Listen up! There’s a new Audiologist in Sevenoaks
Ear, ear! What’s this? Specsavers on Sevenoaks High Street have welcomed a new audiologist into their ranks.
Hearing loss is linked to several medical conditions and chronic diseases, yet many people are prepared to suffer in silence – quite literally. Regular hearing tests are a first step towards catching early warning signs and keeping you in good health.
Specsavers Sevenoaks have been offering FREE hearing tests for around 15 years and now, with a full-time audiologist, they hope to encourage more people to seek this service.
What does an Audiologist do?
An audiologist is a healthcare professional regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) who can identify and manage hearing impairment and other auditory disorders through different types of procedures including air and bone conduction tests, speech in noise tests, tympanometry tests etc., all of which determine the nature and extent of a person’s hearing loss.
In some cases, they may be able to recommend you seek a specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor via referral to your GP
Read more about it on Specsavers’ website here.
Meet Tim, Audiologist & Hearing Specialist
So, who is Tim Ball, Specsavers Sevenoaks’ new Audiology Director?
As a successful businessman, having set-up and managed multiple businesses in the corporate dental and medical sectors – Tim’s change of career direction came from a cause close to his heart.
Having seen first-hand the devastating impact of hearing loss and rapid progression to dementia in a loved one, Tim made it his mission to educate people on hearing loss by early diagnosis, recommending solutions and helping to remove the stigma that still exists around wearing hearing aids.
The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) report that 2 million people in the UK are currently wearing hearing aids – they’re more discreet and technologically advanced than ever – but a staggering 6.7 million people are undiagnosed and need them!
Tim Ball with the ‘dancing grannies’ at the launch event at Specsavers, Sevenoaks High Street
What can happen when hearing loss is left untreated
Uncorrected hearing loss can lead to people feeling lonely and distressed, which can eventually lead them to withdraw from the social situations they enjoy – primarily because they struggle to join in to conversations and engage with other people, resulting I embarrassment and shame.
Tim found himself in the heartbreaking situation when a family member who was a hearing aid wearer and had always been in good health up to and beyond retirement, suffered the rapid onset of dementia due to Covid restrictions that prevented the family from visiting and ensuring the hearing aids were fully charged and functioning as they should.
After the rapid decline and passing of the family member, Tim researched the link between hearing loss and dementia and this motivated him to completely change career, return to university, and study to be an audiologist. He qualified and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA), The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) and is a registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (HAD).
How do you know if you need a hearing test?
According to the Action on Hearing Loss report of 2018, 1 in 7 people miss their GP appointment because they didn’t hear their name being called in the waiting room!
55-60 is most common age when our hearing starts to deteriorate, but hearing loss can happen at any age.
You might need your hearing tested if any of these resonate with you:
- Starting to use subtitles on the TV or turning the volume up to max.
- Difficulty understanding speech – you often think people are mumbling when they talk
- Often asking people to repeat themselves
- Struggle to hear conversations in noisy environments.
- Have a medical condition such as diabetes, which can cause hearing loss
If any (or all) of these sound like you, book a FREE hearing test at Specsavers Sevenoaks.
Learn more about hearing loss here.
What hearing services are available at Specsavers Sevenoaks?
Hearing appointment
Specsavers Sevenoaks has a fully equipped audiology clinic complete with a state-of-the art soundproof booth. The perfect setting if you want to check your hearing, explore hearing aid options, or get your hearing aids working correctly.
This is what you can expect from this free service:
- Check your general ear health and lifestyle
- Examine your ears and discuss if wax removal may be required
- Test your hearing and explain the test results
- Advise on your next steps
More about hearing tests at Specsavers
Pictured – Steph testing out the soundproof booth!
Earwax removal
Not many audiologists offer a wax removal service, Specsavers Sevenoaks does!
Using a gentle microsuction technique – the safest removal method – they can remove the build-up of earwax that may be impairing your hearing.
More about earwax removal at Specsavers
Hearing protection consultation
If you’re regularly exposed to a noisy environment, you may wish to consider tailored hearing protection to keep your ears safe.
Whether you prefer earmuffs or earplugs, explore the different options available and find a custom-made solution to suit your lifestyle.
You can book any of these appointments here.
“Tim was so patient and understanding with my mum who is in her 80s and struggled with declining hearing. He explained everything to her and talked us both through her hearing results and his recommendations” – Jane B
Get in touch with Specsavers Sevenoaks
100-102 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1LU
01732 459588
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Opening hours
Mon: 10:00 – 18:00
Tue-Fri: 09:00 – 18:00
Sat: 09:00 – 17:00
Sun: 11:00 – 16:00
