You should have a hearing test if you can answer ‘Yes’ to any of the following questions.

• Do you find when listening to the television with family or friends that you struggle because the volume is adjusted to suit other people?
• Do other people seem to mumble rather than speaking clearly?
• Do you struggle carrying on a conversation in a busy street or shop?
• Do you have difficulty conversing with several people in a group?
• Do you have difficulty hearing when on the telephone?
• Can you hear better when you can see the person’s face?
• Do you have to ask people to sit on your good side in order to hear them?
• Do you have ringing or buzzing noises in your ears?
• Do you/have you worked in a noisy environment?

Typically hearing deteriorates with age and it is recommended that anyone over the age of 50 should have regular hearing tests every 18 months.

No. In fact there is evidence to support the idea that wearing hearing aid will actually stimulate the hearing system enough to slow down the rate of hearing deterioration.

This is ‘normally’ a sign that there is something wrong. Either; the hearing aid fitting is inappropriate, or, there is wax blocking the ear obstructing the flow of sound.

Yes. Use olive oil once a day for few days before your appointment. This will not clear the wax but it will soften it – this will ensure that the procedure is quick and comfortable.