I was kindly sent an invitation to visit a small conference called Hidden Hearing. It was about wellbeing and raising awareness regarding getting our hearing checked. When the email arrived inviting me, my first thought was, hearing? Nothing wrong with mine! My ears work perfectly fine thank you!
I was however excited to meet Dr. Hilary Jones the famous Good Morning Britain tv presenter. I was going to have the opportunity to fire some questions at Dr. Hilary and I wanted to add to my questions about my allergies. I’m always praying there could be a breakthrough on the horizon. So it wasn’t just hearing or my ears I wanted to talk to him about.
*This is a sponsored post for Hidden Hearing*
The conference was being held at a Hilton Hotel in Maidstone Kent. A fairly long drive, I wore something comfortable and non-creasing. An old faithful dress from Marks and Spencer.
11 million people across the Uk are now affected by hearing loss. With Hidden Hearing, you can get your ears checked for free
After listening to Dr. Hilary explained why it’s so important to get our hearing checked and how hearing loss can affect us, I sat there for a bit and gave the idea of a hearing test great thought. I go for all the relevant tests. Eye test, Health check up’s smear tests and because of my allergies ( they are constantly growing) I have checks at the hospital for that too.
I have never, ever thought about getting my ears checked! Why not?! When you really think about how losing your hearing could affect you it’s actually quite outrageous to think I have really taken my hearing for granted.
- 8 in 10 people do nothing about a hearing loss
- With a mild hearing loss, you are 2 times more likely to develop Dementia
- If you have Diabetes You are twice as likely to develop hearing loss
- People with hearing loss are 4 times more likely to develop depression
- Everyone over the age of 55 should have a hearing test
- Tests are free at Hidden Hearing locations in the Uk
My hearing test was quick and painless. I passed with flying colours but as I explained to the audiologist my ears are always itching and I wondered if I was just sensitive to something.
The audiologist took a good look at my ears and he tells me that my ears are very waxy and I need to get that seen too. Apparently, it makes your ears itch if they are waxy. I have made an appointment with the doctor.
A bonus M.O.T A wellness check on the day
After the hearing test I was offered to see a nurse for a wellness check. I was due to see my local nurse, so I thought I would go ahead for the check.
They had a cool machine that checked your cholesterol there and then. Why haven’t our doctors got these? Does yours? I had my height, weight, blood pressure, and sugar levels checked.
The outcome, the results, and a big disappointment!
All is well with my health. I passed with flying colours again and I was really pleased. The only downfall and to me, it’s a huge one. I have lost another half inch off my height!
I used to be just under 5’3 years ago. On my last health check I was 5’2. I’m now just over 5’1 Yes I’m shrinking! This worries me. My sugar levels are good, although I do have regular slumps in my sugar levels. I explained this to the nurse and she has advised a more in-depth blood test for this. It’s most probably due to the lack of sugar that I don’t have due to my allergies.
My BMI is 21.6 which is just bobbing above being underweight. I blame this on my boring diet and not enough sugar intake. I actually eat quite a lot of fat and was surprised that my cholesterol level is good. The machine actually measured the good and the bad. I was really impressed with that.
My blood pressure was good as was my heart rate. So, all in all, I got a clean bill of health. I was still upset about losing that tiny bit of height that makes all the difference to little me though!
Meeting Dr. Hilary Jones
It was good to listen to Dr. Hillary. The chat he gave about hearing loss, especially as we hit our more mature years really hit home. I won’t be taking my hearing for granted anymore and will get checked once a year from now on. I will leave the phone number for you and the website below. It’s free and doesn’t take long to do, so go get checked.
As for the personal chat that I had with Dr. Hilary? He explained that there is no new cure that he knows of in the pipeline for allergy sufferers. Boo! He couldn’t give me any new advise other than what I already know.
Campaign for hidden Hearing – here
Hidden Hearing contact – 0800 037 7979
Hidden Hearing Test – Here
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XO LAURIE
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Gosh… life doesn’t get easier when you grow older, is it?
But…. big plus: you looked fab in that dress.
Greetje
Sounds like a great event Laurie. I do worry about my ears as I often hear muffling or miss what people say to me. I really need to look into having a test. Lovely dress.
