Interview and photo opportunity
Jacqui Hames TV's Crime Expert presenter* visits Help in Hearing, Farnham Common, Friday, 24thOctober between 11:00 - 14:00
Jacqui Hames talks about hearing loss & how hearing aids let her continue on TV
Help in Hearing appointed Regional Phonak Lyric Specialists as 1 of only 30 UK centres to provide Lyric3 the invisible, ‘contact lens' style hearing aid
Healthcare Industry awards ‘Consultant Approved' status to Help in Hearing; join UK's ‘Elite 12' that have been accredited with Quality Care and Hearing Practice status
Jacqui Hames visits Help in Hearing in Farham Common to talk about how she coped with losing her hearing and how she overcame the loss using Phonak hearing aids fitted by Selma Becker at Help in Hearing
"It came as quite a shock to me to discover that 1 in 6 people (of all ages) in the UK have some hearing loss, and even more of a shock to discover that I was one of them. When doctors told me my hearing was damaged beyond repair and initially thought it could get even worse, it wasn't just a shock, it was devastating," said Jacqui.
"I suffered in silence because of the stigma surrounding hearing loss"
However, an opportunity to try a new, state-of-the-art hearing system from Phonak, gave Jacqui renewed hope when she had hearing aids fitted by Help in Hearing, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire's leading audiology clinic.
Jacqui was able to continue in her role as a leading TV presenter and improved her social life immeasurably:
"In the car, having people talking to me in the back seat when I'm driving, has always been a real difficulty for me. I now have crystal clear sound - and my kids can't get away with moaning about me under their breath, ha!" said Jacqui.
Talking to groups of people is stressful for most of us, but when you struggle to hear questions from the group, or simple comments, the pressure is really on. Jacqui said of groups and meetings, "It takes all the pressure away so I can hear clearly what people at the back are saying. It used to be so embarrassing having to constantly ask people to repeat themselves. This is a brilliant, unobtrusive, idea which really helps and takes away some of the stress so I can concentrate on the job at hand."
"I fortunately now have Phonak hearing aids which are not only small, lightweight and discreet, there are also great associated gadgets (we all love a gadget!) which allow me to stream music and telephone calls direct to my hearing aids. Brilliant. So if you're suffering in silence (literally) there really is absolutely no need, and if you really don't want to tell anyone - you don't have to," said Jacqui.
EDITORS: Jacqui Hames will be available for interviews between 11:00-14:00 on 24thOctober at Help in Hearing's clinic in Farnham Common. For Jacqui's availability please contact Mark Robson:markr@insightgroup.co.ukor call Mark directly on 07785 395499 / 0845 643 6181. See base of release for photography.
About Jacqui Hames*
Presents/produces 'Crime UK' weekly for Sky News
Sunrise 9.30am Sundays. TV Newspaper reviewer, Sky News, BBC News, Ch
Five News, LBC and Radio 5 Live etc - commenting on news stories such as
Ipswich murders, Raol Moat, disappearance of Madeline McCann, & has
contributed to many other factual/documentary programmes inc 3 series
of ‘Conmen Case Files’ and ‘Lorraine Kelly Investigates’. Presenter
Crimewatch Roadshow and Break-in Britain - The Crackdown for BBC. Read
more on Jacqui's LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquihames
New hearing technology to be supplied locally as Help in Hearing are selected by Phonak
Phonak International, the leading hearing aid specialists, have chosen Help in Hearing, a local Marlow & Farnham Common, hearing consultants as the only provider in the area of their new Lyric3 hearing aid - an invisible hearing aid that is inserted into the ear channel and works 24x7.
Just 30 hearing specialists have been chosen in the UK as having the correctly trained hearing professionals with the expertise and ability to provide advice, determine hearing aid requirements and to provide a full after care service.
Stuart Neilson, MD at Phonak UK said, "We set very exacting standards for the Lyric3 hearing aid. Testing, fitting and after care are crucial for a hearing aid that is inserted into the ear canal. Lyric3 is like contact lenses for the ear and needs the same levels of professional expertise which Help in Hearing have demonstrated fully."
Lyric3
The Lyric 3 hearing aid is the only hearing aid that is 100% invisible and can be worn 24 hours a day 7 days a week, for months at a time and without requiring the hassle of changing batteries. Lyric 3 was developed in California's Silicon Valley and its advanced technology provides benefits that include:
Completely invisible hearing aid that can be worn 24/7 for months at a time
Top-class, natural sound quality from optimal positioning close to the eardrum
Can be worn for months at a time without interruption due to specifically developed battery technology
Optimal fit in the ear canal and excellent wearing comfort due to biocompatible soft foam seals
SoundLync remote control included for switching on and off and for adjusting the volume
Specially developed protection against moisture and wax
"Hearing problems used to be just degenerative with age, however, as more people continually expose their hearing to music, sporting and music events and increased noise in workplaces, we are seeing hearing problems across all age groups," said Selma Becker, MD of Help in Hearing. "Younger people still suffer from the stigma of ‘visible' hearing aids and the Lyric3 inserted into the ear canal is completely invisible allowing wearers to hear correctly and feel confident."
