Your Hearing

If you are experiencing hearing loss or changes to your hearing, you're not alone. In the UK, 1 in 6 of us have hearing loss or is deaf. But we understand that knowing this doesn't make it any easier, and permanent or temporary hearing loss can be the root of major discomfort and even embarrassment.

That being said, we are also passionate about the fact that hearing loss does not need to be a permanent struggle. At our Dove Hearing Centres in Hanley, Lichfield & Burton on Trent, we can help you to understand the nature of your hearing loss, its severity and, most importantly, provide professional hearing care and advice to help you rehabilitate your hearing.

If you are stuggling with your hearing and need some support, book a hearing test at one of our centres today. They're totally free, take about 20 minutes and won't cause you any discomfort whatsoever - we can even visit you at home if you wish.

For further information about hearing loss, deafness and tinnutus visit Action On Hearing Loss, the UK's leading charity. 

Do I Need A Hearing Aid?

• Are you struggling to hear in noisy places?
• Is it difficult for you to follow conversations in a group?
• Do you often have to ask people to repeat themselves?
• When familiar voices speak, do you find them hard to understand?
• Does it seem like people are mumbling at you?
• Do you listen to the television louder than others like it?
• Do you find it difficult to hear children/grandchildren clearly?
• Can you hear the door bell or phone ringing?
• Have you stopped going to your favourite places because you struggle to hear clearly?

What Types Of Hearing Aids Are Available? 

With leaps and bounds in technology hearing aids have greatly improved. And now, there are a huge range of digital hearing aids available that are flexible enough to match individual hearing requirements and filter out unwanted sounds. 

Here are some examples of the main hearing aids out there:

• Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids are connected to an ear mould via a small tube.
• Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids are small behind the ear aids with a speaker that sits within the ear canal.
• In the Ear (ITE) hearing aids are completely contained in a custom made shell that fits into the ear.
• In the Canal (ITC) hearing aids are smaller than the ITE but still custom made to fit into your ear canal.
• Completely in the Canal (CIC) hearing aids are the smallest in the ear hearing aids available and are practically invisible.
• Invisible-In-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are 100% invisible when worn. This hearing aid sits deep within your ear canal ensuring the sound travels quickly and accurately to your eardrum.

How do we hear?

• The bowl, or concha, captures vibrations in the air.
• The sounds are carried through the auditory passage.
• The sounds vibrate the ear drum.
• The tiny bones in the middle ear move and transmit the vibrations to the inner ear.
• The cochlea converts the vibrations into nerve impulses.
• The auditory nerve transmits these impulses to the brain for recognition.