26 September 2008
Music Lovers - Protect Your Hearing!
It's a noisy world. And exposure to loud noises and listening to loud music is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.
In the UK, legislation is in place under The Control of Noise at Work Regulations to protect workers who are exposed to specific noise levels but outside of work there is no legislation. It is up to the individual to safeguard their own hearing and unfortunately, people who spend a lot of time in noisy environments or listening to loud music often become so accustomed that they are unaware of the damage they are inflicting on their hearing. Now Leightons HearingCare aims to help increase awareness of the dangers and help educate people on the causes of hearing loss and how to protect their hearing.
"It's frightening how many people are causing permanent damage to their hearing and appear to be totally unaware of it" said Ryan Leighton, Director at Leightons HearingCare.
If you work or play in a noisy environment, Leightons can provide advice on the levels and types of sounds that may be doing long term damage to your hearing.
If you want to know more about how you should reduce the noise, Leightons offer custom-made ear plugs for a whole range of activities - such as motor racing, shooting and playing or listening to music. They even have safer listening earphones for MP3 players. "The onset of the "iPod" generation is likely to result in higher numbers of noise induced hearing loss amongst younger people" say Ryan Leighton. "The most important thing is to raise awareness of hearing loss and provide advice on hearing
protection".
Some simple guidelines when listening to MP3 players to help reduce the chance of noise induced hearing loss:
- Keep the volume low and try to avoid turning the volume up to drown out the background noise
Minimise your listening time to loud music and always try to listen at a level that is comfortable
Consider sound isolating in-ear monitors such as Advanced Communication Solutions' T2's
Leightons have linked up with ACS to help provide quality hearing protection products for all sorts of noisy environments, with basic resuable ER20 ear plugs that cost just
£14.99 to custom fit products specifically developed for musicians, DJ's, clubbers and audiophiles.
"Complete custom-made hearing protection specifically designed for your ears, are manufactured individually for your ear giving unrivalled comfort, incredible noise isolation
and delivering range and clarity that you won’t have heard before. You’ll hear nuances of your favourite music that you’ve not previously noticed and you’ll be able to listen at
comfortable levels, even in noisy environments such as busy city centres or aircraft cabins" says Andy Shiach, founder and owner of ACS.
Custom fit products require an impression of the ear, taken by Leightons hearing aid audiologists in a simple process that normally takes about 15 minutes.
"With the right hearing protection, and provided its worn correctly in noisy environments, hearing loss should be 100% avoidable" say Catherine Brown, Hearing Aid Audiologist with Leightons
HearingCare.
To learn more about the debilitating effects of noise induced hearing loss visit http://www.heartomorrow.com/ or contact Leightons Hearing Aid Audiologist for further advice.
12 September 2008
be by ReSound™ aims to give youth and vitality back to users hearing in just one simple dose, be by ReSound™ is a truly reinvigorating treatment. In just one simple dose, it returns youth and vitality to your hearing. Feel young, wear it and forget……..)
It’s not just small and smart. It’s invisible. In fact, the style and look of be by ReSound™ is unlike anything that’s ever been seen before” says Joan McKechnie, Product Manager at ReSound.
Leightons HearingCare and GN ReSound have been working together for a number of years now, a global market leader and manufacturer of high quality hearing instruments GN Resound has just announced the launch of be by ReSound™. “It is really exciting to be working with an innovative and forward thinking company such as GN Resound” said Ryan Leighton, Business Development Manager at Leightons HearingCare. be by ReSound™ is the first product in an entirely new category of hearing instrumentation called Invisible Open Technology (IOT™). The use of IOT results in a hearing instrument that is unlike any other, that is worn unlike any other and literally disappears when in the ear.
It’s about staying young
The fight against ageing has become a booming multi-billion dollar industry, which shows no sign of slowing down, as the globe’s general population grows older. Each year, an increasing number of people part with huge sums of money, in a bid to look, feel and stay young. They’re the very same people who suffer from hearing loss, but decide not to do anything about it.
What’s puzzling is that most people’s efforts tend to revolve exclusively around their looks and inner vitality, completely disregarding one of the most common and easily correctable signs of ageing: hearing loss. Why? Because they equate wearing a hearing instrument with getting older.
“At ReSound , we understand this reluctance comes from a popularly held belief that contemplating any form of hearing correction would be to admit to a sign of ageing. This is why we created be; a hearing instrument that is not about getting old, but about staying young, literally designed never to be seen”, says Senior Vice President Henrik Wiboltt at GN ReSound.
be by ReSound™ brings back the hearing of youth, allowing users to appear as young as they feel inside. be by ReSound™ will not help to smooth lines and reduce the visible signs of ageing, or even have an effect on the way they look. Instead, it works to reduce age through improved hearing, rather than on removing wrinkles in their skin.
be by ReSound™ is now available at Leightons HearingCare.
For a free demonstration please call Leightons on 0800 40 20 20 or for more information click here: be by ReSound
4 September 2008
Leightons HearingCare have just launched a campaign to help those with any kind of hearing loss to avoid feeling isolated. “Hearing has long been something that people are reluctant to discuss”, says Ryan Leighton, Business Development Manager for Leightons HearingCare,”so we want to help bring deafness out of the dark ages”.
