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Loss of hearing can be debilitating and life changing, and there are signs that it is happening to people at a younger age, according to Hibiscus Coast audiometrist Steve Foster.
“We’re seeing people in their fifties with the sorts of hearing issues that we previously wouldn’t have expected to see until they were in their seventies,” he says.
Steve and his wife Samantha are the owners of Hear Again in the Whangaparāoa Coast mall. Last month, they moved to a new clinic, also in the mall, which doubled their capacity.
“It’s just around the corner from where we were, but it has made a world of difference to the service we are able to offer customers,” Samantha says. “It has drastically reduced the wait time for appointments and we now have a purpose-made ear wax removal suite.”
Steve adds that the business is also pleased to be part of the rejuvenation of the Coast mall.
Hear Again opened six years ago. Today, it employs six staff in Whangaparāoa and offers a full range of hearing services, from a free hearing test to the fitting and servicing of hearing devices.
Steve says tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is often the first sign that things aren’t quite right with your hearing. The noise that people hear varies, but most commonly people describe a hissing or humming sound, or a sound similar to the chirping of a cicadas.
“Hearing loss most often results from the accumulated noise your ears have been exposed to through your life,” Steve says.
“Your hearing is a little like the tread on a tyre – the more time you spend on the road, the quicker the tyre wears out. In the case of your ears, the more noise they are exposed to, the sooner the nerve endings wear away.”
His advice is to limit exposure to noise wherever possible and to have a hearing check if a person feels their hearing is becoming a problem.
“Common first signs of a hearing issue are the volume creeping up on the TV, an inability to understand people in a social situation or accusing loved ones of mumbling. Correcting this problem could be as simple as removing a build-up of earwax, which can be done in a few minutes.
“If you need hearing aids, there are many options for the funding to help cover the cost of these for you.”
Steve and Samantha say Hear Again is all about personal service and building relationships.
“We take the time to get to know our customers, so we find a solution that is best for them.”
