Jackie Hunt UK resident with hearing loss Country: Great Britain

Biography of Jackie Hunt

Jackie Hunt, a 44-year-old resident of Sutton Coldfield, UK, struggled for 15 years to hear clearly before realizing she had a significant problem. Initially, Jackie believed that her difficulty in hearing was due to allergies as everything sounded muffled, as if through a closed door. However, over time, her hearing worsened to the point where she had to increase the volume on the television and rely on lip-reading to understand people speaking.

In 2012, Jackie saw a TV advertisement for a hearing test and decided to get checked. The results were astonishing - she had lost 60% of her hearing and needed two hearing aids. When she first put them on, the difference was remarkable. She could hear the ticking of the kitchen clock, which she had never noticed before. Jackie had to give up her job in a large office due to her hearing loss, but with the hearing aids, she regained the ability to work in that environment. Additionally, she could once again use trains, as buying a ticket at the railway counter was previously an impossible task for her.

Jackie is married to the director of a construction company, and they have two daughters aged 23 and 20. Her experience is not unique, as more than ten million people in the UK, approximately one in six individuals, suffer from various hearing impairments. However, the majority of them wait years before seeking help. This situation is statistically similar in other countries as well.

There are two main types of hearing impairments. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound does not reach the inner ear from the outer ear. The causes can vary, including blockages, fluid accumulation, or issues with the small bones inside the ear that contribute to hearing. After a series of standard tests, Jackie was diagnosed with conductive hearing loss associated with otosclerosis, a condition that affects 1-2% of people.

The second type of hearing impairment is sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear or the auditory nerve. We hear because sound waves enter the ear and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted to the inner ear, where the hair cells respond and send signals through the auditory nerve to the brain. Due to injuries, noise exposure, or age, these hair cells can become damaged. That is why there are numerous campaigns in the UK encouraging individuals over the age of 65 to regularly check their hearing through the National Health Service. Experts believe that taking care of our hearing should start even earlier.

Hearing loss begins even in childhood, but it often goes unnoticed. By the age of 40, most people experience some degree of hearing loss that can impact their daily lives. Initially, high-frequency sounds become difficult to hear, making it challenging to understand speech. Therefore, those who find themselves increasing the volume on the TV, relying on lip-reading, or struggling to distinguish conversations in noisy environments should undergo a standard hearing test, as the consequences can be more than just distressing. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, and cognitive issues. In fact, a 2011 study conducted by American researchers found that older adults with hearing impairments are more prone to developing age-related dementia. Hearing aids can help reduce such risks.