HEARING CARE
Q. What was the most obvious
difference to your hearing –
that you noticed at first?
Name:
Nuala Donnellan
Age:
26
Occupation:
Accounts
Assistant
Hobbies:
Rock climbing,
fitness classes,
listening to music,
socialising
Hearing loss:
Severe bilateral
conductive
hearing loss
Hearing aids:
Oticon Opn 1’s
in both ears
Audiologist:
R J Donnan
Hearing Care,
Cleckheaton
When I got my Oticon Opn’s, I could
hear lots of different frequencies that
I hadn’t heard in such a long time. I
could hear the bass in the music in
the car whereas before I would only
be able to feel the vibration through
the pedals. Before getting Opn’s,
I wasn’t using my mobile phone
because I wasn’t confident enough.
Once I got my first Opn, straight
away I was streaming all my calls and I
wasn’t waiting for a text or email back
from someone. This allowed me to
massively regain my independence.
I felt switched on – I felt like this is
what I have been missing out!
Q. In what sort of environment do
you find the hearing aids most useful?
I find them particularly useful in group
conversations – at work or socialising.
I have set one of the programmes to
“bar and restaurant” – the settings in
this help with the background noise
and allow me to hear what’s going
on around whilst also participating in
conversations. I am no longer relying
on lip reading or people repeating
back to me what others are saying. I
also find them useful when I am 40ft
up a silo at rock climbing. I give the
instructor my microphone on phone and
he gives me instructions through the
hearing aids. This is a cool feature and
very useful. It also saves any shouting!
Q. And how do the Oticon Opn’s
help in this sort of situation?
Without the Oticon Opn’s I’m not
independent. I couldn’t have a one to
one conversation without lip reading.
I couldn’t have a group conversation.
I would be completely lost mentally
and physically without them.
Q. Have the aids helped in other,
more subtle environments?
Yes, definitely. Because of the severity
of my hearing loss I was having
trouble hearing normal daily sounds,
like hearing when the microwave or
the washing machine has finished. I
no longer relying on the feel things.
I can now hear things like this.
Q. Do you feel your quality
of life has improved?
I genuinely do! It feels like it has
drastically improved. I can engage with
people and understand exactly what
is being asked of me, or what people
want. I used to get frustrated when I had
to ask “what did you say? Pardon - sorry
I didn’t hear that,” and people would
say “oh never mind”. This would get to
me, whereas it doesn’t happen anymore.
Wearing Opn hearing aids, have
allowed me to be more active and I can
listen to what is going on around me.
If people are talking to me in a gym
class, at work or whilst I am in a bar, I
can switch between focusing on music
or instruction. They have helped with
my safety also. When I am crossing
the road, I can hear cars coming.
Q. Would you recommend your
hearing aids to others?
A big yes! Definitely. I love the fact I
can hear more frequencies and I can
enjoy my life again and interact and
engage. It has been a great investment
in my health, as a young person. If
people can, they should get them
as they really are life changing.
I felt switched on... I felt like this is what I have been missing out!