THCP Maggs Opticians Haverfordwest Talking Points April 2022

VISION & HEARING NEWS FROM MAGGS OPTICS WORKING WITH THE HEARING CARE PARTNERSHIP

TALKING POINTS

INSIDE Sensitive to noise?

Misophonia and hyperacusis explained The Power of Great Sunglasses What makes a great pair of sunglasses?

AND MORE!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE

HEARING CARE

Excellent

PARTNERSHIP

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

The Prue Leith and Ronit Furst frame ranges are available to view at Maggs and Tenby Optics.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), is a 3D way of examining retinal layers at the back of your eye. It is a scan rather than a photograph and thus shows early signs of eye disease such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration. Sometimes up to 4 years before your vision is affected enabling earlier treatment. At the moment OCT is included, at no extra charge, with your eye examination at Maggs and Tenby Optics (previously £35).

Maggs Optics, 6 Riverside Arcade, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2AL

Tel: 01437 767744

Email maggsoptics@btinternet.com

Tenby Optics, 2 Deer Park, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 7LE

Tel: 01834 842384

Email tenbyoptics@btconnect.com

TALKING POINTS We are delighted to present the latest edition of Talking Points, our joint magazine with The Hearing Care Partnership.

F message from A

Paul Maggs

irstly, we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your unwavering support throughout 2021; it was another tough year enduring restrictions imposed by the ongoing pandemic and we thank you for your adherence to in-practice policies.

Over the last few years, health and well-being has been at the forefront of all our minds. The two most common health problems worldwide are eyesight and hearing loss and we are proud to be able to care for both.

In this edition of Talking Points, we are looking at Misophonia and Hyperacusis (sensitivity to noise) and analysing the causes behind these conditions. We have the latest updates from world-renowned hearing aid manufacturer Oticon – explaining their latest technology and how it can really positively affect the lives of hearing aid wearers.

Alongside this, we have some great advice on choosing the right style of glasses to suit you and your features. We also cover the importance of wearing sunglasses, and the impact that UV can have on your vision, all year round.

With 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 our door, in partnership with The Hearing Care Partnership.

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to welcoming you in practice again soon.

Paul Maggs, Director & FBDO 0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Hearing Care Partnership | 03

Sensitive to noise?

Misophonia & Hyperacusis explained

Sensitive to noise? explained.

D

o you have an emotional reaction to everyday sounds, like someone eating with their mouth open, chewing loudly, or tapping a pen on a desk? This could mean you have acute sensitivity to sound – or, in medical terms, misophonia or hyperacusis.

What is misophonia?

The definition of misophonia is hatred of sound. People with the condition find their hearing is particularly sensitive to certain sounds, which can trigger responses ranging from moderate discomfort to panic or distress. Support group Misophonia UK has published an activation scale, which grades the severity of misophonia responses.

To understand what it’s like living with misophonia, we spoke to Louise, a lifelong sufferer of the condition.

“It’s a very visceral, powerful response. It can range from sheer hatred of the sound to outright panic. I can get highly emotional, or very angry, depending on the situation.”

“For me, it’s all about repetitive noises, like tapping sounds or irregular buzzes, beeps or pings. Snoring, eating noises, whistling, nose whistling or wheezing sounds, certain types of music, birdsong, even distant muffled TVs or radios – they all drive me crackers. They make me feel panicked.”

How to live with misophonia Louise has some useful tips for other sufferers. “If I hear a trigger sound, I find that mimicking the sound out loud can help to distract my mind from the feelings of panic and anger. I’d also recommend people speak to other sufferers, through the Misophonia Support Group Facebook page, which has 17,000 members across the world, or Misophonia UK.”

04 | The Hearing Care Partnership

“

When I hear a trigger sound, I feel an

unbearable feeling of rage inside,

I get stressed, my heart beats faster.

I have a fight or flight response.

”

What is hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is a similar condition, whereby intolerance to particular frequencies of sound can cause severe pain or panic attacks. Hyperacusis is often caused by exposure to excessively loud noise earlier in life.

There are some common trigger sounds for people living with misophonia and hyperacusis.

