Christmas can be a massive challenge if you are hard of hearing.  Audiology Associates spend a vast amount of time every January, listening to our patients who complain that they missed out on yet another Christmas. 
Let's face it, out of any given year the Festive Season is the one time that we spend extra time socialising with Family and Friends. It's where memories are made and belly laughs gained... If you can hear what is going on around you!
As our pre-Christmas gift to you this year, Audiology Associates are offering you the opportunity to experience what life is like with a hearing aid.  
To see what a difference this discreet piece of amazing technology can make to your life, we are offering a FREE TWO WEEK TRIAL with no obligation to purchase.  All you need to do is come into clinic with an open mind and a desire for change. We will then provide you with a FREE Hearing Heath Assessment and arrange your trial.  This is the ideal opportunity to make the most of a new experience that can change the way that you live, work and socialise without the obligation of parting with any money.  Following your two week trail, you are invited back into clinic for a review.  We are confident that with no pressure you will relish the experience, you will begin to feel included in conversations again, the social situations that you find most challenging will become easier and less stressful. 
Please feel free to give the team a call today and lets begin your journey towards a Festive Season that you remember for all the right reasons. 

Audiology Associates recognise the need for additional support over the festive period for those with a hearing loss.
We hear daily stories from our clients who are beginning to panic about festivities and the time that they are going to spend in additional social settings to the norm.  They fear being in a large group of people, rather than look forward to it.  Why?  Take a look at some quotes from our lovely clients who have given us full permission to share their feelings.

" I was dreading Christmas, last year was so hard.  My wonderful Daughter always invites me to her home.  I arrived Christmas Eve and left the day after boxing day exhausted.  My lethargy was nothing to do with running around, I am waited on hand, foot and finger!  I was exhausted through attempting to read between the lines of conversations going on around me.  I have an amazing family, who want to include me in every part of the festivities, however I didn't know if I was laughing in the right places, if I was responding correctly to questions asked and felt tired, confused and so very frustrated and upset that I was missing out on so much.  I even went to bed early one night as I couldn't stand the thought of another evening being on the outside of everything!
I decided to take myself in hand ahead of Christmas this year, encouraged by a friend who had seen Mr. Barber at Audiology Associates.  I feel I have been very brave in addressing my hearing loss. The most difficult bit was accepting that I actually had a hearing loss and stepping foot through the clinic door.  Once I did I wished I had done so years ago!  Mr Barber was amazing, he reassured me no end on my feelings being completely normal and that with the assistance of two very discreet hearing aids I would be hearing much better.  That was the biggest understatement ever.  I feel like a new woman! I am out with friends again, I say yes to every event i'm invited to as i've lost that fear of socialising and i'm now getting excited about going out rather than dreading it.  I've had my hearing aids for four months and I truly don't know how I ever lived without them.   Mr Barbers team has been fully supportive and I can't thank them enough.  My family feel like they have Mum and Nana back and i'm happier than ever!  Christmas this year will be totally different to last and i for one cant wait!"
Mrs Rosie Jones- Cardiff.  

"Christmas was a bitter sweet time, I am part of a choir and we are at our busiest during the festive period.  I love to sing and the socialising that comes with the choir family but also get very frustrated at missing out on the conversations going on around me.  I bit the bullet around 8 weeks ago and took advantage of the free hearing test offered by Audiology Associates.  As suspected I did have a hearing loss, and was guided through my options to assist me. My hearing aids were fitted in under a week and I know it sound scripted, but I honestly haven't looked back.  My choir friends joke that my voice has improved since I can hear what I am singing! My advice to anyone thinking about hearing aids would be to go for it!  The 30 day trial was reassuring to me but i'm not parting with my aids.  Bring on the Christmas fun"
Mr Jonathan Bailey- Ebbw Vale.

