Can you Hear Me?

A recent survey estimated that 40% of people over the age of 50 have some hearing loss and the number grows and the degree of loss increases as we reach the 60s and 70s. We will all suffer some loss – perhaps you have already noticed this?

This loss is partly because of the gradual wearing out of the sensors in the inner ear; these are vibration-sensitive hairs which, apparently, cannot be replaced as yet. But the real problem as suggested by the researchers at Birkbeck College, London, is that we are living in a very noisy world:...

“human beings were never designed to listen to speech in noisy environments and our ears and brain are ill equipped to do it...” (Quote from Simon Crompton – THE TIMES 6th January 2007.)

At St George’s we have an effective sound system installed in 1996 after a 12 year campaign through the PCC, based on loudspeakers and a loop aerial for those with suitable hearing aids. (i.e. at the T position). Very often we can tell how powerful those speakers can be particularly in the hands of our young. But even when one can hear every sound uttered over the ‘mic’ some have a problem converting the ‘sound’ into ‘sense’ in order to understand what we are hearing.

Eric Dinneen

SERVICES FOR DEAFENED AND HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE IN THE HAVANT/PETERSFIELD AREA:

Sensory Officer for Deafened and Hard of Hearing People: Mrs Jill Brookes
Area Centre, Town End House, PO Box 61, East Street, Havant, Hants.
023 9247 1644. Text phone: 023 9244 1201. Fax: 023 9249 8959.
To obtain a service initially, ask for a referral to the Hard of Hearing Service. Be prepared to answer a few basic questions. A self-assessment form will be sent to you.