For Ed, hearing loss and tinnitus had become an increasingly challenging part of everyday life. Living with right-sided Meniere’s disease meant he was experiencing significant hearing loss in his right ear, alongside persistent and intrusive tinnitus.
“I have right-sided Meniere’s disease, and as a result have poor hearing in my right ear and very loud tinnitus.”
Ed was first introduced to Harley Street Hearing through his ENT consultant, Mr Harry Powell. Having previously undergone hearing assessments with the Harley Street Hearing team while attending appointments at HCA at The Shard, he already had confidence in the clinic’s expertise.
Before seeking treatment, Ed found that his hearing difficulties and tinnitus were affecting both his professional and personal life.
“I was withdrawing from social interactions both personally and at work because I was struggling to hear. I was also finding it difficult to concentrate and relax because of the tinnitus.”
As his hearing continued to decline, Ed began exploring solutions that would not only improve his hearing but fit seamlessly into his lifestyle. He was particularly drawn to Lyric, the world’s first and only extended-wear hearing aid.
“I liked the idea of them being hidden and having regular touch points with Harley Street Hearing. Because my hearing may diminish further with Meniere’s disease, having ongoing hearing tests was important to me. I also liked the idea of simply having them in and not really having to think about them. They’re also particularly effective in masking tinnitus, which was very appealing.”
Ed has now been wearing Lyric for almost a year. While the adjustment period took some time, particularly as his hearing loss affects only one ear, the benefits soon became clear.
“I found adjusting to aided hearing quite difficult initially because it was only on one side, and it took some time to adapt to the different sound quality. At first, it felt a little odd in my ear, but that subsided very quickly. Now, I completely forget it’s there.”
One of the features Ed values most is the simplicity and convenience of Lyric.
“I like that I just leave them in. I can’t forget to put them on in the morning or accidentally leave them behind when I go on holiday.”
Throughout his hearing journey, Ed has been supported by the Harley Street Hearing team, particularly audiologists Emer McKenna and Jordon Thompson.
“Emer took the time to understand my condition and has been incredibly generous with her advice. She’s spent countless hours testing and retesting my hearing, fine-tuning different amplification settings to find what works best for me. Because I visit every couple of months for Lyric replacements, I’ve also had the opportunity to see many members of the team, and everyone has been fantastic and supportive.”
Ed first saw Emer for his assessment and hearing aid fitting, and later saw Jordon for follow-up care, highlighting the consistent support he has received throughout his journey.
The impact on Ed’s quality of life has been significant. Not only has his hearing improved, but the constant mental effort involved in managing hearing loss has largely disappeared.
“The mental load of making micro-adjustments to basically every interaction, where I sit in a meeting, how I position myself during conversations, whether I tell people about my hearing loss, has basically gone.”
As a result, Ed feels he has been able to return to the person he was before his hearing declined.
“Because my hearing deteriorated quite quickly, I’ve bounced back to being myself pretty quickly too. I’m definitely back to my usual social self.”
Perhaps the most profound improvement has been in the management of his tinnitus.
“With my tinnitus materially reduced, I find myself being less irritable and much more able to focus on other sounds. It’s been great for me and everyone around me.”
Reflecting on the difference Lyric has made, Ed describes moments that many people with tinnitus will instantly recognise.
“The impact Lyric has had on my tinnitus is really profound. When I put them to sleep at night, it comes back a little, but it feels so much less pervasive than before. I didn’t realise quite how much it was consuming my attention until it was managed. It’s also a surprisingly pleasant experience to wake up my Lyric in the morning and let the world in again.”
For younger adults experiencing hearing difficulties, Ed understands the hesitation that can come with seeking help.
“Being 40 and having hearing issues can feel embarrassing. Most hearing aid marketing is aimed at older people, and you’re established as someone who doesn’t have hearing problems. My advice is that the apprehension is understandable, but completely unwarranted. Being able to hear again is wonderful, and almost instantaneous. You don’t realise how much hearing loss affects every aspect of your life until you correct it.”
Looking back on his journey, Ed is grateful he took the first step.
“Being able to hear more naturally again and having my tinnitus under control has made an enormous difference. The support from Harley Street Hearing has been exceptional, and the improvement in my quality of life has been far greater than I expected.”
If you’d like to find out more about how we can assist with your hearing requirements, please call us on 020 7486 1053 or complete our contact form here.
