For Steven, 69, hearing loss wasn’t something that happened gradually with age. It was the result of a blow to his right ear in July 2000. Over the years, he adapted to living with significant hearing loss, arranging conversations so people spoke on his left-hand side and cupping his hand around his right ear when listening to music. Although he had learned to cope, hearing loss had quietly become part of his everyday life.
“After years of moaning about it (the hearing loss was the direct effect of a blow to my ear in July 2000), a good friend persuaded to consider getting a hearing aid just over 3 years ago.”
Steven’s first attempt at seeking help wasn’t the positive experience he had hoped for.
“I went to one the national chain’s, which was a terrible service, which I quickly gave up on.”
Determined to find a better solution, Steven began researching online. It was during this search that he discovered Harley Street Hearing through one of Matthew Allsop’s videos about the Lyric hearing aid.
“I found Matthew by Googling and then discovering the Lyric device from one of Matthew’s videos. After the bad experience, Harley Street Hearing just appeared serious, professional and unstinting.”
Before visiting Harley Street Hearing, Steven’s hearing loss had become something he simply worked around.
“Significant hearing loss, right ear. For years, I’d been arranging the world of speech on my left hand side, or cupping my hand round by bad ear when listening to the hi-fi.”
Despite these daily adjustments, Steven admits he had been reluctant to seek treatment.
“You can get used to anything, and mere hearing loss didn’t seem so bad considering I’d had full-blown Meniere’s symptoms, including vertigo. I was in denial, yet I wasn’t crazy about having a very obvious hearing aid behind my ear. But before I found Harley Street Hearing, I had no idea where technology had got to.”
During his consultation, Steven was introduced to the Lyric hearing aid – an invisible, extended-wear device that sits comfortably inside the ear canal. It immediately addressed many of the concerns he had about wearing hearing aids.
“It’s invisible; it’s no hassle; it’s easy; it works well with ear buds. And while it doesn’t really restore speech recognition fully in the damaged ear, it opens up a whole soundstage of music; no more cupping my hand.”
Steven has now been wearing Lyric for three years. While there were a few adjustments during the fitting process to ensure the device was positioned comfortably and effectively, he always felt supported by his audiologist, Romy Cohen.
“At the beginning, the adjustments to the number of seals and cuts made in them to make the device comfortable, in the right position and effective took several closely spaced visits to get right. However, it was obvious that this was not a problem for Romy and Harley Street Hearing, but just part of the service.
That was 3 years ago; now it’s routine, every 8-12 weeks I have it changed and it’s fine.”
One aspect of Steven’s care that has stood out has been the ongoing support he receives through regular appointments.
“Every couple of months it’s great to have a mini-checkup when the device is changed. And what with a full-blown consultation every 12 months, it just like I’m under such good and competent care, which is hugely reassuring.”
Although hearing loss had become something Steven simply lived with for many years, there is now one moment every day that reminds him how much has changed.
“There’s a moment every day that seems like a little miracle; there’s a cup of tea at 6AM and inevitably Radio 4 goes on, typically before I wake the Lyric up. But I so look forward to waking it up as, when I do, the sensation of the missing half world rushing in on the right is a real “aaaaaaaaaaaah” moment. A small daily reminder that I did the right thing in signing up.”
Looking back, Steven wishes he hadn’t waited so long before taking the first step.
“I’d say, look, if you can afford it, this is a fabulous solution, which could make you regret not doing it a whole lot sooner, which is exactly how I feel.”
Today, Steven continues to enjoy the convenience of his Lyric hearing aid and the reassurance of ongoing care from the Harley Street Hearing team. What once felt like something he simply had to live with has become part of a routine that allows him to hear more naturally and enjoy the sounds he had been missing for years.
If you’d like to find out more about Lyric or discuss the hearing solutions available at Harley Street Hearing, get in touch here.
