'Hard to admit that I had a problem related to aging as, in my head, I still felt twenty-five'

I have had a mild hearing problem since being treated for tuberculosis in 1954 and learned to cope at school and, beyond that, by lip reading and concentrating hard. My main perception of this was that I had difficulty in hearing people to my right and behind me, making meetings and crowded situations more difficult. As I have grown older, and particularly since I retired, the level of hearing loss has increased and conversations from one room to another were more difficult. I have recently been trained and appointed as markets’ adviser to Hampshire Country Markets and, in this role, I have to attend markets and meetings where hearing conversations, questions and

‘I was somewhat apprehensive as to what was involved’

I had discussed the visit for the hearing test with my sister, prior to the appointment, and she agreed to come with me. Admitting that I had a “problem” had not been easy and I was somewhat apprehensive as to what was involved. My last hearing assessment was over 50 years ago! The leaflets I had been given with my appointment were excellent, but someone was going to do something to me. Arriving for the appointment was a good experience as the Farnham branch was familiar to me and the staff there are always friendly and helpful. The results were explained to me in easy-to-understand detail. When I had questions, they were answered quickly and to my satisfaction – not always my experience in other situations, since I had silver hair! It was good to know that I would be 125 years old before I was completely deaf!

'To hear a voice behind me was amazing after so many years’

I approached the idea of me having hearing aids with an open mind, and felt the experts at Leightons would advise me. The decision that an open ear device would be right for me was a good one, but I was amazed to see how small the device was and that, with my hairstyle, it would be almost invisible. The explanation of how they worked was easy to understand and I was pleased they were so simple to fit and care for. The quality of sounds was somewhat tinny to ears unaccustomed to hearing a full range of sound, but to hear a voice behind me was amazing after so many years of not being able to do so. My friends will be disappointed that they can no longer tease me by talking behind me! Digital hearing aids will revolutionise the world of the hearing impaired because they are so discrete that few people will be aware of them being worn. For someone who can remember early hearing aids with huge battery packs they are a great relief. I may be vain, but unless I tell people I have them, I would rather that no one knows that I was partly deaf.

‘I should have admitted to a problem several years ago’

I collected my hearing aids within four days of my hearing test - as I was going on holiday the following weekend. They were very easy to fit because I had excellent tuition both at the initial appointment and the subsequent one, when I collected them. I have since visited friends on several occasions, attended a school reunion and an all-day meeting, and do not think I missed anything that was said, or gave any wrong answers. I can now differentiate bird sounds when out walking, hear dripping taps indoors and water features in garden – all sounds that were lost to me. My sister and I now have normal conversations indoors and “I beg your pardon?” and “What did you say?” are losing their place in my vocabulary. The only time I have felt threatened by hearing new things was in a motorway service station at the start of my holiday: I could not wait to get out. But on the return trip one week later I could cope much more easily and the threat was no longer there. I should have admitted to a problem several years ago, as I now realise what a difference these aids are now making to my life. I answer the phone knowing that I can follow the conversation easily and feel less tense in situations where a lot of people are talking simultaneously. I feel able to talk to a group of people and respond appropriately without the need to always use lip-reading as a back-up.