If you recognise yourself or a family member in any of the shared stories from our wonderful clients & would like further information on our FREE Hearing Test, No Quibble 30 Day Trial period or our hearing aid packages, please feel free to call the team today.
We have clinics in Cardiff, Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil, Chepstow, Newport & Abergavenny 

We are so used to convenience as consumers and live in a rechargeable society.  Our phones, laptops, iPads etc all allow us the convenience of plugging them in and letting them charge.  We are thrilled that Oticon continues to win the hearts of our clients by offering them the convenience of a rechargeable battery option as part of our core hearing aid range.
Oticon Opn™ miniRITE hearing aids will now be available as a rechargeable hearing solution that can be charged overnight for sufficient power to last throughout the day.  Don't worry if you have already purchased an OPN from us, all Oticon Opn miniRITE hearing aids sold since the introduction last year and can be retrofitted to be rechargeable.  Win Win!
All-day Power
With the easy-to-use charger, Opn miniRITE can now be powered throughout the day by simply placing the hearing aids in the charger overnight.  The rechargeable solution give users maximum flexibility to interchange the rechargeable 312 batteries with disposable batteries if you forget to recharge the hearing aids overnight. It is estimated that one pair of environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries can save approximately 150-200 disposable batteries per year.
What are the Benefits of a rechargeable option?

• More reassuring – Charging your Opn hearing aids overnight quickly becomes a routine. The charger gives them an overnight “home” so you always remember where they are, and you can count on a full charge in the morning, so you are ready for your day.
• More convenient – There’s no need to replace batteries every few days. You don’t even have to open the battery drawer.
• More efficient – Save the time, money and environmental impact of buying hundreds of batteries every year.
• Hybrid power — Enjoy the flexibility of using ordinary batteries anytime — forgetting to charge is no problem
• Upgradeable — All new and existing Opn miniRITE instruments can be upgraded with the rechargeable solution.

​​Nothing in Opn’s performance is sacrificed to give you the convenience of a rechargeable option. Rechargeable batteries certainly make hearing aid use more convenient. But even more important than convenience is the improvement in your ability to understand conversation with less effort.

For more information on the OPN Rechargeable Option or to arrange your free hearing test at your local clinic, please give the team a call or drop us a line with your questions today 

Christmas can be a challenging time for those of us with a hearing loss.  As much as we love to be involved in Christmas festivities we can miss out vital conversation, which can be frustrating, upsetting and confusing.  Not only for ourselves but those around us.

Many of our clients have spoken to us about avoiding social situations and festivities with lots of background noise or high numbers of people.  They become afraid to engage for fear of saying the wrong thing or looking foolish.

This could be your year to feel included, involved and present.  Your issues maybe as simple as a ear wax build up or you could be in need of a hearing device to support your needs.  
Adult hearing tests are FREE and available daily throughout our South Wales Clinics.  You will experience a full hearing health check with our highly qualified and experienced team, you will gain results immediately and you will know how to move forward with your hearing health needs.

Our hearing devices are available with many discreet styles and advanced technology for the most natural sound. You will be advised and supported by our Audiologists who will ensure that decisions are made based on your hearing needs and individual requirements and budget.

We know it's only October, but there is no better time to get the ball rolling.  By the time Christmas is upon us you would have settled into your new device and won't know how you managed without it. 
For further information, contact the team today and make this Christmas one to remember for all the right reasons. 

I'm out on the road a lot currently, training and chatting with staff, friends and support networks of our clients.    I've noticed that one question that is ever present.  'How do I communicate well with...' 
A hearing person can feel that there maybe a communication barrier between themselves and people who are deaf or hard of hearing, our differences are what make us and really shouldn't keep us from communicating effectively and naturally with one another.... So lets get it right first time, every time.

BODY POSITIONING 
This may sound obvious but when you are chatting, make sure you position yourself well.   Face the person you are communicating with.  This will mean they can lip-read and pick up your emotions or hear you if they are hard of hearing.  Also make sure that you don't stand too far away from them or indeed too close, one is just as bad as the other when trying to understand conversation.   Respecting someones personal space is paramount.
​

REPEAT
If you are asked to repeat yourself don't get frustrated, don't try to simplify what you are trying to say, instead, ensure that you are speaking clearly and not mumbling, remember your body positioning, then calmly repeat yourself.  Don't be tempted to say 'never mind' or 'don't worry about it'.  People will naturally find this rude and may feel isolated or left out of the conversation.

