Independent Hearing Care & Advice

Allerton Hearing

Check your hearing health

Recent research reports that one in five people in the UK aged 12 and older experience hearing loss severe enough to hinder communication. If you think you have hearing loss, or know a loved one who does, we are here to offer advice and to provide the help you need.

Communication is critical in life. Your job and social interactions are all more rewarding when you can communicate confidently – and hearing is vital to that. Research shows that people who get hearing aids benefit from:

  • Fewer instances of confusion and disorientation
  • Increased ability to concentrate and multitask
  • Better memory skills and a greater ability to learn new tasks
  • Alertness and awareness of their personal safety
  • Increased earning power and more control over their lives

Request an appointment to talk to us about hearing care, hearing aids, ear wax removal or to get a free hearing test.

A grandfather with his granddaughter on his shoulders at the beach

Signs of hearing loss

If you think you have hearing loss issues, book a free hearing test today. Typical signs of hearing loss are usually easy to spot:

  • Frequently asking people to repeat themselves in conversation
  • Struggling to understand people who are speaking to you
  • Having to increase the volume on the radio or TV
  • Experiencing difficultly hearing clear conversation over the phone
  • Persistent ringing sensations in your ears
  • Generally missing everyday sounds like traffic, pets or your doorbell

Hearing loss ranges in type and severity

Not all cases of hearing loss are the same.

The most common type of hearing loss is age related, which is called sensorineural hearing loss and is caused by the natural degeneration of the nerves and sensory cells in your cochlea (inner ear).

Hearing loss can also be conductive, which is essentially when there is a blockage in the ear which obstructs sounds travelling through your inner ear, leading to dull or muffled sound. This type of hearing loss can be as the result of an injury, illness, or commonly as the result of excess ear wax build up.

People can also suffer hearing loss based on a mixture of reasons, so we would always recommend booking a free hearing test and coming in to see our professional expert audiologists.

Common causes of hearing loss

Most people experience hearing loss naturally as they get older, but there are other common causes of hearing loss:

  • Noise induced hearing loss – caused by long term exposure to loud noise.
  • Congenital hearing loss – hereditary or genetic causes that can be present from birth.
  • Infection & disease – there are common fungal ear infections that can cause hearing loss as well as other diseases and infections that effect both the inner and outer ear.
  • Tinnitus – a very common problem that effects around 10% of the population. Tinnitus is a constant or intermittent ringing sensation in one or both ears.
  • Ear wax build up – excess or compacted ear wax in your ear can cause both discomfort and hearing loss.
A person listening to music through headphones sits on a bench

Tinnitus advice

Broadly speaking Tinnitus is the term used to describe noises that you can hear that do not originate from outside your ear. This is usually experienced as a ringing, buzzing or hissing in either one or both of your ears. People sometimes experience Tinnitus intermittently, or they may have constant noises.

Tinnitus can be highly irritating and it can effect your mood, concentration levels or even get in the way of a good nights sleep. It can get better and go away on it’s own, but it can also get worse, so we would advise requesting an appointment to come and talk to one of our trained audiologists about it.

Do you need urgent help?

In line with NHS guidance please ask your GP for an urgent appointment if your tinnitus beats in time with your pulse, and go to A&E or call 999 if you have tinnitus after experiencing a head injury, or if you are experiencing tinnitus alongside sudden hearing loss, weakness in the facial muscles or a sensation of spinning (like vertigo).

In these cases please review the full NHS guidance by clicking here.

A person suffering with tinnitus

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be often linked to hearing loss, but it can also be a sign of infection or disease. There are certain conditions and disorders like diabetes or multiple sclerosis that can be linked to tinnitus.

Tinnitus is also linked to anxiety or depression, or it can be a side effect of certain medications, like some chemotherapy medicines, antibiotics and even aspirin.

If you are unsure about any symptoms you are having, please read the NHS advice on tinnitus by clicking here.

If you would like to book a free hearing test at Allerton Hearing, please do so by clicking the button below and completing our booking request form.