Olivia has known about her moderate hearing loss since the age of five, when she failed a school hearing test. However, it wasn’t until she was 19 that she truly understood what she had been missing.
“Social situations were often challenging for me,” she recalls. “I was usually shy and quiet, hesitant to share my opinions or engage with new people. I loved being outdoors in open landscapes, especially in the wind – perhaps because it masked the sounds I struggled to hear.”
Finding the Right Support
At 18, Olivia’s paediatric audiologist at St Mary’s Hospital, Dr Sava Soucek, recommended Harley Street Hearing. Soon after, she met clinical audiologist and partner Paul Checkley and was fitted with her first pair of hearing aids.
“The experience was incredibly emotional,” she says. “For the first time, I could hear sounds like birdsong, ticking clocks, and the crinkling of plastic bags. But more importantly, the hearing aids allowed me to participate fully in conversations.”
Dr Olivia Hicks with Emperor penguin chick
Confidence and a New Path
The difference was life changing. “I gained confidence, becoming more assertive – sometimes even argumentative!” Olivia laughs. This newfound confidence and deeper engagement with the world inspired her to pursue a career as a marine ornithologist. She now travels to remote locations to study seabirds and works with large international teams – something she believes would have felt impossible before using hearing aids.
A Message to Others
“For anyone struggling with hearing issues, I highly recommend exploring hearing aid options,” Olivia says. “They can be life-changing, opening up an entirely new way of experiencing the world.”
Olivia has now been supported by Harley Street Hearing for over 17 years. “I’ve found everyone there to be consistently helpful and kind, and I would strongly recommend their services.”
If you’d like to find out more about hearing aids to suit your specific needs please call us on 020 7486 1053 or complete our contact form.