EDITORS: Stuart Neilson, MD at Phonak UK and Tania Rodrigues, Phonak UK Lyric Business Manager will be available for interviews between 11:00-14:00 on 24thOctober at Help in Hearing's clinic in Farnham Common. For availability please contact Mark Robson:markr@insightgroup.co.ukor call Mark directly on 07785 395499 / 0845 643 6181. See base of release for photography.
Help in Hearing Join ‘UK's Elite 12' as they are Awarded: ‘Hearing Consultant Approved Site Accreditation'
Following a 2 month audit process carried out by Consultant Approved Site (CAS) Auditor, Robert Rendell, Clinical Scientist. The audit comprises three stages:
Self-Assessment Audit - to provide the audit team with confirmation of the level of service, hearing specialisation and attainments and auditory testing equipment available at the centre
In Practice Audit - Customer Experience - where the auditor visited Help in Hearing to assess customer consultations, approach and procedures with a focus on technical approach and customer care.
In Practice Audit - Audiology - where the auditor interviews and assesses the centre specialists, their training, accomplishments, technical capabilities and audiology equipment available for testing and on-going support.
The accreditation as a Consultant Approved Site sets a standard for customer care and audiology expertise to ensure that customers understand the level of care they will be receiving. Accreditation shows customers that Help in Hearing provide and commit to:
Full assessment and understanding of customer lifestyle needs
Screening for issues related to customer's general health that may impact on the hearing solutions available and recommended
Understanding your motivation and managing customer expectations
Thorough hearing assessment including speech testing with the latest equipment
Full range of rehabilitation, fitting, verification and counselling
On-going care and support
"One of the key factors of attaining Consultant Approved status is the ability to provide independent advice," said Selma Becker, MD at Help in Hearing. "We provide a wide range of products with different styles that work with the varying lifestyles, ages, and ear shapes and sizes to ensure that the correct solution is recommended to match each person's hearing requirements."
EDITORS: Selma Becker, MD at Help in Hearing will be available for interviews between 11:00-14:00 on 24thOctober at Help in Hearing's clinic in Farnham Common. For availability please contact Mark Robson:markr@insightgroup.co.ukor call Mark directly on 07785 395499 / 0845 643 6181. See below for photography.
Photography/Video:
MD Help in Hearing MD, Selma Becker: http://bit.ly/selmabecker
Stuart Neilson, MD at Phonak UK and Tania Rodrigues, Phonak UK Lyric Business Manager: photography availabel on request pelase email: markr@insightgroup.co.uk
Phonak Lyric3 invisible hearing aid: http://bit.ly/lyric3
Phonak Lyric3 Video: http://www.helpinhearing.co.uk/hearing-aids/invisible-hearing-aids-lyric/
Consultant Approved Accreditation details (PDF):www.helpinhearing.co.uk/assets/downloadableFiles/B2C-Consultant-Approved-Brochure.pdf
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
BHAMA: UK Hearing Aid Market
The British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA) latest report shows that hearing aid sales are on the increase* with 2013 seeing a 20% growth in the UK, the third year running that sales have increased substantially, with 1,464,846 hearing aids sold.
This growth is attributed to many factors but Help in Hearing believe that the ability to ‘insert & forget' a hearing aid with no outward visibility will be a key factor in the continued take up of hearing aids across all ages.
AOHL: "1-in-6 people (of all ages) have hearing loss" **
There are more than 10 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, or one in six of the population.
From the total 3.7 million are of working age (16 - 64) and 6.3 million are of retirement age (65+).
By 2031, it is estimated that there will be 14.5 million people with hearing loss in the UK.
More than 800,000 people in the UK are severely or profoundly deaf.
There are more than 45,000 deaf children in the UK, plus many more who experience temporary hearing loss.
* The British Hearing Aid Manufacturers Association (BHAMA) latest sales data of hearing aid sales from UK manufacturers for 2013.
* Action on Hearing Loss Statistics, is the trading name of the Royal National Institute for Deaf.http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/your-hearing/about-deafness-and-hearing-loss/statistics.aspx
About Help in Hearing
Help in Hearing has two audiology clinics in Farnham Common and Marlow with specialists that are Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (RHAD) and Fellows of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (FSHAA). Both clinics are located in discreet locations for private appointments and utilise the latest technology for hearing assessment. Help in Hearing is one of the UK's leading audiologists recently chosen by Phonak to become an approved partner for Lyric, the world's first and only 100% invisible hearing aid. Help in Hearing is fully independent of manufacturers and provides a wide range of hearing solutions from all leading manufacturers including Phonak, Oticon, Resound, Siemens, Widex and Starkey. More information can be found on the help in Hearing website: www.helpinhearing.co.uk
For more information:
PR Agency:
Mark Robson
Insight Group Marketing
07785 395 499
0845 643 6181
About Phonak
Phonak is a brand of Sonova, a Swiss organisation with a £1,278m (CHF 1,951) turnover, and is the leading and most innovative brand in hearing aids and wireless communication solutions for audiological applications. The product range includes Lyric.
About Lyric3
Lyric3 is a unique solution that is placed deeply in the ear canal and can stay there for several months, completely invisible and hassle-free. The superior Phonak hearing care solutions are used by millions of people on a daily basis and help them live their lives to the fullest, even in the toughest listening situations.