News and Blog

Like most medical treatments and devices, hearing aids come with their fair share of horror stories, which is why people may be reluctant to even have their hearing tested, never mind get a hearing aid fitted. But the truth is, despite the scary stories, a hearing aid can really transform the life of a person whose hearing is deteriorating and whilst daunting, isn’t something that should be feared. We have busted a few myths you might have heard about hearing aids in the past.

Hearing loss can happen at any stage of life. According to hearing loss charity Action for Hearing Loss, 11 million people in the UK have suffered some form of hearing loss. Also, more than 40% of people aged over 50 have hearing loss with that figure rising to 71% for those 70 years of age.

It may not always be obvious that your hearing is deteriorating. Sometimes, those you are close to will notice it first before you do. Hearing loss is a common problem in the UK, it is estimated that over 11 million people have some kind of hearing loss in the UK – that is one in six people. If you are unsure whether you are experiencing hearing loss, read on for our list of hearing loss symptoms.

Whilst you may head to the dentist if you have a pain in your tooth, or to the optician if you’re struggling with your sight, hearing can often be something that’s overlooked. Many people struggle to hear but never get round to doing anything about it, simply just turning the TV a little louder or constantly asking friends and family to repeat themselves. You might be sure that a friend or family member is in need of hearing assistance, but they might be unaware. How do you convince them it’s time to get checked out?

Modern life can be a noisy affair where it’s difficult to escape the cacophony of noise from loud music to traffic sounds, jets overhead, construction work and a lot more besides.
Noise is not just annoying; prolonged exposure to certain types of sound can have a major impact on our well-being. A study by Mainz University Medical Centre in Germany has found that an increasing amount of noise can throw the heart out of rhythm and this irregular heart beat can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

Have you seen that it’s National Eye Health Week?

The campaign’s top priority is to encourage people to get their eyes tested if they have not done so in the last two years.

At Scrivens we have long been concerned about the damaging effects of portable music players on young people’s hearing, and it seems there is evidence to back our fears.

A Dutch study suggests that children who listen to music through headphones could be at greater risk of noise related hearing loss.

At Scrivens we have enjoyed a long association with Alzheimer’s Society, so we were encouraged by the preliminaryresults of a study that suggests eye tests may be able to spot the early signs of dementia.
The small study by researchers at Washington University in St Louis identified that people whose brains had the first physical signs of Alzheimer’s disease were found to have retinal abnormalities, which could be picked by an optician during regular eye tests. 

Summer is a time to relax, switch off and take a break from the pressures and demands of everyday life.
It’s an ideal opportunity for a digital detox too. An extended screen break can help reconnect with other activities and give our eyes a rest, whether from computer screens at work or our mobile devices at play.

Teenage years are undoubtedly a time of change with lots going on and perhaps more of a focus or pressure on how to look good.

Looking good takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to having regular eye tests which are a vital part of staying healthy whatever your age.