Official opening of Hidden Hearing’s new Mayo clinic
The new flagship Hidden Hearing clinic in the west of Ireland marks its official opening tomorrow (Friday), March 1, reflecting World Hearing Day, which is celebrated globally on Sunday, March 3.
With larger more accessible facilities, the latest cutting-edge technology, and additional customer care staff, the new clinic in Castlebar is one of the largest dedicated audiology service providers in the country.
Located on Hopkins Road in the town, the state-of-the-art Hidden Hearing clinic occupies the large ground floor space of the former Elverys Sports store in Castlebar’s main retail district, opposite Tesco and Dunnes Stores.
The official opening runs from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
This first new larger-format Hidden Hearing clinic in the country is managed by local audiologist, Karen McComiskey, and clinic coordinator, Lorraine O’Grady, working with a team of four additional new recruits.
The hearing healthcare service relocated from Castle Medical Centre in Castlebar to the dedicated new facility in order to meet demand for specialist audiology care.
Hidden Hearing Castlebar opens from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, providing hearing tests, earwax removal, and a range of hi-tech Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, designed to change the lives of the many adults, over 55, who have difficulty deciphering conversations in noisy environments.
Marketing for the specialist healthcare company is based around the proposition, ‘We’re all ears’, reflecting the fact that the longstanding Irish business has specialist expertise, concentrated solely on hearing care.
Duncan Graham, sales director at Hidden Hearing, said the Castlebar launch event is being staged around World Hearing Day, to draw attention to the fact that hearing loss is referred to as an ‘invisible disability’.
He stated: “Apart from the lack of visible symptoms, poor hearing has somehow become stigmatised. People are reluctant to admit they cannot follow a conversation, or catch what is being said on the radio.
"Many of us wear glasses, or use medical aids like braces, a plaster cast or crutch, and yet there is reluctance to draw attention to hearing loss, which is a normal physiological development.”
PROTECT AGAINST DISEASE
Heart health problems, dementia, diabetes and other illness have been linked to untreated hearing loss by medical experts. Treatment, including using a hearing device, has been shown to protect against the progression of diseases like these, particularly in older adults.
Medical research is building the case that hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and that wearing hearing aids, if needed, mitigates risk of impaired cognitive functioning, according to neuroscientist, Dr. Sabina Brennan, who will attend the new Castlebar clinic opening tomorrow.
Around 15% of the Irish population suffer some degree of hearing loss, with men likely to lose their hearing earlier than women. 35% of people aged over 64 have a significant hearing loss and, in the over 75s, 50% will have age-related hearing loss.
Hidden Hearing countrywide has embarked on a five-year investment and development plan, covering clinic refurbishment, new larger premises, recruitment, and sales and marketing to educate consumers and medical professionals, like GPs, on the latest hearing healthcare advice.
Singing superstar Daniel O’Donnell regularly stars in Hidden Hearing ad campaigns to emphasise the importance of taking care of hearing, just as people look after their teeth, eyesight, blood pressure and cholesterol.
The company’s newest TV ad with Daniel, ‘The Listeners’, was recorded at The Helix in Dublin and features the singer seated in the crowd, watching his own performance on-stage!
Compacted earwax affects hearing and to celebrate World Hearing Day, the Irish audiology brand are offering free ear wax removal to those over the age of 55 during the month of March.
Wax irrigation and micro suction services will be available by appointment at the Hidden Hearing clinic in Castlebar, and can be made by calling (094) 907 3333, or on the website, www.hiddenhearing.ie/ear-wax-removal-service.
The clinic also has a 90-day money-back guarantee, and provides aftercare including free batteries for the lifetime of the hearing device, regular servicing, and advice on care of hearing aids.