These include: • Sounds made with the mouth including chewing, nail-biting and talking while eating • Breathing sounds such as snoring, loud breathing and yawning • Animal noises like dogs barking, pets licking their fur and claws scratching • Sounds made by heavy equipment including lawn mowers and air conditioning units

What causes sensitive hearing?

How to get help for misophonia and hyperacusis

There is not one known cause of misophonia and hyperacusis, but doctors think they could be related to the way sound enters your brain and triggers responses in your body.

Sensitivity to sound often has a real impact on everyday life. Although there are no specific medicines or surgical interventions that can treat misophonia and hyperacusis, it is possible to manage them – and treating underlying causes may also help.

The conditions can be linked to a number of other problems, including: • Tinnitus

Start by going for a hearing test, to determine whether you have hearing loss or another problem with your ears.

• Hearing loss • Damage to the ear or brain, for example, from ear surgery, regular exposure to loud noises or a head injury • Migraines • Bad reaction to medication

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

FREE Full Hearing Assessment If noise sensitivity is having a negative effect on your daily life, you should think about booking a free full hearing assessment by calling our dedicated Support Team on 01437 557 248 or visiting www.maggsoptics.co.uk

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Hearing Care Partnership | 05

What does your

optical wardrobe say about you?

H

ow many pairs of shoes do you own? Most people might say 10 or more. How about the number of jackets? About 5 is the average.

How many pairs of glasses do you own?

Only 50% of people own more than 2 pairs.

Isn’t it funny how we see our glasses as a medical device (which they technically are) but not as a fashion accessory?

Thinking about it, why do we switch up our shoes every day, but wear the same pair of glasses every day, for up to two years?

Some people talk about building up an ‘optical wardrobe’; different glasses for different looks. Or, the ability to swap to contact lenses for different activities. How extensive might your wardrobe be? Well, you might not buy four pairs of glasses in one day, just like you wouldn’t buy four pairs of shoes in one day (unless you have a mild shoe obsession!), but it’s great to have some flexibility with your look.

What frames do I wear for which occasion or shall I wear contact lenses to get the most out of my yoga practice, golf game or simply enjoy gardening?

If we want to play eyewear to our advantage, be fashionable and get the most from our activities, we simply need to expand our optical wardrobe. Then we can choose the right look for the right occasion – just as we would with a jacket or our choice of footwear.

06 | The Hearing Care Partnership

How can different eyewear change your look?

Eyewear can help people see the real you, or they can help create the image you want. The key is to find the right frames to match your face-shape, personality and lifestyle.

Full-rim glasses In full-rim glasses, the lenses are covered on all sides with the frames. If you have a round face, rectangle full-rim eyeglasses will suit you the best. These frames will make the face appear longer and thinner. Moreover, full-rim glasses highlight your eyes.

Rimless glasses Rimless frames are eyeglasses with bare lenses that are attached to the temples and the bridge. Rimless frames are best for people who have a small face and hence, wish to focus the onlooker’s attention more on their face, which can make the wearers features look more pronounced.

Contact lenses We face enough barriers when it comes to fitness, your vision doesn’t need to be one of them. Whether you’re on the tennis court or the yoga mat, contacts are the most convenient and comfortable option for correcting your vision during exercise.

How can we help you to f ind your style?

Fancy having a personal stylist?

Paul Maggs Director & FBDO, explains what goes into helping people discover their perfect look:

Even if you wear glasses most of the time, many patients opt for contacts just for workouts and sporting activities. If you only wear contact lenses, and aren’t sure which frames suit your face shape, hair style or skin tone, feel free to use our instore stylists. Just as you’d have a personal stylist help you find the clothing that best fits your shape, at Maggs Optics, our priority is to correct your vision and find the right style for you. You can find a range of looks with the wide selection of frames, and even swap to contact lenses for the perfect round of golf or downward dog in yoga.

“

Picking out frames

is so much more

than someone’s face shape.

“Yes, I look at skin tone, hair colour and clothing too, but it’s also about your character.”

“I’ll have a chat with you, really listen to what you’re saying – perhaps you’re starting a new job and want to look very professional, or you want to brighten things up and go very colourful. Or perhaps you have no specific look in mind at all!”

