips:

TEN

easy ways to cut down on sugar

Tip 1

Use sugar wisely. Try not to rely on it and use it cleverly, like making nutritional foods more palatable.

Tip 2

Swap the sugar you add to your tea for a low or zero-calorie sweetener.

Tip 3

Make water or low fat milk your drinks of choice.

Tip 4

Swap sugary desserts for fruit with low fat Greek or Natural yoghurt.

Tip 5

Get baking! Make a few simple changes to your ingredients by substituting fruit purees for some of the sugar.

Tip 6

Watch the alcoholic drinks. Enjoy alcohol free days mid-week, alternating your drinks with water and diet soft drinks, and downsizing your wine glass.

Tip 7

Read labels and wise up on ingredients.

When shopping switch to an item that is marked lower in sugar.

Tip 8

Keep fruit juice to one small glass a day.

100% pure fruit juice contains naturally occurring sugars so stick to a small (150ml) glass a day.

Tip 9

Snack on a handful of sweet almonds or walnuts.

Tip10

Recondition your taste buds. Go for foods with naturally sweet flavours – bananas, berries and other fruits are very healthy choices.

Helen Bond is a freelance State Registered Dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. She has 20 years' experience working in the NHS, in PR, within the media and across the food and pharmaceutical industries.

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 Group Head of 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.

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

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

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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.

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0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

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 pop into your local practice.

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.

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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.

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

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

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

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Meet THE audiologist

Imogen Morgan ScFc After graduating from De Montford University in 2010, Imogen worked privately as an audiologist, in various parts of England and Wales for 6 years. Imogen then moved on to working for the NHS in Bristol, where she built on her knowledge of how the NHS deal with hearing loss. Throughout her career, Imogen has gained a lot of experience in working closely with patients, to offer them the very best in clinical care.

“ I had been looking for a company that enables me to use all

my skills to individually help each patient, and I’ve found that in The Hearing Care Partnership. With access to the best there is in hearing technology, for both testing a patient's hearing and enhancing a patient’s hearing, I am able to offer every patient the best possible solution for their hearing loss and provide them with continued lifetime aftercare.

Outside of work I love spending time with my family and enjoy spending weekends away in our caravan in Gower. I am also a keen bowler and a member of the Blackwood Ladies Bowls Club.”

To celebrate our new partnership we are offering 10% off * any hearing aid purchases when you bring this advert in to your FREE hearing assessment

0800 52 00 546 | thcp.co.uk

* Valid for 2020 and first purchase only Not valid with any other offer.

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Book your FREE Hearing Health Check today 0800 52 00 546 thcp.co.uk The Hearing Care Partnership A & A Stevens Opticians 2 Cardiff Road Caerphilly CF83 1JN 02920 001 412