Now anyone that knows me well, knows I am a straight talker.. and today I'm going to be sharing that character trait with you!!

It's very easy these days to pop along to your local town or the city centre, walk into a large chain store that provides free hearing tests (alongside tampons, toys and shampoo or possibly glasses) and get tested there and then.  Adverts are impressive- for £500 you can get yourself a top spec hearing aids etc, etc....  But I have to ask the question, are you getting the service, product specification & aftercare you deserve?
 
Here at Audiology Associates we specialise- in Audiology & hearing health, nothing more, nothing less- enough said!  

You are assigned a vastly experienced Audiologist, rather than a Hearing Professional.  He or she is 'yours' for the duration of your journey with us. You know their name, they know yours.  Your testing, hearing aids and aftercare is bespoke, tailored to your individual needs and as unique as you.  You are most definitely not a number or part of a sales target.  We look after our patients needs and they become one of our own. 

Our promise to you is that our service and technology is of the highest specification- you are not bagging yourself a bargain; sacrificing technology & comfort in place of style and a cheap deal. With our extensive experience within the NHS we also guarantee that we would never sell or fit you with a hearing aid that you can access from the NHS, all our technology is far advanced on what they currently supply.  You can't buy a set of hearing aids for £500 with us, and thats the reason why.  Our suppliers have been hand picked and are the best that the Hearing Aid industry has to offer.  All our hearing aids come with a no quibble 30 day money back guarantee, and you also get 10% off currently, in aid of Deaf Awareness Week.

So when you are ready to make the call and arrange an appointment for your FREE HEARING TEST* please ensure you have done your weekly shop before hand.  At our clinics, all you'll find is a welcome smile and a desire to assist you on your journey towards hearing health.  We look forward to seeing you soon
Click the button below to contact us today.
*Free Adult tests only

This Deaf Awareness Week you may be asking - what is deaf awareness?  Its about 'promoting the positive aspects of deafness', to 'promote social inclusion' and raise awareness to all the organisations that support the week.
Most importantly its about helping people that are deaf.  When asked what deaf awareness meant for them, one person said: 'I want my family to include me in their conversations.'  This to me is very emotive and emphasised how important this is to tackle.
Do you know that 15% of the population are deaf to some extent?  Out of every 10,000 people, ten will be extremely deaf and 100 will be partially deaf.
I couldn't help but notice one really interesting quote on the deaf awareness website that says: "Being deaf is about experiencing the world visually."
Scientific studies have shown that being deaf can actually enhance your sight - why?  Because they have to over-compensate with this part of their senses because they can't hear. 
The theme for the awareness week in 2016 is 'Common Purpose' and there will be lots of events taking place: information days, exhibitions, talks and captioned theatrical performances.
The week is supported by more than one hundred charities and organisations - and now all they need is your support!
To stay updated with everything that's going on this year keep checking back on the Deaf Awareness Week website.  And, if you're thinking of planning your own event, you find lots of great ideas.  
By taking part you will be participating in all the small changes you need to make.   At work, directly face the person you are talking to and send them email notes of meetings.  These little things can make all the difference.  We will be celebrating in our own unique way at Audiology Associates- Watch this space for upcoming news!

The twisted pleasure of cleaning your ears
We continue to twist Q-tips/cotton buds in our ears thanks to a simple truth: It feels great. Our ears are filled with sensitive nerve endings, which send signals to various other parts of our bodies. Tickling their insides triggers all sorts of visceral pleasure.
But there's more. Using Q-tips/cotton buds leads to what dermatologists refer to as the itch-scratch cycle, a self-perpetuating addiction of sorts. The more you use them, the more your ears itch; and the more your ears itch, the more you use them.

I don't know about you, but before I knew better I would love nothing more than digging into my ear with a Q-Tip/cotton bud to remove my ear wax!  I have clear memories of my mother, every Sunday night before bath time digging into my ears to "remove the dirt" so that my "ears would be clean for school" .  My sister and I not only took great pleasure in the process but in inspecting the Q-Tip results; to establish which one of us had the most wax!  For some reason my sister had an involuntary cough every time Mum dug into her ears!
With my first born the Q-Tip/cotton was also a daily friend, not only were ears cleaned but nostrils too! 