“While we’re talking and looking at frames, I’ll watch your reactions to help shape the direction we need to go in. There are 100 different processes going on in my head, and no single one is more important than another, they’re all happening at the same time. By the time I show you my first suggestion for your new frames, I’ll have already thought of 20 or 30 different ones, and probably then dismissed some too. ”

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

Book an appointment Whether you’d like an in-depth eye examination to check your prescription, a style consultation with one of our qualified dispensing opticians, or would like to find out more about contact lenses, call us on 01437 557 248.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Hearing Care Partnership | 07

Oticon More More sound. More music. More freedom.

I

n the last edition of Talking Points we introduced the new Oticon MoreTM, a hearing aid that supports how your brain naturally works. Traditional hearing aids are designed to focus solely on speech coming from in front of you.

But your brain needs access to the full sound scene to work naturally. Oticon MoreTM helps you experience the full sound scene in all its richness, with more of all the little details in fantastic balance and clarity.

8 out of 10 prefer More Amazing new results from testing in real-life, complex sound scenes show that Oticon MoreTM hearing aids give the brain better access to speech. At the same time, they give faster access to more of the relevant sounds all around, in higher fidelity. This leading sound quality is preferred by 8 out of 10 people with hearing loss, across different sound environments.

To analyse people’s subjective preferences, a test panel of people with hearing loss were asked to rate the sound quality of three different industry-leading hearing aids in different real-life sound environments. The test subjects sat in a sound laboratory and listened to the recorded output of each hearing aid, using headphones.

Each person in the test panel used a computer interface that allowed them to switch between the different hearing aids at will, without having to restart the audio clip. For each sound environment, they rated each hearing aid on a scale from 0 – 100. After listening to all of the hearing aids, they moved on to the next sound environment.

The researchers used an adapted version of the wellestablished MUSHRA test paradigm (Multi Stimulus test with Hidden Reference and Anchor) for people with hearing loss in this study.

Oticon MoreTM clearly outperformed the competition. Not only did Oticon MoreTM get the highest average rating in the different sound scenes, an amazing 8 out of 10 people preferred the sound quality of Oticon MoreTM over the two competitors, when listening to speech through a facemask and conversations in a restaurant or a café.

New MyMusic programme Oticon MoreTM revitalizes your hearing because it captures the rich sounds all around you in high fidelity – whether it’s birdsong, a violin concerto, or the bubbling laughter of children.

A new dedicated music programme – Oticon MyMusic – immerses you in live or streamed music and is easy to activate using the Oticon ON app on your phone. Ask your audiologist about setting up MyMusic on your Oticon MoreTM hearing aids.

What do our clients say?

to jump into a new “sound enviroment ” to participate in a “conversation ” “ it was clearer ” It was easier

Ole, Oticon More user

It was easier

around the table, without losing sense of the sound coming from background

Berit, Oticon More user

I found the sound to be markedly different –

Helge, Oticon More user

08 | The Hearing Care Partnership

Bring the music back to life with the outstanding sound quality of Oticon More™

Book a

FREE Hearing Test

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

Contact us now to book your full hearing assessment or Oticon More™ hearing aid consultation by calling 0800 52 00 546 or visit thcp.co.uk The Hearing Care Partnership | 11

AVA I L A B L E I N PRESCRIPTION STYLE: KAWIKA

Every pair tells a story.

“The clarity of the lens is incredible. I can see so clearly all the contours of the greens and the many undulations of the golf course.”

-Miguel Angel Jimenez PR O FE SSI O NA L G O L F P LAYER SHARE YOUR STORY

#MYMAUIJIMSTORY ©2021 Maui Jim, Inc.

The Power of

Great Sunglasses Sunglasses are about much more than just looking good.

Here’s our expert guide to sunglasses, explaining exactly why they’re one fashion accessory that’s essential to your health.

“

Our eyes are 10 times

more sensitive to UV1

than our skin, yet only 7% of the UK population is aware

of the risks to their eyes.

What makes a great pair of sunglasses (and prescription sunglasses)?

A good pair of sunglasses can complete your style and make you feel great. But the best sunglasses are far more than a fashion accessory. They also ensure your eyes are protected from the risks caused by exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.