ENVIRONMENT
Be aware of what is going on around you.  If there is a lot of background noise it maybe difficult for someone deaf or hard of hearing to decipher what you are saying.  Try to eliminate background noise where possible, if the noise cant be eliminated, be prepared to repeat yourself, speak up or write things down.

ATTENTION 
Gain the persons attention before you start speaking.  Make sure that you have eye contact, if they are not looking at  you, gesture or gently tap them to make sure they are engaged and ready for conversation.

BODY MOVEMENT AND GESTURES
A big NO is covering your mouth with your hands, we all do it, especially when laughing during conversation.  It can make it very difficult if someone is lipreading to understand you.  Keep eye contact and avoid looking away, turning your head etc so that you remain engaged with the person you are chatting to.

PATIENCE
Don't get frustrated with someone if they need you to repeat yourself, understand that it is more frustrating for them. Having patience, speaking clearly and making eye contact are small gestures that can make a massive difference in keeping communication smooth.  Never give up on the person you are chatting with.  
Always remember that Audiology Associates are here to assist with your hearing health.  If you recognise the need to adopt the above steps with a friend or relative that has had a decline in their hearing, get in touch.  The team are always happy to help.  In the mean time adopt the above and remember... Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you... Listen in such a way that others leave to speak to you.

Within the GP Pack the BTA have included a letter and a support pack for GP's, which helps guide them to the most up to date information on supporting a tinnitus sufferer.  Excellent idea!!  The more educated we can all become the more tinnitus sufferers will realise they are not alone.  The tinnitus community is opening it's arms to new and existing tinnitus sufferers, empowering them to talk  more openly and making sure that people know that there is help out there.  Celebrities, and people from all walks of life are opting to share their experience.  It's amazing to watch these videos! One common denominator I have found is that most sufferers didn't know anyone else with tinnitus when they started suffering, lets hope this campaign will end the isolation.
For more information or to #ShareYourSound in style click here!

As the Summer term comes to an end many of us are awaiting the School Report to establish how our precious little ones are doing in school.
As a parent or caregiver we tend to know our children better than anyone else, and should you be concerned that your child isn't doing as well as anticipated in School, perhaps it's time to have their ears checked to ensure all is as it should be.
It is well recognised that hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Children with listening difficulties due to hearing loss or auditory processing problems continue to be an underidentified and underserved population.  
We have an amazing School Screening Program in South Wales where reception children have a routine hearing test and are referred into the system if necessary. However many children still struggle in the School environment unnecessarily, it may be a case of a simple wax build up thats needs our assistance in being removed for them to gain their full healthy hearing range again.
If you are concerned about your child's hearing health in any way, call the team today and book in with our friendly Paediatric Team.  Start the summer holidays the right way and get them classroom ready with us.

It's an exciting time for Audiology Associates we have been working alongside the amazing team at The Optical Centre, we have been training staff on the exciting new Audiological Services we will be bringing to their Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale & Mountain Ash clinics.  The Optical Centre are a family run Optometry Company who really are at the forefront of the optical world.  Their vision and company ethic is very similar to ours in that, our drive is to provide the best possible Audiological care from the most experienced Audiologists and bring that standard to local communities throughout South Wales. 
We want our community to have a one stop shop for Optometry and Audiology.  For the people within that community to know that they are in safe hands and that waiting for an Audiology Service is no longer necessary.
We will be offering the following services at The Optical Centres:
Hearing Aids
Free Adult Hearing Tests
Ear Wax Removal- Via E-Suction (see below)
Childrens Hearing Health Assessments
Ear Protection Products
Swim Moulds
We have also launched an introductory offer for you lovely people to take advantage of, where by we offer you £100 off your hearing aid package when purchased within the first month of us opening! 
To join us at The Optical centre for any of our services, please give the team a call on 01495 651232 where the team will happily help.
Regular clinics are also running in Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny, Ystrad Mynach, Chepstow & Abertillery .