It’s a sad fact that there are approximately 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK – and a staggering 41.7% of over 50-year-olds having some kind of hearing loss*. “We work with people every day whose minds are razor sharp, and who maintain busy and active lifestyles” says Catriona Husband, an audiologist with Leightons HearingCare. “But a large number of them have such poor hearing, that other people often give up trying to engage in general conversation. As you can imagine, this can lead to terrible feelings of rejection and isolation”.
Mrs. Christine Evans, a customer of Leightons HearingCare in Southampton, shares these feelings: “I was a nurse and retired 2 years ago, aged 63. I was having increasing trouble hearing people talk to me, especially if there was a lot of background noise. Yet I thought I was compensating well.” But it is only now, as she has a new digital hearing aid , and has fully re-entered the hearing world, that people feel they can speak more frankly about the effects of her hearing loss. “Now the people I used to work with are saying that they noticed I was missing a lot of conversation, and even professional talk.”
So Leightons’ campaign is not only aimed at creating better understanding of hearing loss amongst those who have hearing loss – but also amongst those who have no difficulty themselves – yet feel they cannot broach the subject with sufferers.
As a first step in Leightons’ campaign against the danger of isolation, they offer a free hearing test and assessment to anyone aware of even the slightest hearing loss.
*source: RNID 2005 survey
For more information, please contact Leightons HearingCare, by calling freephone: 0800 40 20 20 or visiting them at www.leightonshearingcare.com
4 September 2008
Leightons HearingCare have just confirmed their new and carefully chosen range of
hearing aids . “There are a lot of hearing aids on the market” says Ryan Leighton, Business Development Manager, “and it can be confusing for those considering buying a hearing aid for the first time. In fact, even people who already have hearing aids, and are looking to upgrade it, will be delighted to have some impartial and professional advice about what’s new, what digital can do and what’s best for you”.
So Leightons have taken two simple steps to help solve the confusion; firstly, they have selected a truly representative range of products from the leading hearing aid manufacturers; and, secondly, they have empowered their professionally qualified hearing aid audiologists to offer impartial advice and thus help individual customers to choose what’s best for them.
Catherine Brown, an ex-NHS audiologist, who has been working with Leightons HearingCare for more than two years, says “I know that, within our range of hearing aids, we can deal effectively with a customer’s individual
hearing loss and provide a product which will suit their lifestyle, budget, dexterity - and even their hair colour!”
Michael Barnes, one of many new customers at Leightons HearingCare Haslemere, summed up the situation. Not only did he feel that Leightons had cut the confusion in terms of which hearing aid to buy, but they went one step further in order to make sure he was entirely happy. “There was an excellent trial period of 30 days. Return of the hearing aids would result in an instant refund of the deposit and payment. At no time did I feel I had to buy – it would be my decision, coupled with my wife. The trial period was of sufficient duration to be able to test the hearing aid thoroughly at dinner and lunch time parties, inside and outside events (helpful for background noises), watching television and listening to sound and the radio and at the theatre and cinema”.
“That’s how it should be for everyone who is considering taking the important decision about which hearing aid to buy” says a proud Ryan Leighton.
For more information, please contact Leightons HearingCare, by calling freephone: 0800 40 20 20 or visiting them at
www.leightonshearingcare.com
3 September 2008
Plácido Domingo, Annie Lennox and Rod Stewart are amongst the other 22 celebrity ambassadors who have joined Phonak, a leading manufacturer of innovative hearing systems, to launch Hear the World, an initiative that raises awareness about the importance of hearing and the impact of hearing loss .
While hearing loss is one of the world’s most preventable disabilities, it is also one of the most common. More than 10 percent of the world’s population has a hearing loss, and it is estimated that by 2015, more than 700 million people will have some degree of hearing loss. The consequences of hearing loss can be severe and greatly affect the quality of life. The goal of the Hear the World initiative is to educate the public about the importance of good hearing, the social and emotional implications of hearing loss, and the available solutions for those with hearing loss .
An important element of the initiative is the non-profit Hear the World Foundation, which Phonak launched in January 2007. The foundation supports charitable organizations and projects focused on helping people with hearing loss .
“Today, hearing is not perceived as an important topic,” says Valentin Chapero, CEO of Phonak. “With Hear the World, we want to put hearing on the agenda and start a social dialogue. Hear the World wants to activate people to think about their hearing, to think about what it means not to be able to hear well. We want to show the public what can be done to prevent hearing loss, as well as what can be done to minimize its social and personal impact.”
Music is a universal language that goes beyond geographical, social and linguistic boundaries. It is the ideal medium to spread the message of Hear the World. Renowned musical artists are the perfect ambassadors for this important and emotional topic. Plácido Domingo and the Vienna Philharmonic share Phonak ’s commitment to making people around the world aware of how they can protect and support the vital sense of hearing.
As a hearing healthcare professional, Leightons HearingCare fully support the work and aim of the campaign and will continue to support the initiative by posting updates on Leighton's website . For more information about Hear the World, please visit www.hear-the-world.com.