Most people don't use Q-tips/cotton buds properly and wind up putting them inside their ears to feel "clean." Big mistake! Not only is ear wax good for you, but putting a Q-Tip anywhere except for the outermost parts of your ear can be a big detriment to your health. 
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Take a look at the link below and see why, William H. Shapiro, an audiologist and a clinical associate professor from NYU Langone, reveals why we should stay away from Q-Tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYqeUJda2Qs

Fitzgerald, the otolaryngologist, insists there's nothing funny about the temptation to stick cotton swabs into your ears. At the heart of the problem is a fundamental misunderstanding Fitzgerald believes manufacturers have helped propagate, even if unintentionally, by talking in advertisements about their use in ear cleaning.

"People have been led to think that it's normal to clean their ears — they think that ear wax is dirty, that it's gross or unnecessary," he said. "But that's not true at all."
Fitzgerald likens ear wax to tears, which help lubricate and protect our eyeballs. Wax, he says, does something similar for the ear canal, where the skin is thin and fragile and highly susceptible to infection.
"Your body produces it [ear wax] to protect the ear canal," Fitzgerald said. "What you're taking out is supposed to be in there. There's a natural migration that carries the wax out when left alone."

Even if our ears were meant to be cleaned, the truth is that Q-tips would still be a terrible thing to use, he says. The shape, size, and texture of cotton swabs is such that inserting them into your ears tends to push wax inward, toward your ear drum, rather than work it out.

"Pushing wax in, as Q-tips tend to do, can induce hearing loss," said Fitzgerald. "They can also be inserted too deeply and rupture the ear drum or damage the small middle ear bones, both of which happen more than you would think."
"If it were up to me, they wouldn't be on the market," he said. "When I treat people with recurring ear problems, I make them promise they're going to throw away their Q-tips and never buy them again. The ones who keep coming back with problems are the ones who don't listen."

Despite warnings on every box, we can't help ourselves! (I'm still tempted every time I see the box in my bathroom cabinet)   We continue to stick them in our ears with the potential of causing harm by doing so . Many people push the wax down deep where it can’t clean itself out and they have to get professional care.  If you are having issues with your ears and see yourself and indeed your actions in this blog, don't despair!!
First step- Bin the box of Q-Tips
Second step- Contact Audiology Associates today and let us check your hearing health! 

“Who will be coming with you?”  
When you schedule your appointment, something you will hear us ask is “is anyone available to accompany you?” We do this for a two reasons, both of which benefit you! Your AN Other can be a loved one, a friend, or anyone who is close to you.
Why is a companion important?  
The person coming with you, your companion, will be a huge help during your appointment. First, we have a chat with them too,  so we can understand their perspective on your hearing.  This is crucial to the initial appointment simply because you may not know what conversation / experiences you are missing out on. We view hearing loss as something that can affect all aspects of your life: relationships, social life & work. By having someone else voice their opinion, we can help pinpoint where we can help the most.  It's an invaluable first step, which in time to come you will thank them for. 
It’s a big step to take  
The second reason is that during your appointment, there is a lot of information being shared. Having someone else in the room, to be able to take notes and ask questions can be a huge help in not getting overwhelmed.  If you have a significant other, bringing them with can be even more important. If a Hearing Aid is recommended, it may be something that they may have questions about too. Deciding to move forward with technology is a big (but rewarding) first step, and having the support of someone you trust can prove invaluable.
We can helpIf you or a loved one are experiencing any hearing difficulties, please contact us today  to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. Our hearing tests are available at clinics throughout South Wales and your appointment can be scheduled at a time and date that allows you to meet your existing commitments.  We look forward to meeting you!
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Clap. Clap. Clap…Hello and welcome to the new Audiology Associates blog!

Here’s where you’ll find the latest & greatest news on everything about us– from cool product/service updates to interviews with our employees (yes, there are wildly interesting people running around here starting with me of course). and indeed our customers.
Along the way, I’ll try to make this blog a touch more interesting to read than your refrigerator’s user manual.
So bookmark this blog, email to a friend/colleague or add our RSS feed, and let’s pump up the volume on news at Audiology Associates.  And of course, we’d love getting your feedback on every blog — and what you want to see discussed (and showcased) in the future.
Until next time friends…
Leah