31 July 2019
Betty was having problems with her hearing, until she met Information Officer Paula at an event at Stormont in 2017.
She said: “I started noticing problems with my hearing about five years ago. I struggled to hear in crowds and was finding it difficult to follow conversations in meetings. It was also causing problems at home – my family would complain that I had the TV on too loud and my daughters had to repeat things a lot. The message I heard was often different to what they said which caused some amusement to them but not to me!
I was volunteering at an information stand for the Alzheimer’s Society in 2017 when I first met RNID. I got talking to the Information Officer, Paula, who had a stand opposite ours about my hearing. I explained that I had been to Audiology twice but had been told that a hearing aid wouldn’t help me.
Paula encouraged me to go back to my GP and ask for another appointment with Audiology. She also suggested that I sit with my back against the wall during meetings if possible. This helps as it reduces the background noise in the room which has made a big difference to my ability to follow group conversations. Paula referred me to Sensory Support who visited me at home and recommended a MiniTech Personal Listening device – it has an external microphone which means I no longer need the TV on so loud, which my family appreciate!
After visiting my GP again I was referred to the Audiology department at Downpatrick who fitted me with a hearing aid which has been fantastic. It’s made a big difference to my everyday life and my daughters no longer have to repeat things. I’m really thankful for the advice given by RNID and I always tell everyone about them as they were so helpful to me.”
Between 2018-19, RNID supported more than 15,000 people by providing information about hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus at events, over the phone or by email, at our offices or at a home visit.
For information about hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus, contact us.
Notes to editors
RNID is the national charity helping people living with deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. RNID enables them to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way, giving people support and care, developing technology and treatments, and campaigning for equality.