Thanks for linking up to The Wednesday Blog Hop. Hope you can join me tomorrow 🙂
Sounded good Laurie! ( pun intended!) I think it is important to get your hearing checked if you notice any diference. My mom was saying she may need hearing aids but boy, they are pricey!! Great to hear you got a clean bill of health! I bet I am an inch shorter.. Was it suprising to you about the height?I guess we all shrink a bit over the years. You look great, love the dress
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
The last hearing check I had was in my mid twenties when I went completely deaf in one ear. The high frequency went first, then it all went downhill rapidly. My current doctor said I should have been given steroids when I started losing my hearing because it could have halted it. I also developed tinnitus at the same time. I was quite depressed about that for a while, it felt suffocating, but the brain quickly adapts. I do struggle in public places where there’s a lot of noise and I have difficulty determining where some sounds are coming from. I’ve had colleagues make fun of me in the past, throwing things at me to get my attention, but luckily where I work now everyone is lovely and they always check they’re standing on my “good side”. Hearing loss can be isolating because if you know you’re going to struggle hearing people it can put you off going to events. It’s perceived to be an older person’s problem but affects people of all ages.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
It’s funny how some things never occur to us to get checked isn’t it? I’d never thought about getting hearing checked!
Thanks for sharing with #pocolo
My mum needs a hearing test! She drives us crazy, never hearing what we say! But she is in total denial.. Thanks for linking up with #stayclassymama
How interesting Laurie, nice to read more about this. You look fabulous too. Thanks for sharing on #chicandstylish this week. Jacqui Mummabstylish
I think I could benefit from a hearing test Great that you had this opportunity. I will ask my Doc at the next visit. Great post! #mixitup xoox
I have my hearing tested regularly. I’m also shrinking, but I started at 5ft 8″ so I don’t mind so much. I’d have loved to have met Dr Hilary.
#mixitup
I’ve had my hearing tested a couple of times because of the drill as a dentist. However, I don’t go regularly enough. I’ve seen how hard it is when you lose your hearing, so i’m all about keeping up with it.
As for the loss of height, that’s why I’ve been working out with yoga and pilates and ELDOA…I’m hoping to prevent that!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Laurie,
What a wonderful post about hearing!
So many facts I didn’t know that was related to hearing loss!
My husband wears iPhone headphones too much and I think he’s going to lose his hearing at an earlier age.
I always worried I would lose my hearing sitting on the jumpseat next to the engines when I was a flight attendant. That’s why you see ramp agents and pilots wearing headphones around airplanes.
Hugs,
Robin
Popping back from another linky #,anythinggoes@_karendennis
Laurie, good to get things checked, its time for mine. for me too. To bad, they don’t have a less invasive way for mammograms.
I love they can check your cholesterol without fasting, they dont have that device at our doctor’s office, the UK is ahead of us.
Author
This device has never been used at my local doctors either Karren. I don’t know why they don’t have it? I was very impressed by the quick result xx
Enjoyed reading your post Laurie. I had an ear infection around a year ago and it was so painful. I can’t remember the doctor checking my hearing at that time- it seems to be one of those things we don’t take any notice of, until it goes wrong. I will definitely check it out at my Doctors surgery.
Alison xx
Author
Exactly Alison. How we take them for granted yet imagine how bad it would be if there was a problem? I’m 100% guilty too xx
Great that the UK is conscious of hearing screening.
Here in the US hearing aids are prohibitively expensive, so we need to take good care of our ears!
Author
Oh yes! I can imagine how expensive it would be. Thanks so much for stopping by Michele xx
I think we overlook hearing checks when we are much more proactive about checking out other areas of our health. #pocolo
Author
Yes, I agree. But we forget the importance of hearing and how a problem can affect us. After thinking about it I’m definitely going to start yearly checks. Especially because I’m an old gal xx
I’m not sure I have had my hearing checked in a long time, I definitely think I need to though. this was really interesting to read #pocolo
Author
Thank you so much, Tracey. I’m glad you found it interesting. On writing the post I was wondering how to make this interesting to read. Ears aren’t the most desirable thing to write about are they?! x
Oh gosh I never knew there was a link to Dementia! Thanks for the post Laurie – very interesting xx
I don’t think that I have had my hearing checked since I was at school, I have just turned 56!#bloggerclubuk@_karendennis
Author
It’s worth it for free Karen xx
Great post Laurie. My hearing is pretty good, but I would love for my husband to take the hearing test. I’ve tried and tried, but like my dad, he’s too stubborn. The problem is, I find I’m speaking very loudly to him and people look at me strangely when we’re out!
Author
It’s funny that you should say that Gail. There were three women with husbands that wouldn’t get checked. A lot of stigma about hearing loss but the aids available are so invisible and would make your and his life better. xx