SPECSAVERS Audiologists in Donegal Town, Letterkenny and Sligo are hosting a walk-in Hearcare Open Day next month to encourage locals to prioritise their hearing health.
On special dates in the first week of August, the Specsavers team will host a representative from hearing aid experts Phonak, who will be on hand to meet with locals, discuss any hearing issues they may be having and offer free hearing tests, as well as highlighting the benefits of the new Phonak Marvel Hearing Aids.
Drop by your nearest Hearcare Open Day at the times below:
- Sligo Specsavers Hearcare Centre, Quayside Shopping Centre, 1st August 2019 started 10am until 4pm
- Donegal Town Specsavers Hearcare Centre, The Diamond 2nd August 2019 10am to 4pm
- Letterkenny Specsavers Hearcare Centre, 64 Port Road 8th August 2019 10am to 4pm
Research*, recently commissioned by Specsavers, reveals that just over half of adults (52%) in Ulster regularly worry about losing their hearing, yet only 27% of people would act quickly (within a week) if they noticed a change in their hearing. Hearing loss affects around one in six Irish adults, yet the main reason people cite for not having regular hearing tests is that they believed their hearing to be fine. In actual fact, hearing loss can be gradual, and many people may not notice they are struggling. Just under a third of people (32%) in Ulster say they would be less inclined to go to social events in fear they would not be able to hear people properly.
Audiologist at Specsavers Letterkenny, Martina McNulty, stresses that the speed of deterioration and the effects can often be reduced with hearing protection and early intervention.
‘Hearing aids work to enhance your existing hearing so early detection and intervention is crucial. Untreated hearing loss can have far-reaching implications beyond hearing and has been linked to feelings of depression, frustration and anxiety. Our representative from hearing aid brand Phonak will provide customers with professional audiology advice and can determine a suitable type of hearing aid based on their lifestyle and hearing needs.’
Specsavers Letterkenny Audiologist Martina McNulty. Photo Clive Wasson
The new Phonak Marvel Hearing Aids, which will be highlighted at the Hearcare Open Days, offer a multitude of benefits. The Bluetooth features mean it can connect directly to either iOS or Android smartphones or other Bluetooth enabled phones and be used for hands-free calls, for listening to TV, music, e-books, podcasts and so much more.
Marvel Hearing Aids can distinguish between streamed speech and music signals for an optimised sound quality and are available with powerful rechargeable technology.
Martina together with her professional hearing team will also be on hand at the Letterkenny Specsavers Hearcare Centre on Thursday, 8 August carrying out demonstrations using the latest technology in an effort to remove stigmas around the wearing of hearing aids.
Martina continues: ‘Common misconceptions around hearing aids can discourage people from initially seeking treatment and wearing the devices. The truth is that modern hearing aids can be discreet, can improve both hearing loss and overall quality of life, but are also cost effective at Specsavers stores. We have an extensive range of hearing aids featuring the newest innovations, with highly trained hearing healthcare professionals that will help you pick the right device for you. With PRSI benefits, cost doesn’t need to be a major concern.’
On a positive note, attitudes towards wearing hearing aids seems to be shifting, with (91%) of those surveyed in Ulster saying that they would prefer to wear them if it was recommended. Some 85% agree that hearing aids can drastically improve your standard of life. However, fears relating to appearance (33%), cost (62%) and how people believe they age you (31%) are among the biggest deterrents to wearing hearing aids.
For anyone interested in visiting the Hearcare Open Day, drop by Specsavers Donegal Town, Letterkenny or Quayside Sligo on the following dates:
- Sligo Specsavers Hearcare Centre, Quayside Shopping Centre, 1st August 2019 starting 10am until 4pm
- Donegal Town Specsavers Hearcare Centre, The Diamond 2nd August 2019 10am to 4pm
- Letterkenny Specsavers Hearcare Centre, 64 Port Road 8th August 2019 10am to 4pm
For further information, contact Specsavers Letterkenny on 074 916 7040 or visit https://www.specsavers.ie/stores to find your nearest centre.
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