”

It’s not just direct light that causes a problem either. Over 50% of the UV radiation that makes it to our eyes is indirect, reflected off a wet road, pavement or a window. The possible damage of indirect light is the same, and just as severe, as damage caused by direct light.

What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

What are the dangers of UV exposure to your eyes?

There are two main types of UV rays that damage our eyes and skin:

We’re all aware of the dangers UV rays can pose to our skin. No sunny day, cruise or otherwise, is complete without sunscreen. So high is our awareness that many people use sunscreen every day and it is now contained in many regular skincare products.

• UVA makes up around 95% of the UV radiation that reaches us 2. Long term exposure to UVA has been linked to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration3, and can also seriously damage the delicate skin around your eyes.

But few of us know that our eyes are 10 times more sensitive to UV1 than our skin. Only 7% of the UK population is aware of the risks of UV to their eyes.

• UVB is necessary in small quantities to help boost our vitamin D levels, but is also the prime cause of sunburn, premature skin ageing and even cancer.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate cloud. That means you don’t need to be basking in 30 degree temperatures for your eyes, and skin, to be absorbing UV radiation. The same damage that happens on a scorching sunny beach can happen on a cloudy day.

1

“

For children and young people,

UV rays can be even even more harmful.

”

Transitions UK. Transitions European Study, 2008. 2 https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb . 3 http://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/spf

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

The Hearing Care Partnership | 11

Enjoy life AT

FULL VOLUME How The Hearing Care Partnership invests in the latest hearing technology

H

earing loss affects 12 million people in the UK, almost 20% of the population. What we often forget is how much we rely on our hearing: our ability to listen is often the gateway to social activities and contact with friends and family.

What can begin as an almost imperceptible loss of hearing can, over time, lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Those with hearing loss can find it increasingly difficult to participate in conversations, meaning they slowly withdraw from social occasions and lose contact with loved ones.

What’s more, hearing loss has been identified as a possible risk factor for dementia*. A study by charity Action On Hearing Loss has made a clear link between hearing loss and mental health (although we should note that while there is a relationship, it doesn’t mean to say that one definitely causes the other). In other words, getting your hearing checked is an important part of your overall health.

Hearing test technology That’s why we employ professionally trained hearing aid audiologists in all of our practices, offering short hearing health checks as well as full hearing assessments.

They help you to identify – and find solutions for – any hearing loss and potential deterioration as soon as possible.

These tests are simple to take and work in conjunction with your lifestyle needs.

12 | The Hearing Care Partnership

“ up to 60% clearer ” Artificial intelligence allows sound to appear

by the time they reach the brain.

Ashish Shah, Audiologist

*www.alzheimers.org.uk/news/2018-05-02/study-confirms-linkbetween-hearing-loss-and-dementia-older-adults

Oticon: Hearing care technology specialists One such name is Oticon, a company which is truly leading the field through its recent release of the Oticon More™. As the brand’s most advanced hearing aid, it’s the first of its kind to have a deep neural network (DNN).

This artificial intelligence has been developed and trained for use with 12 million real-life scenes, allowing sounds to appear up to 60% clearer by the time they reach the brain, while requiring less effort on your part.

The result? You’ll be able to focus more on the conversation at hand and understand more of what’s being said.

Even more incredibly, the Oticon More™ is capable of learning through experience, allowing you to benefit from improved speech understanding over time.

Get the right f it for your ears Hearing loss is perfectly normal, and much more common than you might think – but we recognise the potential anxieties that come with investing in a hearing aid. The Oticon More™ is

Does your child have Myopia?

HOYA MiYOSMART lenses use cutting edge technology to help manage the development of myopia (also known as short-sightedness).

Visit our practice and ask a member of the team for more information.

Award winning lenses available now

designed to be discreetly incorporated into your regular routine, connecting to Apple and Android devices by way of Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid (ASHA) Bluetooth technology. By using Oticon’s TV adapter, you can also tune into your favourite programs with the rest of the family, controlling the sound that’s personally delivered to you via the mobile app.

