Local hearing team tunes into charity for Tinnitus Awareness Week
Colleagues from a Sutton-in-Ashfield audiology team are hosting a dedicated hearing week this week to coincide with Tinnitus Awareness Week.
The team of hearing care experts at Specsavers, which is locally owned and run, and based in The Idlewells Shopping Centre, have been offering free hearing screening to all customers throughout the week, highlighting the importance of looking after your hearing and raising awareness of tinnitus.
They’ve also held a cake sale to raise funds for Tinnitus UK with customers able to enjoy some baked goodies in return for a small donation.
‘It’s been great to see so many people pop in and see us and enjoy a sweet treat too. All the donations will make a real difference to the charity, who not only provide free support to anyone with tinnitus or caring for someone with tinnitus, but they’re also leading the charge for more investment in tinnitus research. We’ve received more than £50 in donations so far and will be keeping the collection boxes in store so look forward to adding to the total,’ says Emma Coveney, audiology director at Specsavers Sutton-in-Ashfield.
While it is not known what causes tinnitus, it has been linked to hearing loss and changes in the way the brain processes sounds. According to figures by Tinnitus UK a third of people will experience tinnitus – commonly a ringing in their ear – at some point in their lives, and one in seven live with this persistent sound.
‘Most of us recognise the importance of regular eye examinations as part of a full health check, but fewer people know how important a hearing check can be,’ explains Emma, who has recently joined Specsavers Sutton-in-Ashfield, bringing a wealth of experience to the team having been with Specsavers almost 20 years.
‘The British Tinnitus Association recommends people over the age of 50 should have their hearing checked regularly,’ continues Emma. ‘Our hearing awareness week is an opportunity for people to pop in and find out more about how our hearing can change over time, how it can affect things in our day-to-day life and what we can do to help restore some of the sounds people may have been missing.’
To find out more about tinnitus and the support on offer visit www.tinnitus.org.uk or call the British Tinnitus Association helpline on 0800 018 0527. To book a hearing check visit Specsavers Sutton-in-Ashfield at Unit 37, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 1BP, call 01623 552456 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/suttoninashfield