You also won’t need to worry about your gadget running out on you. Simply charge it up for three hours to achieve a full day’s power, or else thirty minutes will provide up to six hours of improved sound clarity. Even on days when time is limited, the portable SmartCharger

offers a wireless recharging solution, holding up to three full charges for providing an on-the-go boost.

Allowing you to hear more with less effort, the Oticon More™ is just one of a range of hearing aids we stock, ready to bring the world around you to life by organising and enhancing the meaningful sounds that matter most to you.

Get in touch For more information on the latest technology, or to book your FREE Hearing Assessment, call 01437 557 248 or visit www.maggsoptics.co.uk

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR

Full Hearing Assessment Your full hearing assessment will include: • Background history • Lifestyle implications of any hearing loss • Video otoscopy, photographing the outer ear, eardrum and canal in full colour to investigate reasons for possible hearing impairment • Pure tone audiometry determining the level of hearing loss • Speech-in-noise testing (an in-depth test that assesses your ability to make out speech in loud environments) • A personalised hearing health report Following your consultation, we are able to advise you on which hearing aid may be best suited to you, offering a wide variety of brands that are among some of the most trusted in the industry.

“

Being part of our patients’ lives, assisting them to

enjoy life to the fullest is why we do what we do.

”

Cathryn Pedersen, RHAD MSHAA, Hearing Aid Audiologist

Hear from our patients Brilliant service

10 stars if I could!

“The hearing specialist who helped me with my blocked ears... was fantastic. Really calm, compassionate and professional. I suffer from severe anxiety and she did everything in her power to put me at ease and inform me of what needed to happen. Both ears unblocked too!

10/10 - fantastic service. Thank you!”

“...I’m so so grateful for everything and we have learned so much about hearing that I never even knew was going on… I’m a different lady now, more vocal, and just love hearing the birds for the first time ever, you don’t realise what you’re truly missing out on until you put these in and boy, the difference is just amazing!! 10 stars if I could, thank you for teaching us about hearing and my gift of now being able to hear the world around me…”

Mr Rooney

Debora Cochrane

Outstanding service!

Best I have ever received

“The care and support… was absolutely second to none.

She was so kind and helpful and made sure my mother received the best possible service. The new hearing aids will transform my mother’s life... Outstanding service!”

“This hearing test was the best I have ever received!

It was very thorough and showed up some hearing difficulties that I wasn’t aware of!! Your hearing is priceless and l recommend…”

Mr Rowett

Fiona Sinfield BEM

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

0800 52 00 546 THCP.CO.UK

Now you can

slow down progression of their

SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS

not their ambition

As children grow, their short-sightedness (or myopia) is likely to progress and this means becoming gradually more reliant on glasses over time.

Research shows that progression of myopia can also lead to increased risks of eye health complications later in life.

We can now take action to help slow down the progression of myopia. Maggs and Haverfordwest now offers the Brilliant Futures™ with MiSight® 1 day contact lens programme, specially designed to help us manage childhood myopia.

The programme uses the innovative MiSight® 1 day contact lens, specifically designed for children and clinically proven to reduce the progression of childhood myopia by an average of 59%. MiSight® 1 day lenses are suitable for children as young as eight and they are preferred to glasses by nine out of every ten children who use them.

Brilliant Futures™ includes an initial consultation and assessment followed by fitting, regular check-up appointments and ongoing support so we can continue to manage your child’s myopia together.

We are delighted to offer a free no obligation consultation. If you would like to discuss this further, please do contact us on 01437 767744 to book a free myopia management consultation.

We look forward to hearing from you to discuss myopia management.

Person-centred care, putting you first As an accredited partner of the Ida Institute, world leaders in person-centred care, we’re proud to provide the highest levels of care and personal service so you can make the most of your hearing.

TOTAL PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUR HEARING • 60 Day Money Back Guarantee • 3-5 Years’ Complimentary Warranty

• Complimentary Servicing & Maintenance • Complimentary Batteries

• Hear Now. Pay Later.

• Lifetime Aftercare

Excellent To book a FREE Full Hearing Assessment, call 0800 52 00 546 or visit thcp.co.uk/book Maggs Optics and The Hearing Care Partnership 6 Riverside Arcade, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 2AL | 01437 557 248

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH